Page 84 of The Wedding Toast
That made Willow smile.“That’s good to hear.That house of yours is … different, but it suits you.But back to the question – that wasn’t what I meant.I was talking about all the wedding preparation.How are you both feeling about your weddings?”
Tori made a little squeaking sound.“I’m so excited.You two have to come and see the chapel.It’s so beautiful.I mean, our wedding isn’t going to be anything like Jacob and Becca’s.It’s not going to be big, or formal, or any of that.We’re just going to have the ceremony in the chapel, and then…”
Willow frowned.“Please tell me that you’re not going to hold the reception in the sports bar.”
Tori laughed out loud.“Give me some credit, would you?Of course not.We were going to use the lodge at Four Mile Creek, but Xander said that he likes the resort in Summer Lake better – and I love it there, so that’s what we’re going to do.”
Willow grinned at Alyssa.“I know you have a soft spot for the resort in Summer Lake.”
She felt bad when Alyssa’s cheeks turned pink, but at least she laughed as she said, “I’m not going to deny that.That place will forever hold a special spot in my heart.”
“And have you and Bentley named a date yet?”Willow asked.
“We’ve been talking about it, but we haven’t nailed anything down yet,” Alyssa told her.“What about you and Slade?You said that you’ve decided what you’re going to do?”
“We have.”Willow smiled.“But I’m not going to tell you about it until after today.I’m so excited – and once I tell you, I’ll want to share all the details and talk about it all.But this is Jacob and Becca’s day.”
The others nodded their agreement.
Willow checked her watch.“It’s weird hanging around all day like this, though.I mean, I know we’ll have to get ready after lunch, but …” She shrugged.“Is there anything either of you want to do?”
Alyssa smiled.“As a matter of fact, I’ve arranged to meet Dad to catch up with him for a while.I didn’t think either of you would mind.And your mom’s enjoying hanging out with Madeleine and Cole, so …” She shrugged.
“Oh, I’m glad you’ll get to spend some time with him,” said Tori.“I love your dad.He’s awesome.”
“I like to think so,” said Alyssa.
Willow nodded and turned to Tori.“And what about you?Do you have any plans?”
Tori shrugged.“No.You know I always feel like I’m a bit lost when I’m here.Xander said he’d come get me if I wanted him to, but I don’t.What I want is for him to have some time with Slade, and the two of them are right there on the estate, so they’re around if Jacob and Bentley need anything.Are you asking because you have something in mind?”
Willow chuckled.“I have an idea.But don’t look like that – I’m not going to get us into any trouble or anything.”
Tori and Alyssa both laughed at that.
“I’m not, honestly.What I was thinking was that we could go over and see how Hannah and Ava are doing.Grady was concerned that Ava might get nervous again this morning.We don’t need to get in the way or anything, and they’re going to take her up to the house so she can hang out with Callie when it’s nearly time, but …” She raised her eyebrows.“What do you think?Do you want to?”
Tori nodded.“It sounds like a good idea, but maybe we should give them a call to make sure first – make sure that they think it’s a good idea.”
Willow took out her phone.“I was planning to.”
After a brief conversation with Hannah, she smiled at the others.“Hannah thinks it’ll be a good distraction.Avaisstarting to get nervous, and Grady said that having Auntie Willow and Auntie Tori around might be just the distraction she needs.”
Alyssa got to her feet.“Give her a hug from me, will you?Tell her I’ll see her later.I’m going to get ready to go and meet Dad.”
“What do you think?”asked Tori.“Do you want to all meet up back here so that we can ride over there together about three o’clock?”
“I’d love that,” said Alyssa.
Willow nodded.“Of course, we weren’t going to go without you.We’ll see you later.”
~ ~ ~
When Ollie got back from his morning run, he fed the dogs before going up to take a shower.He needed to get a move on.He hadn’t arranged a time to meet Reaves at Charles’s place, but he wanted to spend some time there with them before he had to come back to get changed.He wasn’t looking forward to this afternoon.
Of course, he was happy for Jacob and Becca.But he wasn’t looking forward to seeing – or more to the point, having to talk to all the Napa dignitaries he knew would be there.He usually avoided them to the best of his ability.It had gotten easier over the years.Most of them had taken the hint.But while he might technically be in the wine business, he neither knew nor wanted to know anything about it.
He loved living here in Napa – he’d grown up here.But he didn’t know that he would have stayed if he hadn’t reached the arrangement with Jacob to handle all of Stratton Wines’ business for him.He felt bad that he hadn’t managed to include Bentley in the deal.To be fair, he hadn’t even thought about it at the time.All he’d wanted to do was wash his hands of the business.And since the team that his father had in place used to deal with Jacob’s parents, it made sense to him.At the time, at least, it had seemed like a quick and easy solution.
