Page 87 of The Wedding Toast
She stared at the words.He was only being friendly.He’d been really good about helping her feel less out of place.
She tapped out a reply.
Callie: The bride’s doing well.And the bridesmaid is happy to be here with her.
She looked at her words for a few moments and then added:
Callie: Although, if you want to know the truth, the bridesmaid will be happier when this is all over and she can relax.
She hit send and waited.He probably wouldn’t reply – he’d sent his text a while ago.
She grinned when her phone buzzed in her hand.
Ollie: If she wants to hang around for a few days, the bridesmaid can relax and chill with the pilot if she likes.
All her breath caught in her chest.She’d already been debating with herself about how long she should stay.She knew she couldn’t leave tomorrow morning like she’d originally told him that she might.
But it didn’t seem right to stick around here for too long, either – not after Becca left.
She stared at the screen, not knowing what to say in reply.Then another message came in.
Ollie: Not trying to pressure you.Just think about it.See you later.
Chapter Twenty
When they arrived at his dad’s place, Reaves pressed the remote and watched Zia’s face as the gate swung open.
“Wow.”She looked at him, wide-eyed.“Is it a magical castle?”
He chuckled.“I like to think so.And my dad does.”
She nodded eagerly and looked around as Reaves pulled forward and followed the drive that led between the rows of vines on either side.The winery was small compared to most in the area, and it was nothing like the Jacobs estate, which he guessed was Zia’s only point of reference.But watching her expression in the rearview mirror, she seemed enchanted.
When the house came into sight, she gasped.“Look, Prince Daddy, it reallyisa castle!”
Looking at it through her eyes, he could see how his dad’s home – the home where he’d grown up – would look like a real-life castle.
He smiled at her.“It looks like one, doesn’t it?”
“Itisone,” she insisted.“Oh, and look, there are sunflowers.Sunflowers are the best.Mom likes them.Did you know that?She says they’re like me, all sunshine and happiness.”
He could see that.The description fit her well.His dad had always had a couple of rows of sunflowers planted in front of the house, and another along the side – said they brightened the place up.Apparently, Reaves’s mom had loved them.Not that he remembered – she’d died when he was small, leaving him and his much older dad to figure out life on their own.
He parked around the side of the house, and Zia exclaimed, “Look, there are more of them here.Can we get out and see?”
“Hang on a minute.”He got out and opened the rear passenger door.When he unfastened her harness, she held her arms up to him to get her out.It took him by surprise – he’d seen her climb in and out of Alara’s Suburban unassisted before.But he didn’t hesitate to scoop her up, closing his eyes when she wrapped her wiry little arms around his neck and gave him a hug.
“Thank you so much for bringing me here.”
He held her tight for a moment.“You are so welcome.I’m glad you’re here.”He chuckled.“And I can’t wait to introduce you to my dad.”
When he set her down, the worried look on her face made his heart clench as she asked, “Do you really think he’ll like me?Lots of people don’t, you know.”
He couldn’t help it – he picked her back up and hugged her again.“Lots of people don’t like me either, and that’s okay.The people who don’t like us just aren’t our people.I think you and my dad will get along just fine.Now, do you want to go inside and find out?”
She nodded, and when he put her back down, she took hold of his hand.“You’re going to be such a good daddy, you know.”
He gave her a puzzled look, wondering where that had come from.
