Page 48 of The Wedding Toast
Callie sighed.“I’ll do my best to get over here more often, but …” she shrugged.“I’m not … I don’t fit in.They’re wine people and …”
“I’m not wine people,” said Becca.“You fit in with them more than I do if you want to look at it that way – you’re a ceramic artist, I’m a grade-school teacher.”
Callie made a face at her.“You make it sound like I do something fancy.I just make my stuff.”
Becca held the door open for her.“I bet by the end of this evening, you’ll understand that these guys all see what they do the same way you see your pottery – they don’t think they do anything fancy either.They just do their thing; they make wine or run wineries, Piper’s a pilot, Alyssa’s an accountant, Laura’s a jeweler.Give them a chance – I think you’ll like them.”
“I will, I’m not saying that I don’t like them, I just …”
“You think you don’t fit in, but I’m telling you – you do.And it’s not like I don’t know where you’re coming from.I felt the same way at first, but I was wrong – and you are too.”
“Okay.”Callie stuck her tongue out at her.“I’ll open my mind up – just for you.But tonight is about you having fun, please don’t worry about me.”
They stopped dead when someone shouted, “She’s here!”and all the women who were gathered around turned to smile at them.
A rush of warmth filled Becca’s chest as she greeted them all.She loved that Piper immediately pulled Callie aside and had a word with her before taking her around introducing her to everyone.Piper was another one who’d felt like an outsider when she first arrived in Napa.
Molly appeared at Becca’s side, placing a glass of wine into her hand.
“Hey,” she greeted her.“Are you ready to have some fun?Are you ready for the wedding?Any last-minute nerves?”
“Not a one,” Becca told her.“I’m so ready.I can’t wait.”
Hannah came to join them.“Me neither.I’m the only one who isn’t officially related to anyone else yet.”
“You’re not the only one,” said Tori, smiling at Becca as she came to stand beside Hannah.“Xander and I are together, but until any of us actually gets married we’re not officially family, are we?”She raised her eyebrows.“Will the three of us be official sisters-in-law?”
Molly laughed.“I think so.If you’re with Hannah’s brother, then that counts.And you –” she looked at Becca – “are with Hannah’s other brother, that counts.I don’t know about you and Becca, though, Tori – if you’re married to two brothers, I guess that has to make you sisters-in-law?”
“I think so,” said Tori.“But even if it doesn’t, I’m claiming you,” she told Becca.
That made her laugh.“Thanks, and I’ll claim you right back.”
It was only once they were all seated around the huge table that Molly had set up in the middle of the dining area that Becca realized there were no other customers.
She gave Molly a puzzled look.“Did you close down for the evening?”
“I did.I wanted to be able to relax and join in.And Grady’s over at Bentley’s place with all the guys.I usually depend on him to run the place if I want to take it easy.So, with neither of us available to work, I figured we’d call this a private party.”
“Aww, thank you so much!”
Mary Ellen leaned in beside Molly.“Isn’t she awesome?”
“She is.You all are!”
Mary Ellen chuckled.“And so are you.And I have to tell you right now so that you have time to think about it; my husband – bless him – is going to try to persuade the guys that they need to come into town and go to Muse later.”
Becca laughed.It didn’t surprise her, or any of the others, judging by the looks on their faces, that Antonio would want to move the party to the wine bar that he owned here in town.
“I’m sure they’ll have fun – I was going to say, if he can persuade them, but knowing Antonio …”
Mary Ellen rolled her eyes.“Exactly.I wanted to let you know now because what he really wants is to get all of us together over there, and I didn’t know if you’d prefer to keep your bachelorette party bachelor-free.”
“Oh!”She hadn’t thought about that.She was hoping that Jacob would want to take her home early-ish, but she’d also love to go to Muse with him and the others for a while.Maybe dance and …
Chelsea’s laughter broke into her thoughts.“By the look on your face, you can’t wait to see Jacob again, can you?”
Becca gave her a sheepish grin.
