Page 7 of The Wedding Toast
Jacob nodded.He didn’t trust his voice not to crack.
“Anyway.”Bentley grasped his shoulder.“I don’t know if my mom would say it out loud even now, but it means the world to her that you’ve asked her to be there with you.”
“It means the world to me.You know how good she was to me after my folks … Your mom stepped in as a kind of guide and mentor.I don’t think I’d have made it in business if it weren’t for her.I have so much respect for her and …” He let out a short laugh.“It must be the wedding bringing out my emotional side, but I’ll say it: I don’t just respect your mom, I love her.She’s like the stern, formal aunt who you might never hug, but who you know is in your corner no matter what.”
Bentley laughed out loud.“I know exactly what you mean, but don’t forget that’s not who she is anymore.I promise you that if you tell her you love her, you won’t be able to escape a hug, and I can almost guarantee that if you say that, you will see the great Alexandria DuPont cry.”
Jacob chuckled.“Noted, and I may keep that one up my sleeve.If I feel myself getting misty-eyed, I’ll hug your mom and tell her I love her.Everyone would be so shocked to see her cry, I’d get away unnoticed.”He checked his watch.“I should get back to Becca.”
Bentley glanced up at the house.“I’ll go check in with Alyssa.”
“She didn’t mind me taking your time this afternoon?”
“No, I think she was glad to be able to get some work done.She loves her office so much I expect that’s where I’ll find her.”
“Okay.I’ll talk to you soon then.”
“Anything you need, you give me a buzz.I’ll check in tomorrow anyway.”
“Thanks,” said Jacob.“And thanks again for letting me borrow the jet and Ollie and Reaves.”
“I’m happy to be able to help,” said Bentley.
“And your mom doesn’t mind that she and Russ are going to fly in with Smoke and Laura?”
“Not in the least.You have to remember that she and Smoke go way back.”
Jacob smiled.“I’d forgotten that.It’s funny, isn’t it, that while everyone thought of her as this formidable lady all those years, she was going around quietly supporting people when we needed it most.”
“She’s a remarkable woman.”
“She is, and I’m glad that she’s happy to be my kind-of mother-of-the-groom.I wasn’t sure how she felt – she sounded strange when I asked her.”
Bentley chuckled.“She was probably trying not to cry.”
Jacob shook his head with a smile.
“Go on,” said Bentley.“Get home to Becca.We’ll talk later.”
“Thanks – for everything.”
Bentley grinned.“Not a problem; it’s what best men – and best friends – do.”
Chapter Three
Becca leaned back in her seat, a big smile on her face as she looked at the group seated around the table on the terrace by the pool.She’d grown to love Sunday afternoons like this – even though she’d been so nervous about them at first.In fact, nervous wasn’t a strong enough word.She’d been scared silly the first time Jacob had invited the gang to come over and hang out like this.
Looking around at them now, she knew what she hadn’t known back then – she had nothing to worry about.Most of them might have grown up as wine family royalty, just like Jacob.But that didn’t make them any different from her – it certainly didn’t make them look at her differently.Their only concern had been about Jacob – if she made him happy, they were happy.
Over the course of the last year, each one of them had told her that they’d never seen Jacob as happy as he was with her.So, it was all good.
“You’re not having second thoughts over there, are you?”Willow’s question cut through her thoughts, and Becca laughed.
“Not at all.”She turned to look at Jacob, and he squeezed her hand.“If I was going to change my mind about anything, it’d be about waiting for another week.”She let out a laugh.“I’m so ready for the wedding to be here that if any of you are allowed to officiate, I’d stand up and get married right now.”
The others laughed, but Jacob gave her a stern look.“You know I’m as eager as you are to finally be married, but another week is worth it so that everything comes together.”
Bentley winked at Becca.“You shouldn’t even say such a thing in jest.He’s already recalculating now – I can see it in his eyes.If you say you want to get married this afternoon, he’s figuring out how many people he can possibly get here in time, and how many of his plans he can salvage.”
