Page 88 of The Wedding Toast
“You tell the truth,” she explained.“Not everyone does that.Oh wait!I need my new backpack.I can’t forget it this time.I want to show your daddy my stickers.”
He chuckled as he pulled her backpack out before closing the door.He was hoping that Alara wouldn’t mind that he hadn’t been able to resist buying a new one.They’d picked up so many supplies that they needed something to carry them in.And when he’d seen the fox face, this backpack looked like it would be a friend to the one she already had.
He was also hoping that his dad would be forgiving about the glitter, but there was only one way to find out.
“Shall we go see him then?”he asked.
“We shall,” Zia said as she slung her backpack over her shoulder, the fox face smiling up at him.
~ ~ ~
Jacob did his best to stay out of sight of the house.He didn’t want Becca or her family to see him wandering around out here and think that there was anything wrong – there wasn’t.He just couldn’t stay cooped up in the cottage all morning.
Xander and Slade had teased him about being a control freak, but he really wasn’t.Of course, Bentley understood that he just wanted to keep an eye on things.
The caterer had come dashing over to make sure that he was okay, and from the way the man had assured him that everything was perfect and going to plan, Jacob had to wonder if there had been some last-minute issues he was trying to cover up.He hadn’t pressed, though.If he knew the details, he’d only want to solve them himself.And that wasn’t his job.Not today.
The seating area looked amazing.All the seats were covered in white fabric and tied with blue ribbons with big bows on the back.He frowned when he saw Alara standing on a stepladder.
The arch was coming along wonderfully.He knew it was going to be the centerpiece of everything.Hannah had told him that her friend Delaney had fallen in love with the photos she’d seen of Alara’s other work and wanted to pay her a retainer just to have her on call for any project she might need.That might not be a bad idea, especially since it sounded like Delaney was considering moving here to Napa.She’d find no shortage of work if she did.
And Jacob had a feeling that Reaves would be more than happy if Alara and Zia decided to stick around.He couldn’t see it, though.Elena had told him they were on their way to Oregon.
He decided to go over and have a word with her.He wanted to make sure she was okay, for one thing.But now that he’d thought about it, he wanted to ask if there was any chance she might stick around.
She must have sensed him approaching.She turned just before he reached her.The stepladder wobbled, making him nervous, but she just smiled.
“Don’t worry.I have a great sense of balance, and these things always try to escape from under me.”
He chuckled.“Glad to hear it – that you have the balance to outwit them.”
“This is coming along much more quickly than it looks.You have nothing to worry about,” she told him.
“I have every faith in you.If you knew me better, you’d probably be surprised by how relaxed I feel about this.”He smiled.“You just seem to inspire confidence.”
“Thank you.That’s a lovely thing to say.”
He nodded.“If you knew me better, you’d also know that I don’t tend to say things unless they’re true.”
“I don’t need to know you well to see that.That’s why it means so much.”
He studied the arch for a moment.It was such intricate workmanship.The wooden frame itself was beautiful enough to be a centerpiece even without decoration, and now, with the cornflowers, and ribbons, and the white flowers with just the occasional pink and purple one woven in – he should remember what those were called, but he didn’t – the overall effect was stunning.
He shook his head with a smile.“Thank you seems like such a small thing to say.”
She beamed at him.“It’s not small.In fact, it’s huge.It means a lot to me.Some of the jobs I do … I don’t mean to talk bad about any of my clients,” she added hurriedly.“It’s just that not everyone appreciates …” Her words trailed off and she shrugged.
Jacob felt bad for her.She didn’t want to speak ill of anyone, and he respected that.He knew what she meant anyway.
“Well, I do,” he said.“And I think everyone here does too – appreciate the artistry as well as the hard work and talent.But more than that, it’s not just about the visual effect.It’s about the feelings.”He let out a short laugh.“I’m allowed to talk about those on my wedding day, aren’t I?”
Alara nodded.“You most certainly are.And thank you again for inviting us to stay.I was thinking that we might hit the road …”
He opened his mouth to protest, but she smiled.“I don’t want to now, though.Usually, I complete my work and I’m on my way.I know that my contribution is over.But it means something to stay around, to see you and Becca get married.”
“Thanks,” said Jacob.“Is there any chance that you might stay around for a while – not just the wedding?”
She gave him a puzzled look.
