Page 10 of The Wedding Toast
“I’ll call her now.”
Elena laughed.“I’ll stop talking and send you the number.I hope you can make it happen.”
“Me, too.Thanks, Elena.”
“You are very welcome.I’ll see you tomorrow.But Jacob, if you manage to get ahold of her and she says yes, will you text me and let me know?I’ll be holding my breath, and keeping my fingers crossed.”
He had to smile.“I’ll let you know how it goes straight after I call her.And thanks again.”
“You’re welcome again.See you in the morning.”
“You will – but I’ll text you with any news.”
~ ~ ~
As the girls chatted about their wedding plans, Becca kept glancing toward the garage, hoping that Jacob and the others might come back soon.She felt bad about putting Slade on the spot about whatever he wanted to talk to the guys about.And she was worried that Jacob had maybe had enough of all the wedding talk.That man had taken care of everything.He and her mom had teamed up and become a force to be reckoned with.
The sun had begun its descent, and the light turned that lovely golden color that made the rolling, vine-covered hills look like an old painting.Becca sighed.Everything about her life here was so perfect.She needed to stop fretting about little things.
Alyssa reached over and touched her arm.“That was a big sigh.Everything okay?”
“Everything’s perfect,” she said with a smile.
Willow laughed.“It sure seems that way.You and Jacob are perfect for each other.I love it.”
“And I do,” said Hannah.“I love that a week from now, you’ll be my sister-in-law.”
Becca looked around at them, tears stinging behind her eyes.“Aww, I love you ladies.It’s hard to believe that when I first met Jacob, I was thinking that I’d have to go home to Kansas.I didn’t know anyone here, I didn’t have friends.Now, I have all of you, and you all feel like family.”
Ava came to stand beside her, wearing a big smile.“Uncle Jacob says that it’s all thanks to me, you know.”
“And he’s right,” Becca agreed.Ava had been in her third-grade class last year.That was how Becca had gotten to know Grady and Hannah.Although, she hadn’t met Jacob through them – it had been Ava herself who’d introduced the two of them at the Christmas tree lighting here on the estate.“And I’ll be forever grateful to you.”
“That’s okay,” said Ava.“I’m grateful to me, too.I loved having you as Miss Taylor, my teacher.But I love even more having you as Auntie Becca who’s married to Uncle Jacob – you’re my family now.”
Becca nodded, knowing how much family meant to Ava.She’d come to live with her Uncle Grady just before the last school year had started – she’d never known her father, and her mom had died when she was five.Since she and Grady had moved in with Hannah, she’d been eagerly extending her family, first claiming Uncle Jacob and Uncle Xander – then going on to claim everyone who came into her circle.
“Speaking of family,” said Hannah, “when do your folks get in?Are Trick and Elliott going for them?”
“They are.They’re picking Mom and Dad up at noon tomorrow, so they should be back here late afternoon.”
Willow grinned.“I’ll be sure to stop by the house on my way home from work then.I adore your folks.”
“I’ll have to find a way to pop over and see them, too,” said Alyssa.
A rush of warmth filled Becca’s chest.Her family was so different from these guys.It wasn’t just about money, though.She and her family were as down-to-earth as it got.These guys had grown up in a whole different world – a world where appearances seemed to matter more than anything else sometimes.
She’d been concerned at first about how her two worlds might collide when they met, but she needn’t have worried.Her folks had won everyone over pretty much immediately simply by being themselves.Her mom seemed to have become a kind of group mom to all the girls – although no, she was the same with the guys, too.Last time they’d been here, Becca had come downstairs to find her holding court in the kitchen with Slade, Trick and Elliott – the two pilots – and Walt, the groundskeeper.
Her dad and Walt got along as though they’d been friends for life – and that was a relief since Jacob had wanted her dad to make sure that the cornflowers were planted all over the estate and would grow well, while Walt had not only managed but also taken great pride in the grounds for over forty years.
“I know they’re looking forward to seeing you all.”
“But what?”Willow asked with a puzzled look.“What were you just thinking?”
“Nothing bad,” Becca replied hurriedly.“It’s just … well, I’m glad that they fit in so well with everyone here.I wasn’t sure at first, you know?”
“I know what you mean,” said Willow.“But surely you’re not still worried?”
