Page 9 of A Happy Endings Wedding
“Fruit salad would be great, and could I also have a slice of dry toast?”
“Of course.” She turned and left just as quickly as she’d arrived.
Hailey smiled to herself and went to the en suite bathroom. Wow! There was a huge soaking tub for two, along with a glass-enclosed shower with multiple jets. So tempting, but she didn’t want to keep theLuxury Weddingsreporter waiting too long. She was supposed to have dinner with theBride Specialreporter tonight.
She set her bag on the long marble counter with double sinks and brushed her teeth. She gagged a little, sensitive now to toothpaste and just about everything, really, and quickly rinsed her mouth. She put a hand to her belly. “Baby, I sure hope this morning sickness passes soon. I need to make sure you’re getting all that yummy nutrition.” The doctor had said the pregnancy was progressing nicely, and the baby was due January 22. Josh and Jake also had a January birthday. This little one and Jake’s son, Owen, would be a little over a year apart, which would be great for cousin playdates.
She freshened up her makeup and then, feeling tired, settled in the bed, pillows propped up behind her while she waited for Anna to return. She must’ve dozed off because she was surprised when she heard the door shutting and no Anna was in sight. The fruit salad and toast were on the table.
“Thank you!” she called.
Anna pushed the door back open and stepped inside. “I didn’t want to wake you. Do you need anything else, ma’am?”
“No, thank you. Please call me Hailey.”
Anna bobbed her head and left.
So weird to be waited on. Hailey had been doing things for herself from a very young age. She settled at the table and slowly ate the toast, staring out the window at a spectacular view of the sea, which she appreciated so much more on land. By the time she finished the toast and a second glass of water, she was feeling much better.
The door swung open and Josh strode in. He shut the door and took a quick look around before heading straight for her, a grim look on his face.
“How’d it go with the flowers?” she asked.
He took the seat across from her. “I don’t think the wedding planner is going to last long.”
She straightened, alarmed. “What happened?”
He lifted a palm. “I made her cry. I never make women cry, except for breakups, but that shouldn’t count. I never made you cry, did I?”
During their long rocky frenemy history, she’d been mostly mad at him, sometimes exasperated, always entertained. She’d only cried once, but it hadn’t been directly because of him. “Nope, but I’m a helluva warrior, so there’s that.” She smiled cheekily.
He leaned forward, snagged her by the back of the neck, and kissed her. “That you are.” He leaned back in his seat. “She must be a wimp. I’ve managed a wait staff of mostly women for years. Not one tear. I’ve definitely yelled at Mad—”
“Josh.” He clearly felt guilty, but she needed to know the deal. “What did you say to Bonnie?”
“I told her I’d wait while she got on the phone to the florist and either got our order here tomorrow morning on the first ferry out, which is completely reasonable, or she got our money back and then hired another florist.”
“And?”
He snagged a strawberry from the fruit salad on the table. “So the original florist couldn’t come through on time, and they said maybe they could do it on Saturday if they got another delivery from their supplier. I said, ‘Unacceptable,’ and Bonnie burst into tears.” He chewed on the strawberry and looked at her likecan you believe it?
She gave him a sympathetic look. He didn’t like to stand by on tears. He liked to fix the problem as soon as possible because deep down he was too sensitive to sit idly by watching someone fall apart. “What’d you do then?”
He reached for another strawberry. “I handed her a tissue and said I’d wait.”
Hailey bit back a smile. She could just picture that, sympathy but no backing down. “Did she stop crying?”
“No. She sobbed harder, blubbering in French and English, so I just waited her out.” He chewed and swallowed. “Finally, she called another florist. Flowers will be here on the first ferry tomorrow morning.”
Hailey brightened. “And did she get our money back from the first florist?”
He lifted one shoulder. “I dunno. I left. That’s her problem. It’ll come out of her funds, not ours.”
She stood and crossed to him, wrapping her arms around him. He pushed his chair back and hauled her into his lap. “You rock!” she told him, beaming.
He grinned. “I know.” He kissed her and slid a hand to her stomach. “How’re you feeling?”
“Much better. I kept down some toast and I’m fully rehydrated.”
