Page 24 of That Thing You Brew
Xavier placed the paper on the table. His eyes shone with kindness as he looked back at me for a final consent. I nodded, and he scrawled his practiced signature at the bottom of the paper.
I twisted away from him to add my signature next to his.
“Aspen Ethyl Palmer.” Xavier spoke my full name slowly and grinned. “I like it.”
“Eh. I g-got used … to it,” I mumbled. “T-Tasha and I are b-both named for … flowers. Ethyl’s m-my g-great aunt.”
“She own the oddities store by the Creekside Inn?”
I nodded, tensing up as I waited for his laugh.
But he grinned wider. “I love that place. I tagged along with Noel and Gabby once and was hooked. She’s got the best old books.”
I relaxed. “Sh-she d-does.”
“Yeah yeah, la-di-da. Chat later.” J.R. was growing more agitated. “You two have a wedding to plan. License, venue, officiant. Courthouse or church?”
“B-barn,” I blurted. Since Brenna Brewer had renovated their old barn into a wedding venue, I’d dreamt of getting married there. My dad’s family might not be happy, but they didn’t have to know. Or even come to the wedding, if we were going to keep it a secret. The Palmers and Brewers had been civil with each other for the last few generations, since Brenna’s grandmother, a Palmer, married a Brewer, but there was still a whole lot of competition between the families.
“Brenna’s barn?” Xavier asked, his brows furrowing. That puppy dog look would surely cause the second death of me.
I nodded. “J-just us?”
“If that’s what you want.”
Why did he sound disappointed?
“P-parents? T-Tasha?” I offered.
J.R. spoke up. “Xavier, your family will have to know. It’ll be obvious when the property is transferred. I’d suggest you invite them. Your sisters might not forgive you if you don’t.”
“He’s right,” Xavier said. “Edyta has been training to be a flower girl since she was three.”
“Sssshe’s the y-y-y…” I paused, unable to get the word out and angry with myself.
“Youngest,” J.R. filled in, glancing at Xavier. “She always stutter like that?”
Xavier’s arm tightened around me.“Sheis Penny, and don’t you dare disrespect her like that ever again.”
“Woooo!” J.R. belted gleefully. “Already protecting your girl. Yeah, this will work. You’ve sold me.”
My gut boiled with loathing for the man. He must be very good at his job because I couldn’t fathom any other reason the Schwanns would trust him with their important matters.
Xavier spoke through his teeth. “Will that be all, then?”
“For tonight,” J.R. replied. “I’ll send the NDAs and prenup. Call me when you file the license.”
I relaxed into Xavier, who hadn’t loosened his grip. I felt like I’d just run a marathon. When the apartment door clicked shut, I dared to look up.
Xavier’s gaze was fixed on the opposite wall. I twisted around to follow it to the cuckoo clock next to the door. I hadn’t noticed it when I arrived, and it hadn’t chimed since I’d been here.
“It’s painted to match Opa’s chateau,” he said.
“It’s b-beautiful. Is it h-hand-m-made?”
He nodded. “Opa carved it himself. He gave it to me when I signed my first pro contract. ‘Zay-vyor,’ he said, ‘vair-ever zis goes, I go vith you.’”
Hot tears stung my eyes. “You m-must m-miss him so m-much,” I said softly. All of my grandparents were still alive. I didn’t know when his Oma died, but I assumed she wasn’t alive anymore or there wouldn’t be an issue with the property.
