Page 62 of That Thing You Brew
“Okay. Since you’re family…” Edyta twirled a lock of hair around her finger and looked at each of the Palmers—and Noel—in turn. “I have to tell you our secret family words. In case there’s an emergency.”
I looked at Penny, and she lifted her bouquet to cover her face. My parents and Daniella also covered their mouths with their hands. Karina seemed unbothered.
“Are you ready?” Edyta leaned forward. “I’m going to whisper it, okay?”
Everyone nodded their encouragement.
She whispered into the microphone. “If there’s an emergency or a stranger with a message, you know it’s real and safe if they say these words.” She paused and took a breath. “Loopy doopy poopy schmoopy.”
Silence. Then a giggle from Karina. Edyta began laughing, and then everyone was joining in. “I’m serious! Ask my mommy!” More laughter. She rolled her eyes and turned toward me and Penny. “Can we have cake now, please?”
We’d opted for a tower of sea-salt-caramel-filled toffee-crunch-topped cupcakes from the bakery, a nod to my favorite doughnut and the coffee that had brought us together. Feeding each other cake was a tender moment, and suddenly I was anxious to leave.
All that was left was the bouquet toss. Despite the intimate gathering, Penny insisted, and our sisters and Gabby gathered on the dance floor, Daniella and Tasha standing way back and looking unimpressed. The little girls stood at the front, and I’d assumed Penny would throw to one of them. Or, if she couldn’t decide, to send it toward Gabby, who was marrying Noel in June.
“Ready?” I held Penny’s hand as she climbed up on the chair Claudia had set out. “One! Two! Three!” She slid the ribbon holding the flowers together off the stems and one bouquet became two. Twisting around, she tossed one straight to Gabby and hefted the other one at Tasha.
My little sisters groaned, and both Gabby and Tasha promptly gave up their bouquets to the girls. I didn’t miss the exchanged glances between Penny and Daniella, though.
This toss had been premeditated.
Shady.
I liked it.
I reached up to gather Penny in my arms, cradle-style. It was our thing. “Sneaky move, Baroness.”
She giggled and tapped me on my nose as I set her onto the floor. “I don’t know what you’re referring to, milord.”
I leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “Call me that again when we’re alone?”
She snorted. “Maybe.”
I leaned in. “You ready to get out of here?”
“More than ready.”
“Time for the send-off!” As if she could read my mind, Tasha signaled to Karina and Edyta. They ran to their flower girl baskets and pulled out little bottles of bubbles, passing one to each guest and shooing everyone toward the barn doors.
A bubble send-off?
I looked at Tasha in confusion. This wasn’t part of the plan.
“We’re all squeezing in one limo because…” She sang, then gestured for my dad to finish her sentence.
My dad appeared beside her and handed me an envelope. “You two have reservations at the Honeymoon Tree House at the Top of the Falls Resort.”
“No way!” Penny squealed. “But—I have to pack!”
“No, you don’t,” Tasha said. “I raided your moving boxes. Your suitcase, with everything you need, plus a cooler of snacks, is already in the white limo.”
“And I may have raided your closet last night before you arrived home,” Dad told me. “Your suitcase is also in the white limo.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I was touched.
He patted my back. “Your schedule is rough, kid. Be sure to take a proper honeymoon when the season ends, okay?”
“Deal.” We shook hands, and he pulled me into a hug. “Love you, Dad.”
