Page 67 of Here With You

“That sounds like a story we’ll want to hear,” Carter said. “Hopefully they’ll come back, and they can stay in one of the new bungalows.”

“You’re building new bungalows?” Emmaline asked.

“Let me show you.” Carter rolled the plans out and pointed at the area which used to be the house. “Brie and I have talked about what we’d like to see happen to the land. And since you’re half-owner, Aunt Em, we’d like your approval.”

Emmaline took a folder from her bag. “I never got around to giving you a wedding present.” She removed the quitclaim deed to her half of the property and handed it to them. “Build your dreams but don’t make them your children’s. Be kind and generous, and always give more than you take. If you ever get to a point when all things seem lost, look into each other’s eyes, and rekindle the love you found there that moment when you decided they were the one.” She handed the deed over. “Now show us what you’ve got planned.”

They discussed building more bungalows and a playground for the kids that they wanted to name after Olivia. Since they didn’t need two boathouses, they would expand the beach area and tear down The Kessler’s. Because the restaurant at The Kessler was smaller than Tilly wanted, they gave her free rein to expand.

“You know I’m giving her half a million dollars, right? She might take that and build her own place.”

Miles didn’t know she was giving Tilly half a million dollars until that second, but he couldn’t think of anyone more deserving. When he thought about loyalty, Tilly was the poster child.

“What about Charlotte and Marybeth?” He knew she wouldn’t do for one and not the others.

“Oh, I’ll donate to the church and make a sizeable cash donation to Charlotte’s new project.”

“Which is?” he asked.

Emmaline smiled. “She’s the town’s new wedding planner, and we’re her first clients.”

“Should I be worried?”

She nodded. “Terrified.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

TWO MONTHS LATER.

It was shocking how fast a house could be built when you had money. Emmaline stood outside the big ranch-style home with the wraparound porch and smiled. It was finished and furnished, but they hadn’t moved in. Miles wanted to wait until their wedding night—tonight.

On the lawn out front was an enormous white tent where no less than twenty-five tables, decked out with flowers and Sweet on You candies, sat waiting for guests. Charlotte wanted to make an impression and went all out. In the center of the tent was an enormous ice sculpture, because nothing said I love you like two six-foot swans with their necks intertwined to form a heart. In Texas, bigger was always better.

Charlotte arrived and dragged two suitcases from the trunk of her car. “Get inside before he sees you,” she said. “It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride on her wedding day.”

“It’s his wedding day too, and he’s not even here.” She had to sleep in Charlotte’s spare bedroom because there were specific arguments that she knew she’d never win. Sleeping with her fiancé two night before the wedding was allowed, but the night before was against the rules. Since Charlotte didn’t want her makeup job glistening off on the ride over, she left Em in the ranch house with a cup of hot tea and went back to get her supplies. “Do I need two suitcases to make me look presentable?”

Charlotte ignored her last question while she dragged her bags inside and set up in the kitchen. “He’s not here because it won’t take him four hours to get ready.”

“Why is it going to take four hours? I bet Miles is still sleeping off his bachelor party.”

“Tilly made sure she had a gallon of coffee brewed so he’d be sober for the big day.”

Why they held bachelor parties the night before the event was beyond her. “Seriously? Four hours and two suitcases full of beauty products? You realize he’s seen me at my worst.”

Charlotte nodded and smiled. “But has he seen you at your best?”

“I hope so. Either way, I don’t think he cares. All he wants is to marry me.”

“Did he ask you to sign a prenup?”

“What? No. That’s not who we are.”

“Good because I have Tilly on speed dial to do something awful like over-salt his eggs if he did something stupid.” She pointed to the table. “You know the drill. First a facial. There will be a little hellfire before we get to heaven.”

“Do we have to—” Emmaline didn’t finish the sentence before Charlotte slapped the goop on her face and her skin heated. Since she’d lived through it once and saw the benefits. It was easier the second time around.

It wouldn’t have taken all four hours, but Charlotte disappeared for lengths of time, making sure everything was perfect. Charlotte didn’t realize that the day could have been just Emmaline and Miles alone under the sun or stars, and it would have been flawless. Her niece showed up to spend time with her while Marybeth and Tilly did everything Charlotte demanded. Her reputation as a wedding planner rested on this event.

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