Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Are they available on such short notice?” Barbara asked.
“Yes,” I answered. “Adelaide and I spoke with them yesterday, and they said they weren’t booked, which wasn’t a surprise, since it is Halloween and a Monday. We already put down the deposit.”
I could see my mother’s eyes light up as she looked from me to Barbara to Adelaide. “You won’t find a dress here in Seaside. Maybe we should make a weekend of it. Go to Boston, perhaps?”
Adelaide nearly jumped out of the chair. “Yes! Would you mind if Palmer, Sutton, and Harlee came?”
“Of course not,” Barbara and Mom said at the same time.
“Hey, what about us guys?” Keegan asked.
Adelaide glanced at me.
“Um…we could plan a day of golf if you can get away from the restaurant, Keegan.”
My father chimed in first. “He can get away. It’s been too long since we’ve had a good golf match, Keegan. I think you and Barbara both need an entire weekend off, in fact.”
“I agree. Ruby can handle things for a day or two with one or both of us gone,” Keegan replied as he looked at his wife.
Barbara nodded. “Your father and I have been talking about taking more time off, anyway. This will be the perfect chance to dip our feet into stepping away from the restaurant a bit more.”
Adelaide clapped her hands. “I’ll talk to the girls and find out what weekend works best for them. Sutton will have to either close the shop or find someone to cover her though.”
“I can do that.”
We all looked over to see Brody leaning against the doorframe of our parents’ dining room.
I had to shake my head for a second. Did my brother just offer to run Sutton’s boutique? “You?” I asked with what I knew was a confused look on my face.
Brody shrugged. “Why not? I’ve been helping Sutton fix some stuff around the store. How hard can it be to watch it for her?”
The three women at the table looked at each other, and it was clear they were all trying to hold back a smile.
Finally, Adelaide cleared her throat. “Um, Brody, as much as I think Sutton would appreciate the gesture, you don’t know the first thing about running that store. I mean, it’s a women’s store, for starters.”
“And we’re planning on going golfing that weekend. I want you there,” I added.
Brody’s face lit up. “Golfing? For a whole weekend?”
“Why not? I can take Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off,” I replied, knowing I already had him.
“Sutton will be fine,” Barbara assured us. “She can either find someone to work the shop or she can close for the weekend.”
Adelaide frowned. “That’s a lot of lost income for her.”
Keegan smiled at his daughter. “We’ll get it sorted. You just worry about finding your dream wedding dress. Your mother and I will pay for it.”
“Dad, no,” Adelaide protested.
“Sir, I appreciate you offering, but honestly, we can afford it,” I insisted.
Adelaide looked at me with a quizzical expression. I’m sure it was because I’d said we. But we were a partnership. A team. I took her hand in mine. “What’s mine is yours, sweetheart.”
Barbara sighed. “You raised him right, Janet and Ken. You raised him right.”
My mother wiped a tear from the corner of her eye while my father looked like he was about to beat his fists on his chest and proclaim himself the best father in the world.
“No, I won’t hear of it,” Keegan said. “Barbara and I are paying for the wedding dress, especially if you won’t let us help you with anything else.”
“If they’re paying for the wedding dress, we’ll pay for the rehearsal dinner,” my father said.
Oh Lord, please don’t let this turn into a pissing contest between our fathers. Adelaide must have been thinking the same thing, because she quickly pulled out a pencil and opened her wedding planner.
“Okay, then it’s settled. Mom, Dad, you have the wedding dress. Ken, Janet, you have the rehearsal dinner. I’ll contact the girls and see what weekend works best. Janet, any upcoming weekend that won’t work for you?”
“No, I’m completely open now that I’ve officially retired from teaching.”
“Mom?” Adelaide asked.
With a shake of her head, Barbara replied, “I can get Ruby to handle the restaurant, so we’re all good.”
Adelaide shut her notebook, looking pleased as she stood up. “Okay. Let the wedding planning begin!”
With that little announcement, my father turned to Keegan. “Have I shown you my new riding lawnmower yet?”
Keegan shot up and started past Brody. “Lead the way, my friend. Lead the way!”
As they both left, Brody said, “I’m taking their cue. Later.”
Barbara, my mom, and Adelaide soon got lost in conversations about flowers and linens for the tables. I stood, leaned down, and kissed Adelaide on the cheek. “I’m going to go find Brody,” I whispered.
She barely acknowledged that I was leaving. Before I headed out of the room, I turned to see her showing our mothers a picture in some bridal magazine.