Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
I pulled back, meeting Amy’s amused eyes. “Busted again.” I kissed her one more time, unable to resist. “Welcome to your new life.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Me too.”
Later that afternoon, Evan grinned at me over the rim of his coffee cup.
“Three weeks?”
“Yep. Alex has the place booked. I got rooms and cabins for everyone. We already filed the application for the license.” I glanced toward the sofa where the girls were gathered, laughing and talking. “Holly and Amy can handle the dresses. Alex will help with the flowers. I booked the justice of the peace and the photographer.”
“You were prepared.”
“I worked all week on the details in case she agreed.”
“You really had doubts?”
“About her marrying me? No. But doing this quickly, yes. I was hopeful, though.”
“She loves you.”
I grinned at him. “I know. This time, it’s for all the right reasons.” I picked up my coffee. “Will you stand up with me, Evan?”
He paused, then smiled. “Absolutely. It would be my honor.”
“Amy is asking Holly. The only other person in the wedding party is Mia.”
“She’ll love it.”
Across the room, Holly squealed and hugged Amy, so I knew the question had been asked. Everything was coming together well. In three weeks, Amy would be my wife, and our life would start.
We would find our way together.
And I was looking forward to that.
AMY
The light caught my ring, capturing my attention. I’d never been much for expensive jewelry, but this piece made my heart flutter. Not only because of the reason I wore it, but simply due to the fact that it was a tiny work of art on my hand. In the week that had passed since Simon had asked me to marry him, we had been busy arranging plans for the wedding. Even as simple as we were going, there were a lot of details. My parents were thrilled, my mother exclaiming in delight as I showed her around the house I would soon be permanently calling my home. She told me how much my dad loved the fact that Simon had gone into Halifax on his own to ask for their blessing. How he had assured them he would look after me and make sure I never wanted for anything and it was his goal to make me happy. “We were thrilled to give him our blessing,” she enthused. “Such a wonderful man.”
Add in the fact that she adored Mia, and thrilled didn’t cover it.
“What do you think is taking Eleanor so long?” Holly asked, her concerned voice bringing me out of my musings.
“I’m not sure. I texted to let her know we were here.”
A text popped up that made me frown. “She says something came up. That we should go without her.”
Holly grimaced. “I don’t think so. You said she was nervous about coming with us. She’s overreacting. Let’s go get her.”
We headed to the building, walking in with another tenant and knocking on Eleanor’s door. She answered, looking frazzled and upset. She gaped when she saw it was us.
“I can’t go. Didn’t you get my text?”
Holly walked past her. “Yes.”
I followed her. “We didn’t believe you.”
She looked flabbergasted. “What?”
“What is it?” I asked. “Your nerves? The thought of spending the afternoon with us?” I leaned forward, dropping my voice. “Because Holly is beginning to waddle like a penguin? You can pretend she isn’t. We all do.”
Eleanor’s lips quirked. Holly began to laugh in protest. “I am not waddling yet. It’s too soon.”
I winked at Eleanor. “Uh-huh. Okay, Holly.”
I became serious. “Why won’t you come?”
“I have nothing to wear. My hair is just so…awful. And I’m too nervous,” she burst out.
“You don’t have to be nervous. And we can help. We’ll have you ready in five minutes. Right, Holly?”
“If I can waddle that fast,” she replied dryly.
This time, Eleanor did laugh. She drew in a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. I’ll go.”
Three hours later, we sat down at the café in the large auditorium. I groaned as I rotated my shoulders. “I am done. I can’t believe how much stuff I got.”
Holly grinned. “I told you to bring a rolling tote bag along. Evan wouldn’t let me come unless I had it with me.”
Eleanor came over, bringing the tray. She sat down, handing us our coffees. I barely recognized her. We had brushed out her hair, and I was shocked how long it was, hanging down her back and past her waist. It showed off the slightly reddish tinge to her light brown tresses, and it suited her. I’d pulled a sweater from her closet she had obviously never worn and added it to the jeans she was wearing. Holly found a pretty floral shirt we handed her, and I discovered a pair of ankle boots still in the box and made her put them on.
She’d looked apprehensive but allowed us to treat her like a Barbie doll. She had rolled her eyes when we assured her she looked great and was obviously uncomfortable at first. But once we were at the craft fair, she forgot about everything but the fair and was as into it as we were.