by Melody Grace
Letitia laughed. “No comment,” she said, but she couldn’t keep the smile from her face.
“Now that the last Kinsella is off the market, what will we do for fun around here?” June mused.
“There is one more, you know,” Letitia said, thinking back to that familiar-looking stranger on Earl’s porch. “Apparently, he’s still single.”
“Don’t you know how to brighten my day?” June grinned. “Now, what can I do for you? If you’d like to extend the lease on your summer rental, I hear the divorce is turning ugly. I could get you a great price for fall, or even make an offer. They’re very motivated to sell.”
“Not so fast,” Letitia said, laughing. “Actually, I’m looking for some information, I’m trying to be discreet about it, and I thought you would be the woman to ask.”
“How intriguing.” June shut her magazine, and gave Letitia her undivided attention. “Tell me more…”
It only took June a couple of calls to get Letitia exactly what she was looking for, and even though she was running late by the time she finally arrived at the hotel, she knew that the unplanned detour would be worth it.
“Where have you been?” Eliza seized her, the minute she walked in to the marble lobby. The bride-to-be was still dressed in a robe, with her hair up in curlers, but she didn’t seem to care about the looks she was getting from the guests as she grabbed Letitia like she was hanging on for dear life. “You promised you would be here to keep them from going crazy. But your mom is losing it over your cousin Lara’s pink hair, and there’s something wrong with the flowers, and Brooke is busy with the caterers—”
“Woah!” Letitia stopped her, laughing. “Relax. Take a breath. Drink some champagne. It’s going to be fine.” She led Eliza back to the salon they were using as a bridal suite, and sure enough, inside, it was bedlam.
“Can’t you just dye it back?” Sylvie was haranguing one of the teenage cousins.
“…I need you for your base.” One of the makeup artists tried to grab Letitia, and meanwhile, the poor florist, Rose, was facing off with Aunt Mindy.
“Eliza said sunflowers,” Rose said firmly. “And it’s her big day!”
Letitia took a look around, put two fingers to her lips, and let out a piercing whistle.
Everyone fell silent in shock.
“Hi!” she said, smiling brightly. “Isn’t this a great day to celebrate Eliza and Cal? A happy, peaceful, stress-free day,” she added meaningfully, giving her family a glare. “So, why doesn’t everyone grab a cupcake – yes, mom, even you – and relax. The sunflowers are lovely, Lara’s pink hair will look great with her dress, and we’ll all be dressed and gorgeous for the photos in an hour. OK?”
Sylvie started to speak, so Letitia just handed her a glass of champagne. “Stand down,” she murmured, warning. “Or Eliza and Cal will jump in a cab, and go get married at the Town Hall. Don’t think they won’t.”
Sylvie exhaled. “I suppose the sunflowers do look very cheerful,” she said at last.
“There you go.” Letitia patted her on the back. One problem down, a half-dozen to go. Luckily, Brooke arrived to handle the rest of the mayhem, leaving Letitia to slip into her wedding outfit, and get her hair and makeup done.
“Thank you a million times for not picking matching bridesmaids dresses,” she told Eliza, smoothing down the fabric. Her gown was light-as-air blue chiffon, cut in a flattering strapless style.
“You’re welcome,” Eliza said, as two different hair stylists curled and spritzed her. “It was the least I could do after you single-handedly kept this whole thing from falling apart.”
“It was a group effort!” Letitia protested. “Brooke, and Paige, and—”
“I know, they’ve all been amazing. But you’re the one who kept Sylvie from taking over, and blowing it all out of control.” Eliza gave her a hug. “Everything’s exactly how I wanted. Thank you.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Letitia beamed.
Paige arrived to start dressing Eliza, leaving Letitia to snag another bottle of champagne, and make her way down the hallway to where the groomsmen were set up, looking way more relaxed.
“Can we trade?” Letitia asked Cal, only half-kidding. He already was dressed in his suit and tie, looking dapper, and his college buddies were sprawled on the leather couches, eating snacks and watching sports. “You take my mom in meltdown, and I’ll just hang here, maybe have a nap…”
Cal grinned. “No deal,” he said. “But I will let you have some pizza.”
“Pizza!” Letitia gasped in awe. “Paige won’t let anything with sauce through the door, in case it gets on the dresses.”
“I won’t tell if you don’t.” Cal handed her a slice, and they stepped out onto the room’s terrace. It overlooked the back of the hotel grounds, where she could see the rows of white chairs all set up leading to the altar, which was adorned with sunflowers and ribbons, fluttering in the breeze.
“It looks perfect,” she said happily, and Cal nodded through a mouthful of pizza.
“Mmhmnnghm.”
She laughed, and tucked a paper napkin over his collar. “No cold feet?” she checked, in case he needed a pep talk. But Cal just smiled, looking completely relaxed.
“Nope. I can’t wait to do this.”
“Well, that’s one thing off my ‘worst case scenario’ list,” she said, pretending to wipe sweat from her brow.
He chuckled. “What else did you plan contingencies for?”
“Well, you bolting, thunderstorms, food poisoning, Eliza having a cat fight with Aunt Mindy in the middle of the reception…” Letitia ticked them off, and Cal grinned.
“I think you can relax. I’ve got a feeling, today’s going to go just fine.”
“You know, I think you’re right.”
Letitia took a bite of pizza, feeling relaxed… which was new, considering she was right in the middle of a major Prescott family event. Usually, those meant she had to fix on a bright smile and be on constant alert for damage control, but today, she was too happy to care.
“So, is it going to be you and Chase heading down the aisle next?” Cal asked, as if reading her mind.
“How did you know?” she started to ask, before he raised a smug eyebrow.
“Come on, it’s Sweetbriar Cove.” He grinned. “Cassie told Riley, who told Grayson, who mentioned it to Summer. I got the news delivered fresh with my morning muffins.”
Letitia laughed. “That sounds about right,” she agreed. “To be honest, I’m surprised it took that long. June must be slipping.”
Cal regarded her for a moment, looking thoughtful. “I’m glad it’s working out. You look happy.”
“I am,” she replied with a grin. “Blissfully, wonderfully, amazingly happy.”
“Do I need to threaten to beat his ass if he hurts you?” Cal added. “Because I may not look tough in this suit, but I could roll up my sleeves, and give him a particularly threatening glare, if you need.”
He put on a scowling expression, and Letitia laughed. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think your menacing services will be needed,” she reassured him. “I have a good feeling about this one.”
Cal nodded. “And Nick mentioned something about a job at Sterling, too…?”
She gave a non-committal smile. “We’re negotiating. I’ll see if they make a good offer.”
Cal whistled, looking surprised. “I never thought I’d see the day, but I’m happy you’re going after what you want. You deserve it.”
“I do, don’t I?” Letitia said lightly, and they both laughed, as Chase stepped out onto the terrace.
“They said I’d find you here.” He greeted Letitia with a light kiss, and then shook Cal by the hand. “Paige sent me to tell you, no pizza near the clothes.”
“And let me guess, you came to selflessly take it off our hands?” Letitia asked, her heart flipping over in her chest at the sight of him. He was wearing a white button-down shirt with linen pants, and looked so good, it should be
illegal. “How noble.”
“Anything I can do to help this wedding along.” Chase gave a virtuous smile that made them all laugh.
“Well, I better get back to it,” Cal said.
“Do you remember your lines?” Letitia asked.
“Walk straight, and say ‘I do’?” Cal replied.
“That should do it.”
He headed inside, leaving them alone. Letitia offered Chase her slice, but he pulled her gently into his arms instead, and claimed her mouth in a slow, sweet kiss that left her reeling until they finally came up for air. “I rank above the pizza?” Letitia teased. “High praise.”
“You rank above everything,” Chase said, giving her a smoldering smile.
Letitia melted. “Thank you for coming today,” she said, smoothing his lapels. “Just be warned, you’re about to get a million questions from the family.”
“I can handle them,” Chase grinned. “I brought copies of my bank accounts and stock portfolio, just in case.”
She laughed, stealing another kiss until her phone buzzed. She checked the message, and beamed wider. “It’s here!”
“What is?”
“Your surprise.”
Letitia took his hand and led him quickly through the hotel, past clusters of arriving guests. “Tish!” An aunt tried to waylay her, but Letitia just gave her a breezy wave.
“Can’t stop! See you inside!”
She dragged Chase on, who was looking intrigued. “What’s going on? Did you get me a pony?” he teased. Letitia didn’t reply. Instead, she pulled him down one of the service hallways, past the kitchens and out to the back parking lot.
Because sitting there, in the middle of catering trucks and delivery vans, was Chase’s Airstream. It had taken all of June’s gossiping know-how to track down its new owner, and all of Letitia’s negotiation skills to strike a deal, but she’d pulled it off – and from the look on Chase’s face, he couldn’t believe it.
“I don’t understand.” He turned to her, confused. “I sold it.”
“And I bought it back for you,” Letitia told him.
“But…”
“You love this thing, you shouldn’t have to give it up for me!” she explained, gazing up at him. “That’s not what I want this relationship to be. I love you, Chase, and that means I love your sense of adventure, and how you open me up to new experiences. I don’t want you to have to pretend like you’re ready for a house and white picket fence. We’re figuring this out together.”
She waited, hoping she hadn’t just overstepped. Sure, her plan seemed good in theory, but maybe Chase would be offended that she’d done this without him knowing. But then Chase broke into a heart-stopping smile. “I can’t believe you got Berta back!”
She laughed with relief. “How could I let you give her away? I happen to have some very fond memories of that bunk. Besides,” she added. “I’m telling Nick that I won’t start the new job until September. I thought we could take a road trip together, have an adventure of our own…” She looked at him questioningly, if he liked the idea.
“You mean, with a schedule and sight-seeing itinerary?” he asked, teasing.
“Nope.” Letitia grinned back. “No plans, no rules. Just us.”
Chase lifted her clear off her feet, kissing her until she was breathless. “It sounds perfect to me.”
The ceremony was beautiful, and went off without a hitch. Gathered together on the lawn, the ocean sparkling in the background, Eliza and Cal pledged to spend their lives together, as partners and friends. She looked radiant in her dress, and Cal gazed at her like she was the center of his whole world.
Letitia watched them happily, with Chase at her side. A few months ago, she would have been privately wondering when her day would come, but now, the future seemed wide open and full of possibilities. It felt thrilling and reckless to rip up her plans like this, but if the summer had taught her anything, it was that you couldn’t plan for love.
And whatever the future brought, they would figure it out. Together.
Somewhere nearby in Sweetbriar Cove…
Aidan Kinsella was seriously lost.
He watched as another picturesque stretch of woodland flew past outside the window. Hadn’t he seen that quaint cottage before? He’d hit beach traffic on the highway, so the rental car GPS had sent him on a round-about route down some winding country lanes, but now he’d been driving in circles for the past half-hour, and if he didn’t get back on track soon, he was going to miss his flight.
He connected his hands-free headset and called his youngest brother, who’d somehow managed to navigate his way across the country without even glancing at a map.
“Miss us already?” Chase answered, sounding amused.
Aidan gave a rueful sigh. “I’d actually have to get out of this place to do that. How do I find my way back to the highway? I just passed some place called Blackberry Lane...”
“Oh, yeah, you’re way off course,” Chase replied. “You want to keep going until you hit Sandy Shores Road, then cut past Black Bottom Pond, and take a right when you see the sign for fresh farm honey.”
Aidan shook his head wryly. “You know, in New York if you get lost, you can just take four lefts and be back at the place you started again,” he pointed out.
“Now, where’s the fun in that?” His brother sounded happy, which could only mean one thing.
“The grand romantic gesture worked out OK?” Aidan asked. It was new to see his brother fall head over heels like this, but from the glimpse of Letitia he’d gotten on the back porch the other night, Chase had found a force to be reckoned with.
“In a manner of speaking,” Chase gave a chuckle. “It turns out, she pulled the same thing on me. So, we’re all set for romance.”
Aidan was glad. He’d watched Chase bounce around without any direction for the past few years; but now, like the rest of his siblings, Chase was finally settling down.
One less thing for Aidan to worry about.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stick around a few more days?” Chase asked. “We’re all getting together for a cook-out tomorrow. Earl’s firing up the grill, and you’ve barely even met Alice and Natalie.”
“I can’t,” Aidan replied, checking the time. “I have to be back for a big meeting. And then there’s a project deadline, and—”
“Yeah yeah, we know.” Chase cut him off, teasing. “You’re the big-shot with places to go, and people to see. Just try to remember us little folk when you’re back living the high-life in your penthouse again.”
“Never mind the penthouse,” Aidan said, squinting at his surroundings. “I’d settle for the highway again.”
“Good luck!”
Chase rang off, leaving Aidan to scan the road for that turning. Black Bottom Pond? These small towns were charming, sure, but he would trade half his considerable life savings for a city grid and driver who knew the way.
His phone kept buzzing in the holder: a stream of emails and messages from work that never stopped, even when Aidan stole a few days to come up to the Cape and check on his family. Vacations were in short supply, and he hadn’t made it to the top by spending his summer lounging around with clambakes and cocktails… Even if it would be nice to take his foot off the gas—
Suddenly, Aidan saw a flash of movement up ahead, and slammed on the brakes. There was something in the road.
Two very furry somethings.
He brought the car to a standstill, and stared through the windscreen, confused. The animals were almost as big as ponies, and twice as fluffy, standing there munching on the hedgerow, blocking the way. There was a wide-open gate to a field nearby, and clearly, they’d decided to take a stroll.
“Shoo!” Aidan called, but the furry beasts ignored him. “Go on, shoo!”
He checked the time again, getting worried. He was supposed to be halfway to Boston by now, in time to catch his flight. But he wasn’t going anywhere until the animals did.
Aidan got ou
t of the car, and tried shooing them again. “Get out of here!” he called, waving his arms around. They seemed docile, so he moved closer. “Please?” He tried. “You don’t understand, this is an important meeting. I need to get going!”
They kept on munching.
Aidan shook his head. What was happening? He was trying to have a reasonable conversation with an oversized sheep!
He tried gently pushing one out of the way. It didn’t move.
He gave it a pat on the rump, and then a shove, but instead of trotting off, the beast gave a yawn, and then lay down in the middle of the road, like it was about to take a nap.
Dammit!
Didn’t they have Animal Control in this town? He was just about to go get his phone and start dialing when a rattling old truck came around the bend, and slowed to a stop behind his car.
A brunette woman leaned her head out of the window. “Roadblock?” she asked, with a friendly smile.
Aidan sighed. “These hell-beasts won’t get out of the way,” he explained, scowling. “I’m running late. Can we call someone to get them rounded up?”
The woman’s smile dropped. “On the weekend?” she asked. “Good luck with that. I’m sure they’ll move along soon enough.”
“I don’t have time for this!” Aidan exclaimed, frustrated. “It’s bad enough that these back roads don’t have any signs, and the cellphone signal keeps dropping out, now I have to turn into some kind of animal whisperer just to get through. What the hell are these things, anyway?”
“Alpacas.” The woman replied coolly. She got out of the truck, and strolled closer. She was in her thirties, dressed in denim dungarees with a plain T-shirt. There was mud on her boots, and flyaway hair in her eyes, and she looked way more comfortable out here in the country than Aidan felt. “They’re harmless animals,” she added. “But they can be pretty stubborn when they put their minds to it. So, unless you want a hoof in the face for your troubles…”
“We’re going to have to wait.” Aidan finished for her. He sighed again. “Just perfect.”
