Page 30 of No Place Like Home (Orlinda Valley #3)
Summer
“ I ’ve got to tell him.” It was early Saturday morning. I’d woken at five, made coffee, and was outside watching the breathtaking sunrise over the hills at the ranch as I sat at a stone table just outside the pool area.
It was going to be a busy day, and I needed time to think.
I’d hardly slept last night, despite the comfiness of the bed.
The secret I’d kept to myself for so many years was eating away at me.
Why had I never said a word to Darlene and Kora?
Hell, why hadn’t I ever said anything to Rowan?
They should all know. But, as always, I chose to bear this cross alone, without the support of my amazing friend group.
“Hey, I thought I’d find you out here when I saw the coffee pot already on.” Darlene sat at the table next to me. “What’s going on, Summer? You were really quiet last night. Were you missing Rowan?”
I shot her a look that I hoped she’d take as shut up, I’m enjoying the quiet , but I couldn’t be that lucky .
“Sorry,” she added. “Just making an observation. You did get up early.”
I shook my head. “Just couldn’t sleep. Your snoring kept me awake.”
She nudged into me. “I don’t snore.”
“How do you know?” I tilted my head up at her. “You were asleep.”
“True.”
She finally stopped talking, and we both sat and enjoyed the view.
“Hey, y’all.” Kora joined us and wrapped her arms around our shoulders. “Can you believe it’s my wedding day?”
I knew it was her special day and all, but her voice was annoyingly bubbly. “Kor, it’s too early for your happiness,” I muttered. “Please bring it down a notch.” I pulled away from the weight of her arm on my shoulder.
She joined us at the table. “I guess you having daily orgasms isn’t helping with your attitude, Summer,” Kora said.
“Nope. It’s not helping at all,” Darlene agreed. “Maybe Rowan’s not good in bed.”
I chuckled. “Trust me, he’s just fine.”
“Fine? You think he’d like to be considered ‘just fine’?” Darlene asked. “His brother’s amazing.” Darlene glanced over her shoulder. “What do you have to say about your McKendry brother, Lilly? Summer says Rowan’s sexual knowledge is ‘just fine’.” She made air quotes with her fingers.
“Oh, Jamison is a god,” Lilly said with laughter in her voice. “Trust me. ”
“Enough.” I had to stop this. “I don’t give a shit how good your men are. But if you must know, Rowan knows exactly what he’s doing in the bedroom, in the shower, on the kitchen counter . . .”
“Woah.” Kora had her hands up. “My kitchen?”
“Your countertop is a perfect height.”
“God, I’ll never be able to cook in there again.”
“Like you were ever planning on it?” Lilly asked.
“Nope, guess not,” Kora agreed. “So have at it, Summer. As long as Rowan makes you happy and can satisfy your stubborn ass, I guess it’s okay.”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence.” I turned to leave. “Y’all interrupted my quiet morning. I’m taking a shower.”
Once I was showered and dressed in yoga pants and a button up shirt, I settled at the kitchen table with the others and ate breakfast. There was an entire spread made and delivered by the Warfield’s cooking staff.
I was finishing my coffee when there was a knock on the door.
“Hey, it’s me.” Leila walked in the house with Skylar not far behind.
“Good morning, Leila. Morning, Skylar.” Kora greeted them with hugs.
“Can I have a bagel?” Skylar asked as she sat at the table.
“Of course,” Darlene said. “Which one?”
“Cinnamon raisin with cream cheese, please.”
Are y’all doing okay?” Leila asked. “Kaye and Diane will be here soon to start your hair. They just called.”
“Yep,” said Skylar. “And the girls will be here also. Summer, my fingernail messed up.” She showed me her middle finger.
“Skylar!” Leila chided her .
I grabbed Skylar’s hand. “It’s just a finger. Not a big deal.” I looked at her nail. “Sweety, that’s an easy fix. Once you’re finished eating, we’ll go in my room and fix it up, good as new.”
“Thanks, Summer. You’re the best.”
I smiled at her. I don’t know about being the best, but I was pretty damn good.
It didn’t take long before the book club ladies joined us, along with Madeline, Darcie, and Susie. Ruth said hi, then took Skylar and Lena to Leila’s house.
Makeup, nails, and the girls’ hair were all my jobs.
I got lost in the precision and technicality of it all.
That, and talking with Darcie and Madelyn kept me occupied and helped to tick away the morning until it was afternoon.
We ate a quick lunch, then Darlene, Lilly, and I got dressed while Kaye, Tonya, and Diane fussed over Kora.
My hair was up in a French braid with wisps around my face.
I had natural makeup, yet my eyes were lined in dramatic fashion.
I finished my look with red lipstick—my favorite color when it came to dressing up.
With my porcelain skin, hazel eyes, and dark hair, bright red lips always made me feel beautiful. I hoped Rowan liked what he saw.
We all wore formal black gowns, as black and white were Kora’s wedding colors. She loved dark purple, but none of us wanted to wear that, so we all agreed on black, with lilac bouquets wrapped in white ribbons.
I smoothed my dress down my body and along my hips, as I admired myself in the mirror. I glanced at Darlene. She struggled to get her growing stomach into her dress .
“Look at me. I can barely breathe.” Darlene came up next to me, arms contorted behind her back, fighting with her zipper. “Summer, I can’t get the zipper up all the way. Can you help?”
She stood tall and sucked in her belly.
“Dar, is that safe? You know that belly is holding another being.”
“It’s fine. But between my belly and my boobs, which have filled out even more since trying this dress on, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get it closed.”
“Hold still.” I wiggled her dress around and pulled it up a little higher, and then it zipped just fine. “There.” I brushed out the wrinkles. “Perfect.”
She stood and checked herself in the mirror. First her front, then her profile. She brushed her hands lightly over her small baby bump.
“You look beautiful, Darlene,” Lilly said.
“You do, Dar,” I said.
She beamed. “Thanks, y’all. So do you two.”
“I can’t believe you only have four more months,” Lilly said. “And then there will be another baby in the family.”
“Maybe you and Jamison will add a baby soon also.”
Lilly shrugged. “You never know, though getting married first would be a good start.”
I turned from the mirror and their talk of babies. “Let’s go see Kora. It’s almost time for pictures.”
We walked across the house to Kora’s room. I knocked softly and opened the door. The three of us froze.
Kora stood in front of the bay windows, the sunlight streaming in wrapping her in a glow. Not that she needed any help glowing today .
She and her father, Nigel, were finishing up their pictures. As soon as they were done, Darlene and Lilly rushed to her side and gushed all over her.
I held back.
Nigel came over to me. He’d just arrived from Florida, where he’d retired to, and looked tanned and handsome in his tux. I noticed there was more gray in his dark hair since the last time I’d seen him. “Hello, Summer.”
“Hi, Nigel.” He never liked me calling him Mr. Mitchell. We hugged in greeting. “Kora looks beautiful,” I said.
“Yeah, she does.” He sighed deeply.
“Are you going to be all emotional today too?” I asked him.
He chuckled. “Unfortunately. I can’t help but wish her mother were here to see her. She’d be so proud.”
Kora’s mother died a long time ago. I was surprised Nigel hadn’t found someone else by now.
He had always been a handsome and hardworking man with a big heart.
He loved his daughter, was an amazing father, and had never questioned me when I spent the night during the school week back when my parents split up.
He was like the father I never had, parenting me when I needed it and allowing me under his roof like his own daughter.
“Summer, come here,” Kora waved me over.
“Gotta go.” I smiled at him and walked to my friends. Kora made a beautiful bride. I hugged her tightly. “Kor, you look . . .”
“Don’t be getting all serious, Summer. I need you to keep things focused and reined in. I’m counting on you for your lack of emotions and ability to tell it like it is.”
Darlene and Lilly wiped their eyes .
I took a deep breath and did what I was told.
I reined it in. “You got it, Kor.” I gave her a hug.
“I promise I’m not bullshitting you when I say you look absolutely stunning.
If Kai doesn’t want to throw you over his shoulder, run you down the aisle, and fuck you against the first wall he comes to, I’ll have to make sure he gets his head examined. ”
That got the reaction I expected. All three laughed and wiped their eyes. “Good,” I said. “Now we can do this and not worry about the makeup I spent hours working on getting smeared. It’s time for pictures.”