Page 15 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

Becca leaned back in her chair. “That was delicious, thank you both.”

She loved the smile that her mom and Elena exchanged. They got along so well, and between them they came up with fabulous food.

The first time her folks had come to stay, Becca had been a little worried.

Her mom was used to ruling the kitchen at home, while the kitchen here at Jacob’s place was considered to be Elena’s domain.

Fortunately, rather than locking horns, the two of them had been happy to work together, trading tips and recipes.

Her mom laughed. “You’re most welcome. I love that I still get to cook while we’re here.” She smiled at Elena. “I appreciate it.”

Elena nodded happily. “And I appreciate having a new friend to work with.”

Becca didn’t miss the way that Jacob visibly relaxed at her words. She knew that he’d been concerned that Elena might feel ousted.

As she looked around the table, it hit Becca that this evening was probably the first time the kitchen had been used for a family meal.

In the normal run of things, she and Jacob usually ate in his study, where they spent most of their time.

When people came over, they ate in the family room, or sometimes – but not often – the big formal dining room.

From what Jacob had told her, his mother wouldn’t be happy with them all eating in here like this.

And although she was sad for him that his mother wasn’t there, Becca loved the way this was working out.

She loved the idea that one day she and Jacob and their kids would eat together here in the kitchen.

Callie sat back with a big sigh. “I couldn’t eat another thing. But I wish I could.”

Elena, who was sitting beside her, patted her hand. “Don’t worry. There’ll be leftovers in the fridge. If you get hungry, you can come down for a midnight snack.”

Callie chuckled. “I would, but I’m not sure that I’d find my way down here or back again.”

Becca wasn’t even worried that either Callie or Jacob would feel embarrassed by her words.

She might have worried in the early days after she moved in, but her mom and dad had already paved the way during their first few visits.

They’d made no secret of how impressed – if a little taken aback – they were by the size of the house.

She turned to Jacob, remembering that he’d been more embarrassed than her parents. The way his eyes shone as he smiled back at her made her heart feel as though it melted in her chest.

It didn’t matter what superficial differences there might have been between them in the beginning. What mattered was that they’d somehow managed to bring their two worlds together into one. It might not look conventional, but then again, whose life ever did?

When her dad pushed his chair back from the table, she loved seeing how relaxed he was. Although, to be fair, once he’d gotten to know Jacob, it hadn’t taken him too long to relax.

Jacob smiled around at everyone. “Are we all done, then?”

As they nodded and spoke their agreement, Jacob leaned in to press a kiss to her cheek. “I’m going to head out with your dad and Walt for a while, if that’s okay with you.”

“Of course it’s okay.” She rested her hand on his thigh and kissed him back. If anything, she was a little concerned that he might be sick of cornflowers by now.

But her dad and Walt, the groundskeeper, were doing everything they could to make sure that the flowers would be in peak condition for Saturday.

Although it was a detail she didn’t think Jacob would ever have cared about before he met her, he’d gotten just as involved in flower care as they were over the last few weeks.

Her mom chuckled. “You go and do your thing,” she told him. “If I know these two…” She jerked her head toward Becca and Callie. “They’ll be busy chattering and catching up.”

Jacob held her gaze as he stepped away from the table. “Are you guys going to go out for a walk?” he asked.

Becca glanced at Callie. “I was thinking we could,” she said.

Callie nodded her agreement. “I probably need to walk off some of this dinner.”

Jacob nodded slowly, looking slightly uncomfortable.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s fine. It’s…” He still looked uncomfortable, but her mom spoke over him.

“Don’t you worry about a thing,” she said. “These girls won’t go far. Becca wanted to show Callie the grapes anyway, didn’t you?”

Becca gave her a puzzled look. She’d had no intention of doing anything of the kind, but the meaningful look her mom shot her had her agreeing.

She didn’t know enough about the grapes to give even an informal tour, and doubted that Callie would even want to know, but whatever her mom was up to it was better to go along with it.

She could tell by Jacob’s puzzled smile that he was just as surprised as she was, and her feeling that her mom was up to something was confirmed when her dad spoke up too.

“If the two of you want to walk, you should head up the hill. Make it a bit of a workout instead of just strolling around down here.”

“Okay.” Whatever they were up to, Becca wasn’t about to argue.

She had a feeling there were a couple of secrets floating around the house this week, and she didn’t want to tread on anyone’s toes.

She knew full well that if people were trying to hide things from her, they would only be surprises as part of the wedding – and she didn’t want to spoil anything.

As she and Callie headed away from the house a few minutes later, her old friend slipped her arm through Becca’s and asked with a laugh, “What do you think they’re hiding from you?”

Becca shrugged happily. “I have no idea, but since they’re working so hard to keep it secret, I’m going to do my best not to stumble into anything and spoil things.”

“Aww,” said Callie, “you’re so good about it.”

“I’m so lucky,” said Becca.

“You are,” Callie agreed. “Although no, it’s not luck.

You deserve it. All of it.” She swept her arm out as she turned in a circle, taking in the beautiful house, the terrace, the pool, the garage a little farther away, and the rolling vine-covered hills ahead of them.

“If anyone deserves a wonderful life, you do, my friend. And I have to say, you have one here. And your Jacob’s great. ”

“He is, isn’t he?” She squeezed her friend’s arm.

“And you know, my life would be wonderful with him no matter what. I’m not ungrateful or anything.

I love this place. I love the life that we have here.

But I’d still love him, still think he’s as wonderful if he worked a regular job – you know, if he were a teacher at school or something. ”

Callie laughed. “I’m sure you would, although that’s easy to say from where you’re sitting.”

Becca shook her head. “No, it’s true. If anything, him living here and being who he is – running the company and having the jet and everything – they were things I had to get past, even though I knew that I loved him.”

Callie looked more serious. “Yeah, sorry, I was only joking with you. I can see exactly what you mean.”

“You’d be the same,” Becca told her.

“Absolutely. Although to be honest, I’m not sure that I’d be able to get past it all. I’m not like these people.”

“You’re no less like them than I am,” said Becca.

Callie shrugged. “Nah, we may have come from the same place, but… you can do this. You’ve adapted. You have all your fancy new friends and…”

Becca frowned. “They’re not fancy. They’re no different from us.”

Callie made a face. “I’m sure they’re very nice. I’m not saying anything against them. I’m just saying that I can’t see myself fitting in the way that you have.”

Becca blew out a sigh. “Well, if you’d come over here more often, I could prove you wrong, couldn’t I?”

“Oh, I feel bad now. I do keep meaning to drive down here to see you, but…”

“No, you mustn’t feel bad. I could drive to see you just as easily. Or Jacob would send the jet if you could stand that.”

Callie dropped her gaze. “I thought the jet couldn’t fit into the airport near me. That’s why…”

Becca stopped walking. “That’s why Ollie came for you.

It’s not that the jet can’t fit exactly, it’s just that it is a smaller runway there, shorter, I think.

The jet could go, it’s just easier for it not to.

That’s why Ollie came to get you.” She gave her friend a puzzled smile.

“And we haven’t talked about that yet. How did it go? ”

Callie lifted a shoulder. “It was fine. He was really nice.”

She spoke so quickly that Becca was a little concerned, but she waited.

Callie blew out a sigh. “Okay, so I’ll admit it. I wasn’t expecting him to be so hot.”

Becca laughed. “Oh, my goodness, I didn’t even think about that. So… you like him?”

“What’s not to like?” Callie asked. “Like I said, he’s hot and he was really nice too, really friendly. But then again, he works for the wine families. He’s not from a wine family, is he?”

“No, but…”

Callie waved a hand. “All I’m saying is that he was fun to talk to, and he’s hot.

That’s all. Doesn’t need to mean anything more than that.

Come on, this week’s all about you and your amazing wedding to your amazing guy.

So, tell me what’s going on with you, how you feel, what I need to know to be able to help you in my role as bridesmaid. ”

“Aww, thanks,” said Becca. She glanced back at the long driveway.

“How much of a walk are you up for? Because one of the things I would like your help with is Ava. You know she’s going to be the flower girl?

Well, one of the mean kids at school told her that only babies do that, so I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind having a chat with her.

You know, build her up that the two of you are bridesmaids together. ”

“Absolutely,” said Callie. “Am I allowed to teach her how to deal with the mean kids too?”