Page 2 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

She ran the brush through her hair a couple more times. She looked fine. She’d taken her time getting ready after their shower. Jacob had gone over to see Bentley – to talk about best man things, he’d said.

She could call any one of the girls if she wanted to.

But although she’d grown close to them all – probably closest with Alyssa and Piper, and then Hannah, and surprisingly Willow, and not just because she lived here on the estate too – there wasn’t anyone here who she wanted to talk to about how she felt.

She loved these girls, but they came from a different world, even though they insisted that they didn’t, and that she was one of them.

She didn’t disagree; she felt like one of them now.

But they had no clue about what her life had been like before.

They couldn’t understand how it felt to be a Kansas farm kid – let alone how surreal it felt to be that same Kansas farm kid who was about to marry not just any old Napa bigshot but the Jacob Jacobs!

Of course, that wasn’t how she saw it, wasn’t how she saw him. She loved that man with all her heart and soul. But there was a part of her who still struggled to reconcile it all.

When she reached the kitchen, she smiled when she saw a note from Jacob next to the tea kettle.

Elena left egg muffins for us. Eat some, don’t forget.

She grinned as she headed for the fridge – she loved those little egg muffins.

Once she was settled at the island with her breakfast, she unplugged her phone and scrolled through her emails.

There wasn’t anything to panic over. Jacob had removed her from most of the group emails about wedding details – she’d been getting so stressed.

And he was right; there was no need for her to follow the rollercoaster of every detail.

All she needed to know was that everything would be perfect on the day – he and her mom would make damn sure of it.

She checked her watch. There was no point in calling her mom; she’d be at the grocery store. She’d done the weekly shop after lunch on Saturdays for as long as Becca could remember. But just because she wouldn’t be home didn’t mean … She dialed the number and waited.

“What’s up, Becca love?”

“Hi, Dad. Nothing’s up. I just have a little time to myself and thought I’d see how you’re doing.”

“You sure you’re all right?”

“I am, I’m positive.” She let out a short laugh. “To tell you the truth, everything’s so all right that I’m kind of at a loose end. I thought you might be the same way – you’re taking a break this afternoon, aren’t you – while Mom’s out?”

He huffed out a laugh. “I am. Making the most of the peace while she’s doing the shop. Though what she’s shopping for I don’t know. We’re coming to you on Monday, so …”

“You know what she’s like. She’ll want to make sure that you’re restocked for when you get back, and besides, she wouldn’t know what else to do.”

“That’s true. But your mom’s fine. I’m fine.

Tell me about you. Are you ready for next weekend?

Nervous? Most of all, are you sure? I know your Jacob’s a good ’un, but you have to be sure, Becs.

Not saying I think you want to call it off – I know you love him, and it’s plain he loves you.

But if it’s too soon, if you want to take more time …

Just because he’s spent all that money, just because your mom’s been so all in on getting it organized, it doesn’t mean … All’s I’m saying …”

“Aww, Dad! I love you.”

He huffed out a gruff laugh. “Yeah, I guess that’s what I’m saying too, love.”

“I know. And I am ready. I’m more than ready. I can’t wait. But … are you ready?”

“To walk my little girl down the aisle and give her away? Never.” He chuckled. “But I’ll do it, and I’ll be happy that Jacob’s the man I’m walking you to. I say walking you to him because I’m not giving you away. He’ll come into our family – he already has. He’s not taking you away from us, Becs.”

“You’re right, Dad. He wouldn’t want that – and I wouldn’t allow it.”

“Good, so we’re straight then. What are you doing with your day – where is he?”

“He’s gone over to see Bentley, you know – his best man.”

“Right. I like him. He’s another one I wouldn’t have thought much of till I got to know him, but he’s a good kid – hmm, man I suppose.”

Becca laughed. “You know you’re a snob in your own way, Dad.”

“Aww, don’t talk like that, love. How can I be the snob when they’re the ones who own big companies and make fancy wines?”

Becca laughed. “I just think it goes both ways. You think of snobs as judging you for having less than they do; you judge these guys for having more than you do.”

“Nah, I don’t judge them – I had the wrong expectations about ’em, that’s all. I’m happy to have been proved wrong – you’d never hear a snob say that.”

She laughed. “That’s true.”

“And how do all your fancy new friends feel about you asking Callie to be your bridesmaid? You’ve not created any problems for yourself there, have you?”

“No, it’s worked out really well. If I’d asked one of them it might have been a problem – I’ve known them all since Jacob and I got together, I’m close to them all.

But asking one and not the others wouldn’t have felt right.

And besides, it was never really an issue.

Callie and I promised each other when we were seven that if we got married – no matter how old we were – we’d be each other’s bridesmaids.

And you don’t ever want to break a promise you made to a seven-year-old girl. ”

Her dad laughed at that. “Oh, believe me, I know, love. I know that even better than you do – you’re talking as a third-grade teacher – I’m talking as a dad.”

“Aww. You know, I don’t think you ever did break a promise you made me.”

Her dad cleared his throat. “Not that I know of, Becs. And not just you – the promises you make to your wife, and your kids are the ones you shape your life around. I think your Jacob knows that – maybe more than most since he lost his folks. And I know the two of you are keen to start your family, so you’d do well to keep it in mind.

You make your little ’uns a promise, you keep it. ”

“I will – we will.”

“Anyway. I didn’t mean to get into a lecture. I’d best let you get on.”

Becca chuckled. “You mean you’re going to have a little nap before Mom gets back?”

Her dad laughed with her. “Something like that. What are you going to do while Jacob’s out?”

“I’m going to call Callie and check in with her.” Callie was the one person who’d been part of Becca’s old life and was now here in her new one.

“Give her my best then. I’m glad she’s out there with you. I know you have a good life there, but you need your roots too. Anyway, I’ll see you on Monday, love. I’ll let you know what time we’ll be there after I talk to Trick.”

After they ended the call, Becca couldn’t help smiling. She loved that her dad now mentioned talking to Jacob’s pilot, Trick, and flying on his private jet as if it were no more out of the ordinary than riding in a neighbor’s truck.