Page 21 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

When the cab pulled up in front of Molly’s restaurant, Becca laughed when Callie tried to pay the driver.

Callie rolled her eyes at her when the driver declined. Of course, Jacob had already taken care of it – and of all the girls’ rides here, too.

“I know it takes some getting used to,” Becca told her when they got out. “But it’s just Jacob’s way. He’s used to taking care of details.” She shrugged.

“I get it,” said Callie. “I’m just not used to it.” She peered in through the window. “Holy crap! Is that big crowd here for you?”

“No, it’s just the girls and …” Becca looked inside and had to smile. “You know what? We’re both right. I was going to say that it’s just the girls, but it kind of is a crowd, isn’t it?”

Callie nodded happily. “Yeah, I love it for you, Becs. Love that you’ve made so many friends here.

And half of them are family now too – or they will be after Saturday.

Remind me again before we go in. Hannah’s Jacob’s sister, and Tori’s with Xander, his brother.

Willow is Tori’s sister – and she and Slade live on the estate. So, they’re all pretty much family.”

“They are. The ones you haven’t met yet are Chelsea and Piper – they’re sisters-in-law. Piper’s married to Chelsea’s brother Cameron. And Laura is married to their older brother Smoke, who …”

Callie laughed and waved a hand at her. “You know what? Let’s just go in. There’s no point in giving me a whole long list; I won’t remember them all and how they’re connected or related. It’ll be easier to just talk to everyone and figure it out as I go.”

“You’re right. That’s how I had to figure them all out.” When they reached the door, she met Callie’s gaze before they went inside. “I wish you’d move closer, you know. Then they’d all become your friends too.”

Callie sighed. “I’ll do my best to get over here more often, but …” she shrugged. “I’m not … I don’t fit in. They’re wine people and …”

“I’m not wine people,” said Becca. “You fit in with them more than I do if you want to look at it that way – you’re a ceramic artist, I’m a grade-school teacher.”

Callie made a face at her. “You make it sound like I do something fancy. I just make my stuff.”

Becca held the door open for her. “I bet by the end of this evening, you’ll understand that these guys all see what they do the same way you see your pottery – they don’t think they do anything fancy either.

They just do their thing; they make wine or run wineries, Piper’s a pilot, Alyssa’s an accountant, Laura’s a jeweler.

Give them a chance – I think you’ll like them. ”

“I will, I’m not saying that I don’t like them, I just …”

“You think you don’t fit in, but I’m telling you – you do. And it’s not like I don’t know where you’re coming from. I felt the same way at first, but I was wrong – and you are too.”

“Okay.” Callie stuck her tongue out at her. “I’ll open my mind up – just for you. But tonight is about you having fun, please don’t worry about me.”

They stopped dead when someone shouted, “She’s here!” and all the women who were gathered around turned to smile at them.

A rush of warmth filled Becca’s chest as she greeted them all. She loved that Piper immediately pulled Callie aside and had a word with her before taking her around introducing her to everyone. Piper was another one who’d felt like an outsider when she first arrived in Napa.

Molly appeared at Becca’s side, placing a glass of wine into her hand.

“Hey,” she greeted her. “Are you ready to have some fun? Are you ready for the wedding? Any last-minute nerves?”

“Not a one,” Becca told her. “I’m so ready. I can’t wait.”

Hannah came to join them. “Me neither. I’m the only one who isn’t officially related to anyone else yet.”

“You’re not the only one,” said Tori, smiling at Becca as she came to stand beside Hannah. “Xander and I are together, but until any of us actually gets married we’re not officially family, are we?” She raised her eyebrows. “Will the three of us be official sisters-in-law?”

Molly laughed. “I think so. If you’re with Hannah’s brother, then that counts. And you –” she looked at Becca – “are with Hannah’s other brother, that counts. I don’t know about you and Becca, though, Tori – if you’re married to two brothers, I guess that has to make you sisters-in-law?”

“I think so,” said Tori. “But even if it doesn’t, I’m claiming you,” she told Becca.

That made her laugh. “Thanks, and I’ll claim you right back.”

It was only once they were all seated around the huge table that Molly had set up in the middle of the dining area that Becca realized there were no other customers.

She gave Molly a puzzled look. “Did you close down for the evening?”

“I did. I wanted to be able to relax and join in. And Grady’s over at Bentley’s place with all the guys. I usually depend on him to run the place if I want to take it easy. So, with neither of us available to work, I figured we’d call this a private party.”

“Aww, thank you so much!”

Mary Ellen leaned in beside Molly. “Isn’t she awesome?”

“She is. You all are!”

Mary Ellen chuckled. “And so are you. And I have to tell you right now so that you have time to think about it; my husband – bless him – is going to try to persuade the guys that they need to come into town and go to Muse later.”

Becca laughed. It didn’t surprise her, or any of the others, judging by the looks on their faces, that Antonio would want to move the party to the wine bar that he owned here in town.

“I’m sure they’ll have fun – I was going to say, if he can persuade them, but knowing Antonio …”

Mary Ellen rolled her eyes. “Exactly. I wanted to let you know now because what he really wants is to get all of us together over there, and I didn’t know if you’d prefer to keep your bachelorette party bachelor-free.”

“Oh!” She hadn’t thought about that. She was hoping that Jacob would want to take her home early-ish, but she’d also love to go to Muse with him and the others for a while. Maybe dance and …

Chelsea’s laughter broke into her thoughts. “By the look on your face, you can’t wait to see Jacob again, can you?”

Becca gave her a sheepish grin.

“I think we’re all up for Muse with the guys later, aren’t we?” Chelsea looked around at the others and most of them nodded their agreement. Hannah looked a little uncertain, but then Becca didn’t know who was watching Ava this evening.

“Marcos’s folks already said that Ava’s more than welcome to stay the night with them,” said Molly. “And she’ll be in good company – I knew there was no way they’d let me have Luca back before morning.”

Hannah relaxed. “Do you think I should call them? Ava asked if she could stay the night – she loves spending time with her Nonna and Nonno, but I didn’t want to impose on them. It’s kind enough of them to have her over for the evening.”

“Aww.” Becca loved that Ava had even claimed Antonio and Marcos’s parents as her grandparents. Becca didn’t know them that well, but when she’d met them, she wanted to claim them as her Italian family too.

“You can call them if it’ll make you feel better,” said Molly. “But I’m sure they’re expecting it – they know what Antonio’s like.”

Mary Ellen laughed. “Don’t we all?”

The door flew open and Willow came hurrying in. “Made it,” she declared.

“Come sit,” said Chelsea.

Willow snagged a glass from the tray in the middle of the table and looked around at them all. “How are you doing, Becs?”

Becca swallowed. Only her family and Callie called her Becs, but Willow had started to use the name this last week – probably because she heard the others say it so often.

She grinned at Willow. “All the better now that you’re here. Come sit down.”

Willow grinned back at her. “I like it – you’re starting to say what you want. I will come, but I need to catch up with my little sis first.” She jerked her chin toward the other end of the table where Tori was chatting with Alyssa and Laura.

Becca checked on Callie, but she was laughing with Piper.

She relaxed and took a sip of her wine. All was well in her world – everyone was here, everyone was happy.

Her smile faded – her sister wasn’t here yet.

She and her brothers weren’t coming until tomorrow.

But then Dawn wouldn’t feel comfortable with these girls.

And unlike Callie, she wouldn’t even try.

Becca loved her sister, but they weren’t all that close.

She loved her brothers, too, but they were so busy with their own lives that they were all flying in tomorrow afternoon – they were the last flight that Trick and Elliott would make.

Jacob had wanted to send the jet back to Kansas for them all, but her dad had insisted that they could fly commercial.

Trick and Elliott would pick them up from San Francisco.

At least they’d get to go home on the jet with her folks.

Callie turned and met her gaze, giving her an inquiring look. Becca knew exactly what she meant – it was time for a quick trip to the ladies’ room to check in. Molly’s restaurant was nothing like Cattleman’s bar back home, but that didn’t mean their tradition had to die.

~ ~ ~

Jacob climbed into the passenger seat of Xander’s truck and smiled at his brother.

“Thanks for this.”

Xander nodded as he started the engine. “I wanted some time for the two of us, and this might be all we get.”

Jacob shook his head. “I have all the time in the world for you if you want me.”

Xander shot him a quick grin and said, “Aww.”

Jacob punched his shoulder, but Xander only laughed.

“I’m not mocking Becca. And you know it. I just didn’t know what else to say. Except maybe … thanks and … you too.”

Jacob nodded. “I know. I … I’ve been feeling sort of … sentimental in the lead-up to the wedding. Thinking about …”

Xander glanced over at him again. “Our folks?”

“Yes.”