Page 34 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

Trick closed the door to the flower shop behind him and stepped back out onto the street feeling foolish. It had been a stupid idea. He should have known better, and now he did.

He blew out a sigh and started walking back to his truck. He should put the whole thing out of his mind. Annalise might be back in Napa, but that didn’t mean … it didn’t mean anything. She hadn’t even let him know that she was back. That should tell him everything he needed to know.

He’d been a coward when he and Elliott had collected her and Delaney from San Francisco on Thursday – he’d stayed in the cockpit the whole time.

He could have avoided her completely if Jacob hadn’t asked them to give the ladies a ride when they landed back at the estate.

They’d dropped Delaney off to see Hannah, and Trick was grateful to have Elliott with him.

He hadn’t wanted to be left alone with Annalise.

If he were honest, it wasn’t so much that he didn’t want to be alone with her as that he didn’t trust himself not to say something stupid if he were.

He should be thankful that the woman in the flower shop had told him that giant buttercups weren’t something they sold.

What did he think he was going to do with them if she’d sold him a bunch?

He could hardly drive over to the Montclair place and give them to her, could he?

And although he’d see her at the wedding this afternoon, that wasn’t the time or the place to be giving her flowers.

He should head home, take a shower, and get ready.

He’d go and hang out at the estate and help if he could, but now that the decorators and their team were there, they’d made it clear that they were in charge and didn’t want any interference.

He huffed to himself – interference! As far as he was concerned, they were the ones interfering.

Even Walt and Elena were staying out of the way today.

He understood it, he really did – the wedding was a one-off event that the team who ran the estate wouldn’t have been able to pull off, but it still rankled a little to have strangers come in and take over.

Still, he made himself smile. They’d be gone again after tomorrow. Jacob and Becca would be happily married. Things around the estate would get back to normal. And life… his smile faded. He didn’t know how he could get on with his life as normal knowing that Annalise was back.

“Sir Oak!”

He looked around when he heard Zia calling him. He knew damn well it was her. He’d know that sing-song little voice anywhere. And besides, no one else had ever called him Sir Oak. He didn’t know what he made of the name she’d bestowed on him, but so far at least, no one else had heard it.

~ ~ ~

Zia tugged on Reaves’s hand as they made their way back to where he’d parked.

“Look, it’s Sir Oak! Sir Oak!”

Reaves looked down the street, wondering if he was about to meet someone she and Alara knew.

He laughed when he saw Trick a little farther down the sidewalk, waving back at Zia.

“Hello, Sir Oak!” she called before Reaves had the chance to greet him. “We’re going to see Prince Daddy’s daddy’s castle. Do you want to come?”

Trick chuckled and shot Reaves an inquiring look.

“Yes, this is Prince Daddy,” Zia said, tugging on Reaves’s hand. “You know each other, don’t you?”

“We do,” said Reaves.

“Just by different names,” Trick added with a smile.

Reaves nodded. Sir Oak was a new one on him, and he’d thought he’d heard all of Zia’s names for everyone.

The little girl continued, unperturbed. “I forgot my backpack,” she told Trick. “I had all my glitter and stickers and my coloring book and all my things in there, but I left it with Mom. Prince Daddy brought me to the store to buy some more.”

Trick raised his eyebrows, and Reaves nodded.

Zia had panicked that although she’d had her backpack ready to bring with her when he arrived, she’d left it with her mom after they moved the flowers and ribbons.

He’d decided that it would be easier to buy her new supplies than go back to the estate.

He knew that Alara had her work cut out for her this morning, finishing the arch.

“It sounds like you’re going to have a busy morning,” Trick told her.

She nodded happily. “I’m going to ask Charles St. James if I can decorate his castle.”

Reaves bit back a laugh. He could just imagine his dad’s face if Zia started glittering up his office and she plastered her shiny stickers everywhere.

Trick winked at him – Trick knew his dad well.

“Are you going to come with us, Sir Oak?” Zia asked.

“Thank you for asking, but I need to go home,” said Trick.

“That’s a shame. But you’ll be there this afternoon, won’t you? When the King and Queen of the Cornflowers do their wedding.”

Trick chuckled. “I will. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ll see you both there.”

“You can sit with us,” Zia announced. “I’m going to sit with Mom and Prince Daddy.”

When Trick met his gaze, Reaves could only shrug. He’d be happy to sit with them, but this was the first he’d heard of it. More than that, he could tell from the way Trick was looking at him that he was curious about that Mom and Prince Daddy and the way it sounded.

“I’ll be happy to sit with you all,” said Trick. “Is Ollie coming with you?” he asked Reaves.

“He is. He’s coming over to Dad’s place. You’re welcome to join us if you want.”

Trick shook his head. “I need to go home and get ready.”

“Are you coming with Elliott?”

“I am. I said I’d pick him up on my way there.”

“Okay, we’ll see you later.”

“Don’t forget you’re going to sit with us!” Zia called as Trick walked away.

~ ~ ~

Over at the DuPont estate, Willow settled back into her armchair in the family room and smiled at her sister, Tori, and at Alyssa.

“How are you ladies feeling?” she asked.

Tori shot her a puzzled look. “I’m doing okay. Do you mean about being here in the house?”

“No,” said Willow. “Although I had noticed that you seem more relaxed than you used to – especially the last time you were here.”

Tori laughed. “That’s because I am. Last time I was here, I didn’t know what I was going to do with the rest of my life.”

Alyssa smiled at her. “And now you have it all figured out. You and Xander are all settled, from what you’ve said, and is Violets doing well?”

“It is,” said Tori. “We’re really happy there.” She turned back to Willow. “And that’s why I’m more comfortable here now. I know no one expects me to stay, and it’s okay that this place doesn’t feel like home – now that I have one of my own.”

That made Willow smile. “That’s good to hear. That house of yours is … different, but it suits you. But back to the question – that wasn’t what I meant. I was talking about all the wedding preparation. How are you both feeling about your weddings?”

Tori made a little squeaking sound. “I’m so excited.

You two have to come and see the chapel.

It’s so beautiful. I mean, our wedding isn’t going to be anything like Jacob and Becca’s.

It’s not going to be big, or formal, or any of that.

We’re just going to have the ceremony in the chapel, and then… ”

Willow frowned. “Please tell me that you’re not going to hold the reception in the sports bar.”

Tori laughed out loud. “Give me some credit, would you? Of course not. We were going to use the lodge at Four Mile Creek, but Xander said that he likes the resort in Summer Lake better – and I love it there, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

Willow grinned at Alyssa. “I know you have a soft spot for the resort in Summer Lake.”

She felt bad when Alyssa’s cheeks turned pink, but at least she laughed as she said, “I’m not going to deny that. That place will forever hold a special spot in my heart.”

“And have you and Bentley named a date yet?” Willow asked.

“We’ve been talking about it, but we haven’t nailed anything down yet,” Alyssa told her. “What about you and Slade? You said that you’ve decided what you’re going to do?”

“We have.” Willow smiled. “But I’m not going to tell you about it until after today. I’m so excited – and once I tell you, I’ll want to share all the details and talk about it all. But this is Jacob and Becca’s day.”

The others nodded their agreement.

Willow checked her watch. “It’s weird hanging around all day like this, though. I mean, I know we’ll have to get ready after lunch, but …” She shrugged. “Is there anything either of you want to do?”

Alyssa smiled. “As a matter of fact, I’ve arranged to meet Dad to catch up with him for a while. I didn’t think either of you would mind. And your mom’s enjoying hanging out with Madeleine and Cole, so …” She shrugged.

“Oh, I’m glad you’ll get to spend some time with him,” said Tori. “I love your dad. He’s awesome.”

“I like to think so,” said Alyssa.

Willow nodded and turned to Tori. “And what about you? Do you have any plans?”

Tori shrugged. “No. You know I always feel like I’m a bit lost when I’m here.

Xander said he’d come get me if I wanted him to, but I don’t.

What I want is for him to have some time with Slade, and the two of them are right there on the estate, so they’re around if Jacob and Bentley need anything.

Are you asking because you have something in mind? ”

Willow chuckled. “I have an idea. But don’t look like that – I’m not going to get us into any trouble or anything.”

Tori and Alyssa both laughed at that.

“I’m not, honestly. What I was thinking was that we could go over and see how Hannah and Ava are doing.

Grady was concerned that Ava might get nervous again this morning.

We don’t need to get in the way or anything, and they’re going to take her up to the house so she can hang out with Callie when it’s nearly time, but …

” She raised her eyebrows. “What do you think? Do you want to?”

Tori nodded. “It sounds like a good idea, but maybe we should give them a call to make sure first – make sure that they think it’s a good idea.”