Page 5 of The Wedding Toast (The Hamiltons #10)

Becca leaned back in her seat, a big smile on her face as she looked at the group seated around the table on the terrace by the pool.

She’d grown to love Sunday afternoons like this – even though she’d been so nervous about them at first. In fact, nervous wasn’t a strong enough word.

She’d been scared silly the first time Jacob had invited the gang to come over and hang out like this.

Looking around at them now, she knew what she hadn’t known back then – she had nothing to worry about.

Most of them might have grown up as wine family royalty, just like Jacob.

But that didn’t make them any different from her – it certainly didn’t make them look at her differently.

Their only concern had been about Jacob – if she made him happy, they were happy.

Over the course of the last year, each one of them had told her that they’d never seen Jacob as happy as he was with her. So, it was all good.

“You’re not having second thoughts over there, are you?” Willow’s question cut through her thoughts, and Becca laughed.

“Not at all.” She turned to look at Jacob, and he squeezed her hand.

“If I was going to change my mind about anything, it’d be about waiting for another week.

” She let out a laugh. “I’m so ready for the wedding to be here that if any of you are allowed to officiate, I’d stand up and get married right now. ”

The others laughed, but Jacob gave her a stern look. “You know I’m as eager as you are to finally be married, but another week is worth it so that everything comes together.”

Bentley winked at Becca. “You shouldn’t even say such a thing in jest. He’s already recalculating now – I can see it in his eyes. If you say you want to get married this afternoon, he’s figuring out how many people he can possibly get here in time, and how many of his plans he can salvage.”

Willow laughed. “I think you’re right, brother – I can see steam starting to come out of his ears.”

“Aww.” Becca leaned against Jacob’s shoulder. “I didn’t mean it. Not really. You’ve worked so hard to pull it all together – and it’s all for me, I know it is. I appreciate it more than you know and …”

His gray eyes seemed to shine as he leaned in to press a kiss to her lips.

“It’s okay. They’re only teasing me.” He narrowed his eyes at Bentley and Willow.

“They know what I’m like. They should also know that if you did want to get married this afternoon, I’d make it happen – even though I wouldn’t be able to make good on all our planning. ”

Willow laughed. “That’s what we were saying.”

Ava appeared beside Jacob’s chair. She’d been playing on the grass with Scooter, and Becca hadn’t seen her approach. She felt bad when she saw the worried expression on her face.

“Will I still be able to do the petals for you guys, Uncle Jacob?”

Becca’s heart melted when he held his arm out to Ava and helped her climb up onto his lap. When she was settled, he tapped the end of her nose.

“Of course you’ll still do the petals. We were only talking about what would happen if Becca wanted to get married this afternoon – saying that I’d make sure that even without enough time, I’d still take care of the most important details – and you being our flower girl is one of the most important details. ”

“That’s right,” Becca agreed. “And I don’t really want to get married this afternoon – I only meant that I’m so excited, I don’t want to wait even one more week.”

Ava smiled at her. “Me too. I can’t wait to be in your wedding.” She glanced over at Grady and Hannah, who were sitting next to Willow and Slade. “I can’t wait to be in our wedding, too. But Daddy says being your flower girl is like practicing to be a real bridesmaid when they get married.”

Becca laughed when Slade punched Grady’s arm and said, “And since you guys still haven’t set a date, Ava might get some more practice in.”

Bentley gave him an inquiring look. “Have you guys …?”

Willow grinned. “We have.” She made a face at Slade. “But we weren’t going to say anything yet. Today’s about you guys. This is the final build-up.”

“But it doesn’t need to be all about us,” said Becca. “I want to hear all about what you’re planning.” She raised her eyebrows at Alyssa and Hannah. “And if you two have finally figured out what you want to do. I never thought I’d end up being the first old married lady among us.”

Slade chuckled. “See, this is the point where I’m relieved that we finally figured out what we’re going to do.” He pushed his chair back and got to his feet.

“And you’re not going to tell us what you’re planning?” asked Grady.

Slade shrugged. “It’s up to Willow if we tell.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I already put my foot in it by bringing it up.” He gave Jacob a meaningful look that Becca didn’t understand. “I want to run down to the garage and pick up some tools I left there, if that’s okay.”

Ava grinned and slid down from Jacob’s lap. “You should go with him, Uncle Jacob.”

Becca was surprised at how quickly Jacob rose to join Slade. Bentley and Grady were on their feet too.

“You don’t mind if I run down there with the guys, do you?” Jacob asked.

She laughed. “Of course not. Although I didn’t realize that talking about everyone else’s plans would send you running like this.” She didn’t like to think it, but she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d had enough talk about wedding plans to last him a lifetime.

He rested his hand on her shoulder. “That’s not it.” He looked around at the other women, and Becca almost felt like he was appealing for their help.

That impression was confirmed when Willow smiled at her and said, “I think Slade talking about tools was code for something else – some guy thing he needs help with.”

“Oh!” Becca shot Slade an apologetic look. “Sorry. I …”

“Not a problem. I was trying to be subtle about it, but …” He shrugged happily. “It’s all good.”

Jacob leaned back down to kiss Becca briefly before he followed the other guys down the driveway toward the garage.

“Sorry, Willow,” said Becca. “I didn’t mean to embarrass Slade.”

Willow just laughed. “It’s all good – nothing to worry about.”

~ ~ ~

“Thanks, Slade,” Jacob said as he caught up to the others.

“No need. It’s my fault – I should have been more subtle about it but …”

Grady chuckled. “I don’t see how you could have – I’ve been wondering for the last fifteen minutes or so how to suggest that we should leave the ladies to talk while we come down to the garage. How’s it going?”

The look on Slade’s face as he said, “It’s perfect,” made Jacob relax. Inside the garage was one detail of his wedding plan that Becca knew nothing about – and he wanted to keep it that way.

Bentley grinned at him. “It made me laugh that you refused to get rid of it all this time. But now I understand.”

Jacob laughed. “I can’t say that this was the plan all along, but I knew I had to keep him – and I knew that one day I’d find a good reason why I had. Now, I know.”

“It still makes me laugh that you call it a him,” said Grady.

Jacob shrugged. He wasn’t about to explain himself – he didn’t need to.

In the beginning, he’d been surprised at himself for calling it a him, too.

But that was how Becca referred to it, and he’d come to see it the same way.

He couldn’t wait to see her face next weekend when she discovered what he’d done.

Well, it was mostly what Slade had done at his request.

Just before they reached the garage, he stopped to pull his phone out of his pocket when it rang.

He frowned when he saw Elena’s name on the display.

Cold fingers of dread slid down his spine as he wondered why she was calling.

Since Becca had moved in with him, Elena had started taking most weekends off.

They didn’t need her to cook for them, and it gave her more time for her own life.

He didn’t think she’d ever called on a Sunday before.

If she had a problem – if she was going to have to take time off over the next week … he inhaled sharply. If that were the case, he’d figure it out. He was depending on her, but if she had issues of her own that she needed to deal with …

“Are you going to take that?” Bentley asked, giving him a concerned look.

“I am. Sorry. I’ll catch up. You guys go ahead.”

“Hi, Elena? Are you all right?”

“Me? Of course I am. Are you? You sound terrible.”

He let out a short laugh. “I’m fine. Seeing your name pop up worried me, that’s all. What can I do for you?”

“Nothing. I’m okay. Sorry to worry you. It’s … I’m going to tell you, and you can make up your own mind.”

He pursed his lips as he waited for her to explain. He didn’t like the sound of this – whatever it was.

“Oh, Jacob. Relax.” He could hear the smile in her voice.

“I don’t mean to worry you. It’s nothing bad.

I think it might be something good. If I sound unsure it’s only because – well, because I am unsure.

You might think me a foolish old woman. I’m calling about something you might love – but you might also think is stupid.

I didn’t know if I should call you or not.

I decided that if you think it’s stupid, the worst that happens is that I feel foolish.

But if you love the idea, it could be something … special.”

Jacob rubbed his fingers over the crease he could feel forming on his forehead while she spoke. “Are you going to tell me so that we can decide which it is?”

“I am. You see, this morning at church, my friend Lupe was showing me photos of her niece’s wedding yesterday.

It was beautiful. And there were flowers – lots of flowers.

Not like all the cornflowers at the estate – nothing like that.

It was only a small wedding but …” She blew out a sigh.

“Forgive me if you think I’m foolish. You see, there was an arch all made from flowers, and it was so beautiful.

It made me think that you and Becca need a cornflower arch. ”