Page 96 of Waiting For A Girl Like You (Haven House #4)

“I love you too, you ridiculous woman.” Giving up on the veil, Annabeth hugged her back. “Rowan, I’m going to need you to go into the guest room at the end of the hall. We have some lanterns in there with small, tapered candles. Can you grab them and take them to the kitchen?”

With his brain catching up, Rowan cleared his throat. “As soon as I put some clothes on.”

Both women turned to him, and Jamison smirked. “Sorry, Rowan. I guess we can count this as my bachelorette party.”

“Give me some privacy,” he deadpanned. “Or I’m dropping the bear.”

“We’re good with that.” Jamison tucked herself under Annabeth’s arm. “Nice thigh tat, by the way.”

“Come on.” Annabeth dragged her into the hall. “We’ve got work to do.”

Once the door shut, Rowan shook his head and pulled on a pair of black joggers and a T-shirt. If he needed to wear anything else, Annabeth would tell him.

And that thought alone made him pause to smile like a complete idiot. He and Annabeth would be doing this one day, and their happiness would make them act just as ridiculous as Jamison and Liam were acting now.

Only they’d have the decency to have a wedding ceremony in the afternoon.

Dressed, he stepped into the hallway, where Annabeth and Jamison were in full planning mode.

“Is what I’m wearing good?” he asked.

“It works because you’re my muscle.” Totally in her element, Annabeth pointed down the hall. “I also need the four candelabras that are stored in the second to last bedroom and the box of candles on the bed. Oh, and do you know when sunrise should start? ”

Pulling his phone from his pocket, Rowan checked. “In about an hour and a half.”

“Perfect!” Annabeth took Jamison’s hand and led her back into her bedroom. “We can begin when it’s dark to have that candlelight ambiance, and then— bam —the sun rises over the bayou and illuminates the Marriage Oak from behind while you say your wedding vows.”

“Oh my God, you’re a genius,” Jamison gushed, one hand on the poor veil as they ran off. “What would I do without you?”

“Ruin everything,” Annabeth said matter-of-factly. “I’m the visionary in this family.”

The bedroom door slammed shut, and Rowan stood there for a second. Lanterns. He needed to start with the lanterns, and heading into the guest room, he found four of them easily enough. The candelabras were there also, but between them, the box of candles and the lanterns, it would take two trips.

When he returned to the hall, the sounds of feminine laughter were coming through the closed door of Annabeth’s room, and he allowed himself a second to listen.

It was good to hear. This house had held enough of this family’s pain, and he imagined it was nice for Haven House to finally experience their joy once again.

And he would see to it that happiness would always be the way of things here. His Annabeth deserved nothing less.

Halfway to the stairs, he froze when a herd of women came barreling up. Wisely, he stepped aside, letting Lenora, Izzy, and Bernie pass. Moving at a slower pace, Simone brought up the rear, stopping to speak to him while the others went ahead into Annabeth’s room.

“Lanterns? Her sharp gaze took in his clothing. “Four total?”

He held them up. “And the candles, but I still have to go back for the candelabras.”

“In the jewelry box on my dresser is a small platinum ring with diamonds spread across the band. Jamison will wear it for her something borrowed,” Simone told him, hurrying through what needed to be done.

“Ben is going to his house for a bracelet that belonged to Laura Jean. That’ll be the something old.

Will’s trying to find something of Bernie’s to work as the something blue.

The dress is the something new. I think that’s everything. Isn’t it?”

“Simone? ”

She snapped out of her thoughts to blink up at him. “Yes, Rowan?”

“You’re an amazing woman, and the best mother to these girls.”

Her fingers fluttered to her throat. “What’s gotten into you?”

“Nothing,” he said, giving her a wink as he continued down the stairs. “Just thought you should know.”

“Put on a shirt.” Samuel tossed a dark blue button-up at Liam. “You look like an idiot standing there in nothing but your jeans.”

Yet to stop smiling, Liam swiped the shirt over his head. “Are my abs too much for you this morning?”

“I have best man privileges.” Samuel glared at his friend, still pissy about being woken up in the middle of the night. “I’m allowed to punch you without repercussions.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works,” Holden drawled, snacking on an apple in the corner. “And let’s be honest. His abs are spectacular. I’d marry him.”

“Good to know I’ve got backup.” Liam searched for something on the floor near the back door. “I probably should put some shoes on.”

After setting everything up outside, Rowan returned to find the men gathered in the kitchen.

Abe was flipping through his ceremony notes while the rest gave Liam a hard time over the impulsive decision.

No one except Liam was in actual clothes.

Everyone had on what would be considered their pajamas, the entire group running around in sweatpants and T-shirts.

Jamison was still upstairs, but if the plan was to hit sunrise, they needed to get moving.

“Okay, does everyone know what they’re supposed to do?” Will held up his hands to silence the room. “Abe and I will go out first.”

Abe glanced up, his leg bouncing nervously. “I’ll need help with my chair, Will. It gets stuck on this one section of exposed root.”

“I can handle it,” Will replied. “Xavier, you can come with us in case I need extra muscle.”

Still in his favorite Spider-Man pajamas, Xavier saluted him. “Yes, sir! ”

“Liam, you’ll come too and bring your mom across the yard.” Will pointed at Samuel. “You’ll follow and stand next to Liam while we wait for the girls to come down.”

Samuel shook his head. “No. I need to wait for Evie and help her walk. There’s a chair for her, right? I don’t want her standing long.”

“I set up a few folding chairs,” Carter told them. “I’ve also directed the guards to spread out and stay at the front of the house to give a little privacy. I’ll hang back by the path next to the side porch to watch as you guys do your thing.”

“Thank you, Carter.” Ben didn’t look up, too busy working on the latch of a diamond tennis bracelet Jamison was to wear. “We appreciate the help and watchful eye.”

The tiny bundle sighed in his arms, and Rowan snuggled a sleeping Albie against his chest. After coming back inside, he’d been assigned baby duty and didn’t mind in the slightest. “Who’s taking pictures?” he asked.

Will glanced at Selah, but Samuel quickly spoke up. “Oh, no. Selah is in charge of the music. Abe, where’s that Bluetooth speaker you use when working in the front garden? The big circular one?”

“In the library.” Abe closed his notebook and secured it in his lap. “But it’s loud with lots of bass. We can use something smaller.”

Samuel and Selah fist bumped with twin smirks on their faces. “Perfect,” Samuel said. “We want it loud.”

“Do we even need music?” Liam asked, now slipping into someone else’s sneakers. “Jamison and I never really settled on a song.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Selah shared a grin with Samuel. “Sammy and I have got this.”

Ben stopped what he was doing to frown at them. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing,” the brothers said in unison.

Ben didn’t look convinced.

“Nothing she didn’t ask for,” Selah clarified.

“Let’s just say we’re good brothers,” Samuel added. “And we always keep our promises.”

“I don’t trust your dad,” Rowan whispered to Albie. “He’s kind of shady.”

Albie didn’t respond, only giving him another sweet sigh. Rowan traced a finger along his cheek, careful not to wake him. Kids had never been on his radar, but thinking about having them with Annabeth had him not hating the idea.

The soft shuffle of Simone’s house shoes came from the hallway, and all the men went quiet when she entered the kitchen. Somehow, she was already more put-together than she had been minutes earlier.

“We’re ready,” she announced, surveying the room like a general preparing for battle.

“Liam, tuck in your shirt. Xavier, get a jacket. Ben, you’re wearing two different shoes.

Samuel, do something about that hair—it’s sticking up in the back.

Selah, find better pants. Spider-Man is fine for your son, but not for you. ”

As they all scrambled to obey, Simone turned to Will. “I’ve been instructed to make sure you have your glasses. I see that you do not. Please fix that.”

“Oh, yeah.” Will hurried off to the guest rooms to find his glasses and returned in seconds wearing them. “That is better.”

Simone turned next to Carter. “Thank you for setting up the chairs.”

“You’re welcome, ma’am.” Carter straightened under her approval. “I’m going to head out to make sure all the candles are lit.”

Carter slipped out the back kitchen door, slapping a hand on Liam’s shoulder as he left. Rowan didn’t know the exact history between them, but it was clear their families went way back.

Simone turned to him. “My grandson is swaddled tight and warm?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And you’re sure you’re fine holding him? Josie has Harper, I have Theo, Lenora’s with Xavier. If you’re not comfortable, we can switch things up.”

Rowan grinned down at Albie. “We’re friends now. I’ve got this.”

With a nod, Simone turned her attention to Holden. “Josie said you’re taking pictures?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Holden smiled around a bite of apple. “I’m your guy.”

“Well, then I guess we’re ready.” Simone clapped her hands together once. “Get into position. Ben, you’re with me. It’s time to bring the bride down.”

As everyone left to go either outside or upstairs, Samuel came over to check on Albie. “Let me see if he’s warm enough.” He fiddled with the baby blankets. “Wait until the last minute to bring him out. If it’s too cold, come back in. Or signal me, and I’ll take him. ”