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Abbey’s stomach roiled and her heart raced, waiting for the grandmothers to say something. They were hiding something. If either one of them was sick, she didn’t know what she’d do. Darren’s diagnosis was bad enough.
She was grateful that with Luke’s encouragement, Darren had admitted how sick he was. Although his prognosis wasn’t good, Abbey could sense both Darren and Luke were relieved the news was out in the open. She knew Darren would put up a good fight. He could very well be part of the lucky twelve percent that survived after five years. That was what Abbey and the rest of their family would pray for.
It turned out the grandmothers weren’t sick, but had booked themselves on a senior’s cruise with some of their friends. It departed from Miami a week after Jake and Cassie returned from their honeymoon. After some heated discussion and objections regarding the ladies’ health and safety from Abbey’s and Jake’s fathers, Darren got everyone to agree he would hire a competent doctor and nurse to accompany the feisty women on their cruise as a safeguard, not to babysit them.
When a few stomachs growled, it was decided rather than risk another scene in one of the hotel restaurants, they would order room service.
Everyone was somber as they ate, Darren’s condition likely weighing on everybody’s mind. “Luke, you and Abbey need to start making wedding plans. You said you wanted to get married as soon as possible, didn’t you?” Darren asked.
Abbey wasn’t so sure how fast they should move now. With Darren’s surgery coming up and his treatments following, maybe they needed to reconsider their timeline. She wanted Darren to be able to enjoy the day with her and Luke.
“No, Abbey, don’t second-guess your plans. Move forward. I’ll do my best to be there with you both in person, but if I can’t be, with your technical know-how, we can live stream the entire day so I won’t miss anything,” Darren insisted and then took a bite of grilled chicken.
Luke picked up his cell phone and scrolled through his contact list until he found what he was looking for. “You good with having our reception at Cucina Antonetti’s, too, but at their Barrington location?”
Jake and Cassie’s reception had been so wonderful. Antonetti’s Barrington location was newer and fancier than their Elmhurst restaurant. Abbey didn’t want to step on Jake’s and Cassie’s toes. She didn’t want them to think she and Luke were copying them.
“We’re fine with it, Abbey. They do a great job with weddings and banquets,” Cassie said around a mouthful of steak stir fry.
Luke pressed the call button and put his phone on speaker. After two rings, Carlo Antonetti’s voice came on the line. “Cucina Antonetti’s, this is Carlo.”
“Carlo, it’s Luke Stryker. You’re on speaker with Abbey and our family. I need your help. When’s the soonest you can host our wedding reception at your Barrington restaurant with the large combined room?”
“Congratulations! Let me see what we have. One second.” They heard the click of the keyboard as Carlo must have looked up the restaurant’s event calendar.
Abbey heard Carlo sigh. That didn’t sound good. “Luke, it’s party and wedding season, and the rooms get reserved far in advance.” Abbey’s heart sank. This was going to be a problem. Carlo was right about booking. Jake and Cassie booked their own reception a year in advance.
“Wait, I think I might have something. Does the day of the week matter?” Carlo asked.
Abbey and Luke looked at each other and shrugged. “No, not really. What do you have for us?” Luke asked and took a hold of Abbey’s hand.
“I have the large combination room for you on Wednesday, September sixth. It’ll hold four hundred guests. There’s a small business dinner in one of the smaller rooms. I can block out the other rooms like we did for Jake and Cassie.”
Luke cupped her cheek with his strong, warm hand and looked at her tenderly. “Do we have ourselves a wedding date, princess?”
Abbey felt a tear slide down her cheek. She nodded and smiled at her amazing Viking fiancé. “Yes, we have ourselves a wedding date.” The room cheered and Abbey cried.
“All right, Carlo, mark the groom’s name down as Lucas Morrison.”
Lucas was Luke’s legal first name. Abbey knew Morrison to be his mother’s maiden name. To avoid another fiasco, they would have to be careful. Different names were a must. She didn’t want to think about what kind of extensive security detail they would need.
“Mark the bride’s name down as Leann Reynolds,” Abbey’s mother called out. Leann was her mother’s middle name and Reynolds her maiden name. Abbey saw Cassie immediately make a call and speak in hushed tones.
“All right, we’re set.”
“One other thing, and don’t argue because you know I’m right, Carlo,” Luke began. Abbey had no idea what he meant. “We’ll pay you to close the restaurant for the day. We have no choice and you know it.”
Carlo sighed over the line. “Fine. If you’re not able to find a church, we can remove the tables from the main dining room, set up chairs, an altar, and make due. Call me when you’re ready and we’ll work out the details.”
“Thanks, Carlo. I’ll call you by the end of the week.”
Cassie disconnected her call and clapped her hands. “I spoke to Pastor Jenkins at Grace of God. The church is available for Leann and Lucas on Wednesday September sixth. You can have the rehearsal on Monday September fourth! That’s Labor Day. You should have your rehearsal dinner at Golden Horns.”
Their wedding day was taking shape. Abbey couldn’t believe it. But what about a dress? It took Cassie months to receive hers. “Luke, I won’t be able to get a dress in time.” Abbey felt tears pricking her eyes.
Luke kissed her cheek and flashed her a cocky grin. “No worries, princess.” Luke scrolled through his phone contacts again and pressed the call button.
After the first ring, a southern man’s voice Abbey didn’t recognize spoke. “Asher.”
