“There’s no reason for you to postpone your wedding,” he said with a knowing grin. “You have another very good option.”
“We do?” Dean said in surprise. “Last we checked in, all the other venues in town are either booked solid or also got damaged.”
“Not all of them.” Cooper shook his head, his lips quirking upward.
“What do you mean?” Dean asked. He exchanged another look with Noelle, and both of their expressions were intrigued and hopeful.
“I was going to leave this news to Delilah, since she was so excited for you to know, but I’m sure she’d want me to tell you in this moment.” Cooper smiled. “We went out to the Turners’ place with some food, right? And Cedric was showing us around the grounds, mostly to give me a tour of all the damage to the landscaping. I wanted to know what happened so that I could give him a repair estimate that much sooner—although I think I’m going to talk with my boss about giving everyone whose landscaping was destroyed by the storm a discount for repairs. They shouldn’t have to pay twice, it’s not their fault the sky decided to play nasty.”
Julia cleared her throat, since Cooper had gotten distracted and not noticed the way Noelle and Dean were squirming in their seats with impatience.
“Oh, sorry.” Cooper grinned. “Well, while we were there, Cedric showed us inside his barn, and it turns out he used to host events there. It’s still fully functional and gorgeous. He said he’d be more than happy to let you use it for your wedding if that’s what you wanted.”
“Oh my gosh.” Noelle squeezed Dean’s hand, looking overjoyed. “That’s… wow. I mean, we did really love that other venue, but?—”
“This is a relief,” Dean finished for her, since she seemed to be struggling to find her words. “What do you think? Would you want to do that?”
“I adore the idea of not waiting,” she said. “But I guess… well, do you think we could really make it everything we’ve been hoping for? It’s a very different venue from our original pick.”
“I’m sure you could,” Faith said eagerly. “I’ve been to a few barn-style weddings, and they were all gorgeous. I mean, most of your decorations were centerpieces, right? So those you can have anywhere. And I’m sure you’d be able to hang fabric and lights from the barn ceiling just like you wanted to do at your other venue.”
“I’m sure you could.” Cooper nodded. “Cedric also said that you could hang lights and greenery or fabric on the staircase and along the balcony that surrounds the main room. I’m sure that would look amazing.”
“Oh, that sounds magical,” Julia said eagerly. “I’ve also been to a wedding that had the reception in a barn. It was just gorgeous—you’re right that it would be a different vibe from the place you originally picked, but I think you might end up liking it just as much or better.”
“And I’m definitely willing to compromise in order to marry you that much sooner,” Noelle said, turning to Dean with a radiant smile.
“And I’m more than willing to help you in any way I can,” Faith assured them. “We can work together to make sure this is still the wedding of your dreams.”
“Me too,” Julia said, and Vivian nodded eagerly.
“This sounds like the answer to your problem,” Vivian said, placing a hand on her heart. “I’m so glad you have this other option.”
“Me too,” Hazel said, who had been listening intently even though she was part of the board game on the other end of the table. “I’m here for anything you guys need.”
The rest of their table chorused their agreement, even Samantha, who seemed to have forgotten all about making her move in the game.
Faith’s heart filled with joy as she listened to the words of her family.
I love them so much,she thought, looking around the table at the faces of the people she loved most in the world.I want them to know how much I care about them, and how grateful I am to be a part of this family.
A flutter of excitement filled her chest as she wondered if there was a way in which she could truly demonstrate what they meant to her. She pondered the idea as they continued to discuss Dean and Noelle’s wedding reception, and her mind tried to come up with a plan as they all moved to the living room for more board games and a delicious dessert of blackberry pie with ice cream.
CHAPTER TEN
Hazel stepped up to the picture window and peered outside for what must have been the seventeenth time that morning.
“They’ll get here, Mom.” Samantha looked up from her reading perch on the couch and laughed. She had the day off from school, and she was waiting with her parents for the arrival of the Fishers. “When they get here, we’ll notice, I promise.”
Hazel chuckled. “You’re right, honey, but I’m just so excited. I can’t wait to have guests in our home, and I just want them to get here.”
“Why are you so excited?” Samantha asked curiously.
Hazel was taken aback by her daughter’s question. She’d been so busy with helping out at The Lighthouse Grill, preparing their home for the Fishers, and doing her regular work as a receptionist as well as taking care of her home and family with Jacob that she hadn’t stopped to think about why she was so eager for the Fishers to arrive.
“I guess I love the idea of helping people,” she said. “I feel really bad about what’s been happening to so many people in town, and being able to do something about it makes me feel kind of relieved, you know? And I think too—” Hazel’s words slowed down as she wondered how to phrase her suddenrevelation to her daughter. “You know how things are more fun with Dad here? When it was just us, it was amazing, and part of me misses those times, but I know we’ve talked about how we’re both happier now that our family is bigger. And I grew up in our big family with all your aunts and uncles, and that was so fun. There was always something going on, and I really enjoyed that feeling of a big community inside one house. I think I’m so excited about the Fishers coming here because I love the idea of our house being filled with people the way my house was filled with people when I was growing up.”
“That makes sense.” Samantha nodded. “I think I would be happiest if every night felt like dinner night at Grandma’s house. Everything’s better when we’re all together.”
