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Amused, Portia asked, “Why does that sound familiar?”
Eddy replied, “I think I may have heard that phrase before, too, somewhere.”
Portia sighed and smiled, “Okay. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, I suppose.”
“Exactly.”
Sylvie weighed in. “Oliver and I want to pay for your honeymoon. Do you and Kent have a place in mind?”
“We haven’t talked about it, but the women’s convention is in San Francisco during the week after the wedding, so I’m hoping he’ll agree to have it there. If he prefers not to, we’ll pick someplace else after the convention and let you know.” Although, in Portia’s mind, the choice made good sense. The convention encompassed only one day, and they could stay over a bit longer and take in the sights.
Eddy added, “Oh, and, Portia, Rhine and I want to give you and Kent the Blanchard property as a wedding gift.”
Portia’s eyes went wide.
“So until you get a house built, we’re offering you the bridal cottage out back.”
Portia’s brain was still stuck on the first offer. “I thought Uncle Rhine had other uses in mind for that property.”
“He did, but now the use will be up to you and Kent to decide.”
Still stunned, Portia glanced at Regan who smiled.
Portia was silent for so long, Eddy prodded her, “Well, do you want the use of the cottage after the wedding or not?”
“Yes.” Newly married guests sometimes used the hotel as a honeymoon destination and were given the well-furnished one-bedroom cottage on the outer edge of the property. Not only was it furnished but it offered beautiful mountain views and complete privacy. She couldn’t see Kent turning down the offer. For sure, neither of them wanted to use their assigned bedrooms in the family wing as their chief domicile, not even temporarily. Deciding she’d sort it all out later, she said, “Thank you so much, Aunt Eddy, and thank you especially for the land.”
“You’re welcome. Rhine and I will do whatever is needed to get you and Kent into your new place as soon as possible.”
Portia hugged her tightly. Ideally, the role Eddy was playing belonged to her mother, Corinne, but since she’d abandoned her claim, Eddy was all she needed. “Thank you.” She’d told Eddy at least a thousand times how grateful she was for the way she saved her life, and she felt as if, even if she said it a thousand times a day for as long as she lived, it would never be enough.
“You’re welcome.”
When Kent and Rhine returned, they shared what they’d found.
Eddy said, “How ironic that he may have died from the same fire.”
Portia agreed. She didn’t have it in her heart to mourn Parnell’s passing, but she was glad he wouldn’t be around to hurt anyone else.
Once the conversation was over, Kent wanted to get cleaned up, so Portia walked with him. He asked her, “Did you know Rhine was going to give us the Blanchard land?”
She hooked her arm in his. “No, Eddy surprised me with the news earlier. I think it’s wonderful. We’ll have our own place.”
“Have to have a house built first.”
“I know, but in the meantime, she says we can live in the honeymoon cottage out back.”
“There’s a honeymoon cottage?”
“Yes. We can see it after you’re done. Also, Sylvia and your father want to pay for our honeymoon.”
“That’s nice of them. Do you know where you’d like to go?”
“San Francisco.” And she explained about the convention.
“If that’s what you want to do on the honeymoon, it’s fine with me, as long as you don’t get so worked up at the convention you decide you don’t want to be married anymore.”
They were now standing in the shadowy hallway of the family wing.
