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And now, he’s in the kitchen again, cooking the hot food, making sure that everything is steaming and crisp when it’s put out on the table. Spicy honey glazed figs wrapped in bacon and served with a honey goat cheese dip, clam toasts with pancetta, and parmesan stuffed mushrooms coated in a brown butter sauce are put out just minutes before everyone is supposed to arrive.
There are various types of wine set out, and a bottle of fizzy, sparkling apple juice for Brooke. My fiancé is an amazing cook, but he can’t bake to save his life. So the dessert is fully catered, two cheesecakes that perch at the center of the table, one of them loaded down with a thick caramel sauce and honey-glazed pecans, and the other one topped with rum-soaked cherries, and a sauce of the same flavor. And a traditional tiramisu, my absolute favorite.
Brooke is the first one over, along with her mother, Sasha. The child makes herself at home, running her mother ragged as she insists on trying a little bit of everything at the table—even the parts of the menu that everyone knows she won’t like, such as the clam toasts with the pancetta.
Thankfully, his family is the one that arrives next. His parents first, Don and Cheryl dressed in what can only be described as their Sunday best, and Charlie next. He has a stunning woman hanging off his arm. She introduces herself as Noelle Trevaunt. She’s a kindergarten teacher, but her older brother is the head oncologist at a big-name hospital in the city.
Connections are made everywhere.
My family is a little on the late side, but no one really cares. The moment that Heather is through the doors, she comes charging over to me. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Sorry?” I ask.
“You’ve been back for five days, and I just find out?” Heather complains. “What’s that all about?”
I called my sister every day, even after we came back from London, but I didn’t actually tell her we were back until this morning. From our conversations, I knew my family would be at home today, so I wasn’t worried about my plan.
“Well, I have a surprise for you and I wanted to keep it that way until today,” I say, ducking backwards. “So that we could make the announcement here, to everyone.”
“Well, my parents already know,” says Grant. He gives my father a sheepish look. “That’s my fault sir, I’m sorry.”
My father frowns slightly. “What’s he talking about Ashley?”
Mary puts a hand on the crook of my father’s arm. “Give them time, dear. I’m sure that they’re going to explain.”
John crosses his arms over his chest. Heather frowns a little and steps backwards. “Did something happen while you were in London?”
“Yes,” I say. “But nothing bad. And I know that I should have called you when we got back, but we’ve been super busy, and we just really wanted… All of us here. Everyone to meet each other, everyone to be happy.”
Charlie goads, “Come on, out with it! I want to pop the cork on that wine!”
“Hush,” scolds Noelle, but she’s clearly trying to hide her own laughter, too. “You’re being rude.”
“She’s right,” says Cheryl. “Listen to your date, Charlie. Don’t be rude.”
Snickering, Grant teases his little brother, “Oh no, are you being rude? Maybe you should get another lesson on manners?”
“Don’t worry,” says Noelle, cheekily. “I’ll have him saying please and thank you before the night is done.”
Cheryl barely smothers her own caught-off-guard laugh. Charlie’s cheeks go bright red, even the tips of his ears flushing. Thankfully, Don wasn’t around to hear that, either. Charlie might not have recovered if that was the case. The poor guy would have just died of embarrassment.
I want to keep teasing him too, but I decide that it’s not fair to keep my family waiting in suspense even longer. After all, they’re the only ones here that don’t know. Heather is looking at me as if she’s about to launch into a game of twenty questions, too, and I know that once she starts poking around, the jig is going to be up. She’s smart, and as soon as I dodge a question or two—yeah, there won’t be any surprise to share.
It’s better to just make our announcement.
I step over to Grant, wrapping an arm around his waist and leaning against him. A strong arm wraps around my shoulders, his hand settling on my upper arm.
Heather leans forward. She’s looking me over. Her gaze finally latches onto my hand, and the rings on it. She gasps, one hand flying up to cover her mouth. “You got—”
Charlie elbows her, gently. “Come on, Heather. Let them be the ones to spill the beans.”
“Sorry, sorry.” Heather’s cheeks are faintly pink at the scolding. She waves a hand at me, but everyone else has already started to piece it together.
My nice, thought-out speech gets thrown in the trash. I shove my left hand outwards, so everyone can see the stunning diamond rings that I’ve been wearing since our trip to London. “Heather’s right. We’re engaged!”
My mother lets out a sound that’s terribly close to a scream. I’d been expecting Heather to tackle me in a hug, but my mother is the one to do it instead. She grabs me up into her tightest grip, and I’m quick to return it. The rest of our guests give out a polite round of applause. Even my dad, who always looks stern these days, can’t hide the smile on his face.
“We’re going to get married in Maui,” says Grant, “And then we’re going to honeymoon in Greece. I know that it’s going to be a bit of a trip for the wedding, but I’ll make sure that all of the expenses for travel are covered for everyone here.”
