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Love. I can’t get over hearing him call me that—even if I’m still a bit mystified over why he didn’t tell Topher about us on their phone call. But that’s a question for another time. I squeeze his hand in response.
Alberta drones on about official policy, finally reaching the part of the meeting where we get to say our bit. “I believe a representative of the Loveland Winery is here?”
Kelsey squeaks as Elisse and their oldest brother Oliver push her forward. She looks completely darling in a ruffled purple blouse that makes her brown eyes pop behind her glasses, which I notice she sometimes wears later in the day. “Y-yes.” She clears her throat. “Yes. Here.”
“Well, go on then.” Alberta waves her gavel in the air again. Her muscular forearms sink into the table. “Your parents are really okay with this? I thought Dan felt the same way I do about outsiders.” She turns her glare on me again.
Lucy pats my hand in solidarity. I lean my head on her shoulder as thanks.
“He and my mom both agree that Chloe and Frederick are no longer outsiders.” Kelsey glances at us both, smiles. “They’re friends, and we want this wedding to be everything it should be.”
Burt shoots us a thumbs-up and exaggerated wink. Simone smiles at us. Both good signs.
“Hmm.” Alberta rolls the gavel between her fingers. “And can anyone show just cause for why this wedding should not be allowed to take place at Loveland?”
I hold my breath. It’s like those few seconds at a wedding ceremony when the preacher asks a very similar question about why two people shouldn’t marry.
Someone coughs in the background. But nobody says a word.
“All right, then I suppose it’s time to take a formal vote. All those in favor of granting the permit so Chloe Marie and Frederick Shaw can marry this Sunday at Loveland Winery, say aye.”
Burt lifts both his hands high above his head. “Aye!” His voice rings loud and clear.
Alberta rolls her eyes at him.
Simone presses her lips together and smooths a stray blonde hair back into her bob. “Aye,” she says.
Alberta doesn’t say a word, just frowns, because even though she’s clearly opposed, there’s nothing she can do to stop this from happening. “Fine. By the power vested in me—”
“You’re not a freaking priest, Al!”
“I said shut up, Earl,” she snarls, then composes herself and lifts her gavel again. “By the power vested in me—”
“Wait! Stop.”
My blood goes cold because I recognize that voice. I turn and look over my shoulder at the giant of a man staggering through Rainbow Ice’s front door, pushing people out of the way despite their protests.
It’s Ricky, of Black Hole drunken fame.
“What’s that blighter doing here?” It’s Frederick’s turn to snarl.
“Easy, Muscles,” I say, though I’d like to know the same thing.
Alberta sighs. “You’re supposed to be minding the store, Ricky. What do you want?”
“I’ve got some information, Ma.”
I nudge Lucy in the side. “Ma?”
“Oh, yeah, did I forget to mention that?” She grimaces. “Don’t worry. Alberta despises him almost as much as the rest of us do. She doesn’t take anything he says seriously.”
“And he doesn’t know anything,” I say. How could he? Nobody here would tell him my secrets.
I relax my shoulders. For all I know, Ricky’sinformationis that we hooked up after he hit on me at the bar. Obviously, the man is delusional if he thinks he knows anything that will change the minds of people here.
Ricky finally makes his way to the front. He stands hand and foot over everyone else. “This wedding”—he slurs—“is a sh … a sh …”
“Spit it out, son. You’re wasting our time.”
