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Summer tucked away the clipboard and tossed her hands out to the side. “Whatever happens now, happens. Not much we can do.”
Beside her, Adam nodded in agreement and added a playful wink.
“I guess that much is true. Lay the foundation and hope it all works out.” Erin tucked a wavy strand of hair back into the bun from which it escaped. “Where should we sit? Are there sides?”
“Nope, it doesn’t matter. Mia and Zachary are out there, as are Chloe and Benjamin, who just came back, right?” she asked Adam.
“Yes. He’s got Holden all ready. I think Landon’s out there too.”
Erin smiled as her energy grew. “Ooh, excellent, I need to talk to him. See you out there too.”
Erin, David, and Vera were walking through the pub when Landon entered.
“Oh great, you’re all here.” Landon crossed the space in a few footsteps, stopped the trio from exiting, and flagged Summer over. He lowered his voice as he scanned the immediate area. “Everything still a go for tonight?”
Summer nodded. “Absolutely.”
Landon’s focus jumped back and forth from the doors to Erin, David, Adam, and Summer. “And she has no idea, right?”
Erin spoke before anyone else had the chance. “Not a clue. This whole event has been very wedding focused, so when it happens, she’ll be totally surprised. If all goes to plan, it’ll happen after the dinner and dance, just before the fireworks.”
He stepped closer, sighing with relief. “Thank goodness. After everything lately, she needs this, and I want this for her.”
“It’ll be perfect.”
“That’s the pl—”
Summer followed his interrupted gaze over to the couple entering into the pub – Mitch who seemed to be practically holding up his partner, Cedar.
“Everything okay?” Landon walked over, with Adam and Summer just a few steps behind.
“Oh yeah. She’s got a terrible backache though so she’s not moving real fast.”
“I slept wrong during my nap, and my sciatica is killing me,” Cedar offered, and rubbed her exceptionally round belly. “Apparently this one is pushing down on my last nerve.”
“Did the baby drop?” Summer couldn’t help but stare at Cedar’s baby bump which had been nesting under her boobs just a couple of days ago. It was considerably lower today.
She rolled her eyes and chuckled lightly. “Oh, hell yeah. Now I pee every three minutes instead of every ten. Speaking of which... I’ll meet you out back.”
“Only three weeks of misery left,” Mitch said under his breath as he watched Cedar lumber toward the bathroom. “Eric here yet?”
Adam nodded and pointed to the patio. “He and Lily are out there with Delilah, but Henry’s with Francesca.”
Delilah was Eric and Lily’s sweet baby girl, born on Halloween. She was the calmest baby ever seen as far as Adam and Summer were concerned. She never cried. Barely even whimpered.
“Yeah, Fran’s watching Zig and Saf too. Going to have her hands full with three toddlers for an overnight stay.” Mitch adjusted his suit jacket, twisting a little as if it was painfully uncomfortable. It was a huge change for him rather than being in overalls, or tee shirt and sweatpants. However, he cleaned up nicely. “Overnight should be fun.”
“What a great way to ring in the new year though. A cruise along the coastline, fireworks too. Going to be a blast.” Summer beamed and held her hand over her chest as a dreamy expression filled her face.
When Amber and Antonio suggested the yacht for the reception, Iris and Holden agreed, although it meant restricting the list slightly, but that worked in their favour. Turned out Mother Nature agreed the ship was the most perfect location too, as the weather was shaping up for calm seas and a clear night, and thankfully, not as cold as a typical New Year’s Eve would be either.
“There she is.” Mitch walked over to Cedar, smoothed out the back of her dress, and offered her the crook of his arm. “See you all outside.”
Summer followed them out and stood at the back, doing a head-bopping scan of the guests. With the ceremony ready to start, almost everyone important to the couple was already seated, and those who weren’t, like Libby, Antonio, and Amber, were upstairs with the bride.
The guest list hadn’t cracked thirty people, but it was the small, cozy, and intimate celebration the bride and groom wanted.
The front row, on the groom’s side, sat a couple of unfamiliar guests; Holden’s mom and sister, and a couple of friends from the university where he worked. But other than that, it was a true Cheshire Bay gathering, full of all the people who adored Iris and Holden and became their second families. Perfect for the two lovebirds.
