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“Bex and Junie went with her. From what I understand, Mara was only allowed veto power.”
I laughed. “That’s good. Mara doesn’t have the best fashion sense.”
Barrett grinned. “I’ve heard.”
“Barrett?” I rubbed the grooves in his forehead smooth with my thumbs. I looked into his beloved face. I had one more question.
“Willa.” He cupped the back of my head in his big palm.
I pressed my forehead against his. “When did you know?”
He held my eyes and offered me a small smile. “As soon as you left.”
Then he tipped back my chin and kissed me.
Barrett
He waited for her, as he always had, as he always would.
The flowers arrived a few hours after he proposed, and the arbor under which he now stood was covered in them. Rhys stood beside him and Junie across from him as Willa’s Maid of Honor. Zale waited inside the house for Willa.
A few short hours ago, when he and Willa went back into the house, it was to complete and utter pandemonium. Jeanie, realizing Willa was pregnant, was only the tip of the iceberg. Laughter abounded as everyone detailed the things they had done to prevent Willa from giving Barrett the news, as well as the division of labor and diversion tactics that went into pulling off a surprise wedding.
Barrett stood a step removed, his usually serious face creased in a smile, watching the people around him, most of whom resided in his heart, celebrate their happiness. Olivia wandered in and out of the room as she wished, and the twins circulated between family members, taking their turns to swing on Barrett’s arms.
Rhys relayed in detail, to much laughter, the stress he and Barrett were under while Zale was not only cool under pressure but enjoyed the excitement. Zale turned and winked at Mara when that truth came out. She laughed.
Junie confessed to stealing Willa’s wallet, her fabricated headache, and the faked incomplete project that had sat ready at her home the entire time. She also detailed how Minty arranged the spa day to do the double duty of getting Willa ready as well as keeping her away from Barrett.
Bex explained how she and Mara kidnapped Willa to go get tattoos, as well as how they crashed her karaoke party, which was engineered by Minty and Junie to deflect attention from Barrett’s avoidance techniques.
Willa laughed hearing all the stories and joked to Barrett that he only asked her to marry him because he knew she was knocked-up.
This was what he was afraid of, so he explained.
“There’s an order to things. First, I was going to move you in with me. I figured once we were living together, it would be easier for you to accept my ring. Then we’d get married and start working on that baby,” he rumbled, placing his big hand over her belly. “You’ve turned the whole plan upside down. Baby first, ring and wedding on the same day, and moving in last.”
He watched her face as he spoke, saw the doubt fade away, and drew her close to his side.
“I couldn’t be happier, curly,” he murmured in her ear. “You’re everything I’ve always wanted.”
She snuggled into his arms. “I guess we’re having the shortest engagement ever?”
“I’m not upset about this.” He grinned at her and watched as her beautiful face lit up.
After the stories had all been told, Zale took Olivia, and Rhys took the twins, home to get ready. The girls went upstairs to help Willa choose her dress, then Minty and Junie left to get what they needed from home. They came back almost immediately to be with Willa. Lenny, who was taking Junie ring shopping the following week, would drive in with Lucky, closer to the start of the ceremony.
Barrett and his dad helped set up the flowers in the backyard while his mom set out the flowers in the living room where they’d have their wedding dinner. There were flowers everywhere.
It was the theme chosen by the girls considering Willa’s penchant for wearing them and explained the floral tie he and the rest of the male guests had to wear. Minty handed out matching ties to all the men, including Lucky, who stared bemusedly at the offending item. Finally, Minty stepped forward and expertly knotted it around his collar for him and he stared bemusedly at her instead.
Jeanie ran around bringing the girls snacks and drinks to keep them going until dinner. The catering arrived right on time, along with the two servers they hired. The pastor called to reassure them she’d be there, and the photographer arrived early to set up.
Even the weather cooperated.
They were ready.
Mara, Bex, Calum, Jeanie, Lenny, Olivia, Amelie, and Cole gathered in a small cluster facing the arbor, holding hands. Lucky sat on the bench, gently picking out the melody to ‘Two is Better Than One’ as they waited. He’d gotten a haircut, his shaggy locks sitting a little closer to his head.
