Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79433 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Gannon frowned. “Please don’t say anything to anyone. I promised Brody I wouldn’t say anything, and I still haven’t been able to get the whole story from him.”
“What is it?”
He leaned in closer. “He’s been pushing for Sutton to get a restraining order against Jack now that he’s back.”
I gasped. “Why? Has he threatened her?”
Gannon shrugged. “Like I said, he hasn’t told me anything else.”
I took a quick glance around the room and spotted Sutton and Brody standing in a circle, talking to some other friends.
“We need to find out what’s going on.”
“Agreed,” Gannon said.
He squeezed my hip as we moved toward a group of people we still needed to greet. “Don’t stress, okay? This is our night, and I just want you to enjoy it.”
We both smiled and said our hellos while we walked around the room. “You’re right, but…”
“I knew there was a but.”
Turning to face him, I lowered my voice. “The only way I’ll fully enjoy this party is if you find out where Harlee and Thomas snuck off to, so we can make our own visit there.”
He lifted one hopeful brow, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “Mission accepted.”
Gannon and I spent the next few hours talking to our friends and family. By the time dinner was served, I was ready to pass out from exhaustion.
The party was being held above the Maine Bakery. It was the only bakery in town, and it had a huge upstairs event center for occasions just like this. Reunions, small parties, meetings, etc. My mom and dad had catered the food, while Maine Bakery had handled the desserts. Kaylee, the owner, made the most amazing desserts in the entire state. She was actually making our wedding cake, as well as cupcakes for the big day.
Everyone was seated, and I saw my mother coming out of the kitchen area. Whenever she and my father catered an event these days, they mostly hired people to help while they supervised.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
I looked up to see Sutton and Brody standing on the small stage, my sister tapping the mic.
“Now that we have your attention, Brody and I would like to thank everyone for coming. We know this isn’t a typical bachelor or bachelorette party, or wedding shower—”
“Boo!” Braxton called out before Palmer hit him in the stomach. “Oof! That hurt, Palmer.”
“Good,” my sister replied while everyone laughed.
“Anyway,” Sutton continued after shooting Braxton a dirty look. “We wanted to thank you for coming. We put together a little slideshow for everyone while the kitchen staff brings out the appetizers. Enjoy.”
The lights dimmed just enough for everyone to see the screen, but not so much that the servers wouldn’t be able to walk around.
Pictures of me and Gannon at ten years old appeared on the screen, and everyone let out an “aww.” They progressed through the years, just like the night he proposed. Camping, riding horses, skiing on the bay, snow fishing…so many of the amazing memories we’d shared over the years together. Then came high school, with proms, dances, and graduation. The slideshow ended with the engagement photos we’d had shot a week and a half ago over on Lighthouse Island.
Gannon laced his fingers with mine while my mother passed me a tissue to wipe at my tears.
Brody handed Sutton a glass of champagne just as the lights came back on.
“I’ll save my real speech for the wedding,” she said, “but I think we’ve always known that Gannon and Adelaide were meant to be. We couldn’t be happier for the two of you.”
Sutton lifted her glass as she wiped away a tear of her own. “To Addie and Gannon.”
“To Addie and Gannon,” the entire room said, and Gannon leaned over to kiss me softly on the lips.
“Now can we eat, please?” Braxton called out, and the entire room erupted in cheers.
“Adelaide, I heard you’re getting married at French’s Point. It’s so beautiful there. How were you able to get it last minute?” one of Gannon’s aunts asked. Or was she a cousin of his father? I couldn’t remember. There were so many people here that I hadn’t ever met before.
“We simply lucked out. Not very many people want to get married on Halloween. And it’s a Monday, so it’s not a very popular day to get married anyway.”
“True, true. When Ken told me you were getting married on Halloween and on a Monday, I thought for sure he was wrong.”
“Oh, I did as well,” the other woman said. Who was she again? Another cousin? No, a widow of someone’s. Damnit, how could I be expected to remember all of these people?
I felt Gannon’s presence behind me before he even said a word.
“Aunt Agatha, do you mind if I borrow my future bride for a few moments?”
“Aunt Agatha!” I said, not realizing it was out loud.