Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78085 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I smiled. “My mother was thrilled when I confessed about the wedding as well, and I told her she could help if she promised not to drive Kris insane.”
Palmer laughed. “Your mom loves to plan a party, just like her daughter.”
“Can’t argue with you about that. And she is good at keeping a secret.”
“Again, apple doesn’t fall far.”
I flinched, hoping Palmer didn’t notice my slip. But she said, “Given the fact that you and Brax have kept your engagement on the down low, I don’t think anyone will see it coming.”
“We’re getting married on May thirteenth. I can’t believe it! The only people who know are us, our mothers, and fathers, Kris, and Pastor Scott. I think we have a good chance of keeping it a secret.”
She nodded. “I’m not worried about anyone slipping. I don’t think your mom or my mom want Ms. S finding out, so they won’t spill the beans. Our fathers are tight-lipped, too, and if we can’t trust the pastor, then who can we trust?”
I laughed. “It’s going to get harder the closer we get.”
“And how do we notify our guests about the location without giving away the surprise?”
“Mason and Brax have been trying to figure out a way to do it at the last minute.”
Chewing on the inside of my lip, I nodded and started to fold another shirt. “What if we ask my dad to help?”
“What do you mean?” Palmer asked with a confused expression.
I gave her a half-shoulder shrug. “I mean, my dad obviously knows who Ms. Seaside is. Maybe he can give her the information at the last minute and let her announce the wedding.”
Palmer’s eyes went wide. “Use her for our little bit of news!”
“Yes!” I said with excitement. “I mean, no one will see it coming. Everyone thinks you and Mason are getting married this summer, and no one has a clue that Brax asked me to marry him, or that you and I came up with this crazy idea to do a dual wedding in May.”
Palmer rubbed her hands together. “This is so great. Do you think she’ll do it?”
“Why wouldn’t she? After all, doesn’t she live for this kind of stuff? And to be the one to announce it is kind of perfect. Maybe she’ll even lay off of Brax for a bit. Maybe we can even have the wedding invitations delivered to those who are invited—”
“With the paper!” we both said at the same time.
“Yep,” I continued with a laugh. “I mean, it’s really only family and some close friends, and we know they won’t tell anyone if we ask that the location be kept secret. How hard would it be to have the invitations delivered with the paper? We’d have to make sure Dad doesn’t tell Ms. Seaside where and when we’re getting married, so the whole town doesn’t show up.”
“This could work!”
“It will totally work. Brax got Ron to reserve one of the ferries going over, so we don’t have to worry about that.”
“We’re brilliant.”
“Indeed, we are,” I replied.
“What are you brilliant about?” Sutton asked as she walked up to the counter.
Palmer looked panicked, glancing from Sutton to me, then back to Sutton.
I quickly said, “We came up with a cute decoration idea for Mason’s birthday party.”
Sutton grinned. “Fun! What is it?”
“It’s a surprise,” Palmer quickly said. “But it’s going to be the best surprise ever!”
“I love surprises. Does Mason know about it?”
I pointed at her. “No hints, Sutton.”
She blushed. “A girl can try.”
Brax
“Mom! Help! He has a spider!”
I watched three girls run by screaming with two boys chasing them at Charlie’s birthday party at Mason and Palmer’s house.
“Now that my eardrum is busted,” I said dryly, “you’re sure you want one of those?”
Gannon chuckled. “I think it’s a little late now, don’t you?”
“How’s Addie doing?” I asked before taking a sip of my beer.
“Great. We went for an appointment the other day, and they did a sonogram. She’s on track for her due date of July twenty-second.”
I turned to look at him. “What if Sutton and Addie have their babies on the same day? I mean, Sutton’s due on the eleventh, so it could happen.”
“All I know is, I pray—for both my and Brody’s sake—that neither of them go over their due dates.”
“Why?” I asked with a curious laugh.
“The bigger they both get, the more things get… Well, let’s just say sex has certainly gotten interesting.”
Another group of kids ran by, but this time my sister Palmer was running behind them, shouting, “Do not put that down his shirt! The fish needs to be in water or it’ll die!”
Gannon and I both watched, then looked at one another.
“So, do you want a boy or a girl?” I asked.
I swore my brother-in-law’s face twitched as he looked back at the group of kids. “Um…doesn’t matter. As long as they’re healthy. And they listen.”