Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“I’m just really pumped that I actually have a dad, and that he wants to be part of my life. I can’t wait for you to meet him.” His voice lowered a little. “I know it might be strange to say this, since we’re exes and all, and we can’t be too close of friends out of respect for Lori, but I really appreciate how good you were to me when I was struggling, and I know I wouldn’t be in this awesome place in my life without your help. Thanks for everything. See you tonight.”
Wow. That was not what I expected. I stared at my phone in awe for a moment, then set it down and picked up my coffee.
“Everything okay?” Frannie asked, coming over to top off my coffee. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Yeah, fine. I just had this crazy voicemail from Mason. He found his biological dad.”
Frannie’s eyebrows shot up, her blue eyes going wide. “Really?”
“Yes.” I outlined what Mason had told me in the voicemail.
“So they’ve established contact?”
“Yes. Apparently he’s coming to the wedding.” I shrugged. “Coming from where, I don’t know, but I didn’t get the impression he’s local.”
With the coffee pot still in her hand, Frannie looked off into the distance. “I can’t imagine being told I had an adult son after so many years. That has to be strange. I wonder if he has other kids—like if there are brothers and sisters to be met.”
“Mason didn’t say.” I broke off another piece of my scone and ate it. “But I kind of hope so. Mason only ever had his mom, and he always used to say how much he envied our family, how big it was and how close we all were. Discovering relatives he never knew about would be like Christmas morning for him.”
“I wonder if they look alike. Maybe I’ll be able to pick him out.” Frannie and my dad were attending the wedding, since Lori worked for Cloverleigh Farms. In fact, I’d have several family members there—Lori’s boss in the winery was my Uncle Henry, married to Frannie’s sister Sylvia. And my Aunt Chloe, another of Frannie’s sisters, was CEO of the entire operation. She’d be there with her husband, Oliver.
“I guess the dad is coming to the rehearsal tonight as well,” I told Frannie. “It sounds like Mason wants him to have some kind of role in the ceremony.” I took another bite. “I wonder if he’s married and bringing his spouse. Maybe they could be seated before Lori’s grandparents or something. I can’t imagine he’ll want too much attention. ‘Reserved’ was the word Mason used to describe him.” I picked up my coffee for a sip. “This is so crazy—it’s like soap opera stuff!”
“What’s his name?” Frannie asked.
“You know what? Mason didn’t say. Just that he’s a Navy SEAL.” Which made me think of Zach again. Kind of an odd coincidence. But then, Dex was a former SEAL too. There must be thousands of them.
Frannie smiled at me. “Should be an interesting night.”
After a hot shower, I blew out my hair and put on a black sleeveless dress with a mock turtleneck and a hem that hit my knees. Over it I wore a camel-colored blazer, and I slipped a pair of leopard-print heels into my work bag. Once my makeup was done, I stepped into my flats, snatched my umbrella, and headed out.
On my way to Cloverleigh Farms, I stopped at an office supply store to grab some file folders—I wanted a place to put all my research about bridal salons. As I was hurrying back to my car, I saw a man across the parking lot get out of an SUV and hustle toward a huge gym at the far end of the strip mall. Something about him reminded me of Zach—the beard? The broad shoulders?—and I squinted, trying to see him more clearly. But before I could get a good look, he’d disappeared into the building.
I stood there for a moment at the side of my car, wondering if I’d lost my mind. A chill moved through me.
Then I laughed at myself and shook it off, tossing my umbrella in the back seat before sliding in behind the wheel. Clearly, the number of orgasms I’d given myself while thinking about him were getting to me.
Still, the image of the man’s broad back and long strides stayed with me all day.
I was meeting the Holt and Campion wedding party in the main lobby of Cloverleigh Farms at quarter to five, so at four-fifteen, I shut down my laptop, slipped into my blazer, traded my flats for the heels, and reapplied my lipstick. Not Red Carpet, of course—being the wedding planner meant doing your best to blend into the background, so I chose a more neutral beige gloss.