The Chesapeake Diaries Series (147 page)

“I’ll have water, thanks,” Vanessa said.

“I’m good,” both Dallas and Brooke replied.

“Speaking of hunky guys …” Dallas turned to Brooke. “Who was the cutie you were with at Logan’s game on Saturday morning?”

“That was Eric’s brother, Jason. He paid a surprise visit. To see Logan. He’s sticking around for a few days to spend some time with him and go to a few games. Logan is Jace’s only nephew, so he just wants to spend a few days getting to know him a little better.”

Steffie returned to the room.

“So what else do we need to know about your wedding plans?” Brooke asked.

“That was a slick attempt to change the subject.” Stef handed Vanessa the requested bottle of water. “However slick it may have been, it’s been rejected. We’re not done grilling you about you and Jesse.” She looked around the table. “Anyone feel they’ve heard enough?”

Dallas and Vanessa both shook their heads.

“There you have it. It’s unanimous. So spill.” Steffie sat and waited. “What’s going on?”

“I’m not even sure
I
know what’s going on,” Brooke admitted. “I went over to his office the other night and we were going over the changes I wanted in my will, and the next thing I knew, I was on his lap and … I don’t know, something just came over me and—”

“It’s called ‘lust,’ ” Dallas told her. “You’ve been alone a long, long time, girl.”

“I guess.” Brooke nodded. “But it wasn’t just that. There’s something about him that I really like. Something about him that makes me …”

“Hot?” Stef suggested.

“No. I mean yes, but no, something more than physical.” Brooke thought for a moment, then said softly, “When I’m with Jesse, I don’t hurt anymore.”

“Awww, honey.” Stef got up and put her arm around Brooke. “I don’t know what to say.”

“There’s a first,” Vanessa quipped.

“Sounds like this could be serious.” Dallas leaned both arms on the table.

“It might be. I’m almost afraid that it could be. When you’ve loved someone and they’re taken from you, the way Eric was taken, you don’t ever want to be that vulnerable again. You don’t want to ever be in a position to feel that kind of pain again. At least, that’s how I felt. But there’s something about this guy …”

“Sounds to me like you’re starting to fall for him,” Vanessa said.

“I think maybe I already have.”

“How does Jesse feel about you?” Dallas asked. “Do you know?”

Brooke nodded. “I’m pretty sure he feels the same way. He’s up-front about things. If this were a fling, I think he’d say so. I think he’d be honest about that.”

“No one ‘flings’ with the Halloween queen in my town,” Stef told her. “Bring him to the wedding and we’ll all observe.”

“That should make for a fun night for all, with everyone watching my every move. Besides,” Brooke
added, “you’re going to be too busy being The Bride to be worried about what I’m doing.”

“Don’t kid yourself. My capacity for such things is boundless.” Steffie gathered the dishes, all of which were empty except for Vanessa’s. “Okay, so what didn’t you like about it, Ness?”

“What?” Vanessa looked down at the bowl where the ice cream had melted into a creamy soup. “Oh. I guess I’m still full from dinner. Sorry, Stef.”

“It’s okay. You can taste-test later, if you like. Or tomorrow.” Steffie removed the bowls and disposed of them in the trash behind the counter. “Now, since we have so many fun things to celebrate, I think I’ll open that bottle of wine I picked up yesterday.”

She went into the back room and returned with a bottle and four plastic cups. “I’m glad you and Vanessa like the dresses we picked out, Brooke. We thought they’d go nicely with the overall color scheme, which is basically white. Although Dallas’s dress is really silver, but a darker shade than yours.”

“Because I’ve been married before,” Dallas reminded them. “I didn’t want to wear white. I do have an eight-year-old son.”

“I think those old rules are being stretched all the time,” Brooke told her. “I think any bride should wear whatever color or whatever dress she wants to wear.”

“I agree.” Dallas nodded. “And this dark silver is exactly what I wanted. It’s all sequin-y and sparkly and I love it. It’s just what I had in mind.”

“It’s spectacular and Dallas looks like … well, she looks just like a big Hollywood movie star in it,” Steffie told the others.

“It is almost over-the-top,” Dallas agreed, “but stops short of ‘is she kidding.’ ”

“Anyway, I’m wearing white.” Steffie put the bottle on the table. “I cannot believe that I am going to be wearing a gown designed by Teresa Kearney.”

“Me either. Never in a million years did I ever think I’d have something of hers. Even the knockoffs are beyond my reach,” Brooke said. “It was very cool of her to offer complimentary gowns for the attendants.”

“She’s going to be getting a gazillion dollars’ worth of free publicity from doing Dallas’s dress. She
should
do something special for the wedding party.” Steffie opened the wine. “Anyway, for Dallas’s wedding, we’re wearing the silver dresses and carrying white bouquets that will be dusted with silver glitter. For my wedding, you all and Dallas—who will wear her silver wedding dress—will wear wide satin sashes.”

“What color?” Brooke asked.

Steffie grinned. “The MacGregor tartan. On the sash and wrapped around the bouquets, which for me will be white and red. No glitter. Oh, and I found shoes that are made in the tartan plaid. I’ll need your shoe size so I can order those, everyone. And that reminds me, I’m going to have to have Grant call his former wife and make sure that Paige can come to St. Dennis to have her dress fitted. Not that the child would mind. She’d rather be here with her father than in Ohio with her mother.”

Dallas took a small notebook from her bag and started to write. “Paige will need two pairs of shoes, then, since she’s in both ceremonies. I’ll get her size
for you, Stef, so that you can order a pair of the plaid ones for her.” She looked up at her soon-to-be sister-in-law. “Do they have flats?”

“They do, but I think she can wear a small heel. She’s thirteen now.” Steffie began to pour wine into the plastic cups.

“You’re right. I should have thought of that. Don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with my future stepdaughter.” Dallas made another note in her pad.

“Was that a sort of pun?” Brooke asked. “Shoes? Wrong foot?”

“A poor attempt at best.” Dallas took the cup of wine that Steffie handed her and took a sip. “Oh, this is yummy. Where’s it from?”

Brooke picked up the bottle and read the label. “Oh, Ballard Vineyards. I didn’t know they were putting out such nice wine.”

Steffie sat and picked up her glass. “Let’s toast the upcoming wedding.”

“And Brooke’s new relationship.” Dallas took a sip. “I think we need to celebrate that as well.”

“Okay, and we should also …” Steffie paused and looked across the table at Vanessa. “Is there something wrong with the wine, Ness? You haven’t touched it.”

“I guess I’m just not in the mood for wine.” Vanessa tapped her fingers on the side of the cup and looked everywhere except at one of her friends.

“You are always in the mood for wine.” Stef put her own cup down. “Are you sick?”

“No.”

“Are you … depressed?”

“No.”

“Then are you—” Steffie stopped midsentence. “Vanessa Keaton, look me in the eye.”

“No.”

“Talk,” demanded Steffie. “We’re your best friends. If something’s wrong, we can help you. Did someone say something that upset you? We’ll … why, we’ll …” She thought for a moment. “We’ll beat them up for you, right?” She looked to Dallas and Brooke for confirmation and they both nodded.

Vanessa sighed. “It seems as if … that is, I got one of those little test things … and … and …”

“Oh my God.” Stef reached across the table. “Are you pregnant?”

Vanessa’s eyes filled and she nodded. “It appears as if I am.”

“Why, that’s wonderful! A little baby Nessie or Grady!” Steffie pulled Vanessa from her chair and hugged her. “Aren’t you thrilled?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure how I feel,” Vanessa said.

“What’s wrong, sweetie?” Dallas asked.

“Well, for one thing, you guys might remember that Grady and I are not married.”

“Have you told him?” Brooke reached out and took Vanessa’s hand.

Vanessa nodded. “He’s over the moon. He can’t wait to get married and …”

“And …?” Brooke coaxed her to finish.

“And what if he only wants to marry me because I’m pregnant?” Vanessa sniffed back tears.

“Are we talking about the same Grady Shields who’s been talking marriage for the past six months?” Steffie tugged her friend back to her chair. “The same
Grady Shields who sold his house in Montana and moved his business here to be with you? The same guy who flies back and forth between here and the great American West a couple of times every month so that he can keep his business
and
live with you?”

Vanessa nodded.

“So when Grady asked you to marry him … when did that happen, anyway?” Steffie frowned.

“Thursday night.” Vanessa sniffed back tears that Brooke thought she was awfully close to shedding.

“And you said what, sweetie?” Brooke asked.

“I didn’t say anything. I just cried. He figured that meant yes, because he said something about talking to Beck and Hal … you know, ask for my hand or whatever it is guys do with the men in the woman’s family.”

“Awww, that’s so sweet,” Steffie cooed. “How could you not say yes to a man like that? How could you not say yes to Grady? You’re totally head over heels in love with him.”

“Could I remind you all that I was married before?” Vanessa looked from one to the other. “Not once, but twice? Neither of those turned out so good.”

“Well, duh. Husband number one was an old man who you married to get away from a crazy home situation, and husband number two was an abusive psychopath you married to get away from husband number one. Neither of those relationships has anything in common with what you and Grady have,” Steffie assured her. “Didn’t you tell me that you’re happier now than you’ve ever been in your life? That Grady is the best thing that ever happened to you?”

Vanessa nodded. “Yes, but—”

“There are no
buts
in love. You and Grady belong together. Sometimes you just have to trust, Ness. This is one of them.”

“You’re right. Of course you’re right. You’re all right,” Vanessa said. “I’m being goofy, that’s all.” She pushed her chair back and stood up. “I think I’ll go home now, if we’re through here.”

“Go home and make sure Grady knows the answer was yes.” Brooke stood and hugged her.

“A resounding yes.” Dallas waited her turn to give Vanessa a hug, too.

“Come on, I’ll walk you out,” Steffie told her.

“No need. I’m parked right out the back.” Vanessa kissed Steffie on the cheek. “You really are the very best friend I’ve ever had.”

“Of course I am.” Steffie walked with her to the back door and unlocked it.

“I love you guys, too,” Vanessa called to Dallas and Brooke.

“Love you, Ness,” they both called back.

“Isn’t that nice? Another wedding to look forward to.” Steffie came back with a huge smile on her face. “And a baby. That’s the first baby for our little group. It’s exciting.”

“ ‘There are no
buts
in love’?” Brooke deadpanned. “Seriously, Stef?”

“It was the first thing that popped into my head.” Steffie looked sheepish. “Okay, I admit it wasn’t my best.”

There was silence for a moment, then Brooke and Dallas began to giggle. Steffie looked wounded for all of about five seconds before she joined in.

“All right, it was bad.” Steffie picked up the wine bottle and refilled the three cups. When she finished, she raised her cup and said, “To happily-ever-afters for all of us. To beautiful weddings and beautiful new babies and beautiful new beginnings and for finding love when we least expect it.” She grinned and because she just couldn’t resist, added, “No
buts
about it.”

The following evening, while Brooke was studying for one of her exams, her phone rang.

“Bing Cherry Barrister,” the voice on the other end said.

“Excuse me?” Brooke asked. “Who is this?”

“It’s Stef. The ice cream for Mr. Enright’s birthday party is going to be Bing Cherry Barrister. I was trying to think of something really good, and I remembered that he always asks for chopped-up cherries on his ice cream when he comes in to Scoop.”

“That’s terrific, Stef. But are you sure you’ll have time …?”

“I’ll make time for him. He was my mom’s cousin Horace’s attorney. You know, the Cousin Horace who left me his house in his will? So no, it won’t be a problem. Just let me know how many people we can look forward to serving.”

“As soon as I know, you’ll know. The invitations only went out a few days ago, though.”

“I’ve never met a guy yet who would think that’s a problem.” Steffie laughed and hung up.

Brooke sat for a moment with the phone in her hand. Finally, she dialed Jesse’s number.

“Stef’s on board to make a special flavor for your
grandfather’s birthday,” Brooke told him when he picked up. “Bing Cherry Barrister.”

“That’s great. Thanks for asking her. I was going to stop down earlier today, but the day got away from me and then I took my grandfather to dinner.”

“Think he’ll be surprised about the party?”

“Oh, yeah. There’s no way he’d ever suspect. It’s going to be very cool.”

Brooke could sense him grinning, could almost see the dimples and the dancing light in his eyes. He was obviously tickled about the whole idea of surprising his grandfather.

“I guess you haven’t had any RSVPs yet.”

“Actually, I did have a few via return email.” He paused. “I think there might be more than one surprise that night. I hope he’s okay with it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I invited a few … relatives he hasn’t seen in a long time. I hope he’s glad to see them, if they show up.”

“Maybe you should have talked to Violet before you mailed them out. Or your uncle Mike.”

“Mike’s in Florida, but I’m not sure he would have been the best person to ask. I did speak with Violet, though, and she thought it was a good idea, so I’m trusting her. We’ll see.”