Chapter Fifty-Eight
Jessica
Alan: I miss you, babe! I can’t wait to see you tonight! I don’t suppose you can sleep over?
Me: I miss you, too! And you already know the answer.
Alan: I know, but my dad always said it never hurts to ask.
Are you bringing Ruthie with you?
Normally, I’d have to. The airport was over an hour and a half away, and with her feeding schedule, she’d need to be nursed while I was gone.
But now that she was taking a bottle better…
Me: No. My mom said she’d watch her.
Alan: Wow. So the bottle is working out?
Me: Your mom was right. The trick is to wake her up and give it to her. If she wakes up hungry, it’s not happening.
Alan: That’s awesome. Now I’ll be able to help so you can sleep through the night.
Me: I don’t know if my body would even know how to do that anymore.
Alan: It’s like riding a bike.
I better finish up things here at the office. I have to leave for the airport soon, so I have time to return the rental and get through security.
Me: I’ll see you tonight.
Alan: Can’t wait.
Me neither.
Being apart hadn’t been as hard as I’d thought it was going to be. We’d video chatted twice a day and texted way more.
Our late-night texts had gotten flirty, even bordering on naughty.
And I’d loved it.
Although I’d made sure to delete those before I went to sleep. Because what if I fell and hit my head on the way to the bathroom and my parents found my phone?
I’d die from embarrassment.
I was busy making a pie when Lainey came back into the kitchen and asked, “Do you have the keys to your minivan? Alan sent Adam to fill up your gas tank, so you’re all set to pick him up tonight.”
“He doesn’t have to do that.”
She gave me a patient smile. “You know, I’ve found it’s best not to argue when the Callahan men have made up their minds about something. Just smile and accept the pampering.”
I kind of loved that even a thousand miles away, Alan was still making sure I was taken care of.
****
Alan
When I’d gotten back to my house after leaving the office Tuesday afternoon, I called Cameron, my handler, and gave him my notice.
He wasn’t too happy about it but eased up on the patriotic guilt trip once I explained I was getting married.
“You’ll have to do at least one more mission,” he reminded me. “Two if we can’t replace you within six months after you leave for your next assignment.”
“I know what the contract says. If you can, I’d like to get the first one out of the way as soon as possible and get the clock started.”
That way that obligation would be over with. If I had to go on a second one, I’d deal with it if the time came.
“I can’t control the state of the world, Al.”
“No, but you can put me next on the list. I just can’t go before August first.”
“Is that the big day?”
“It is.”
“My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail,” he snarked.
“We haven’t mailed any invitations, but you still wouldn’t be getting one because you’re not invited.”
“You wound me, Marine,” he said with a fake sob. “I have feelings, ya know.”
“No, you don’t.”
His voice returned to normal when he replied, “You’re right, I don’t. I’ll see what I can do about getting you out after the first.”
“It doesn’t have to be right away. I am taking her on a two-week honeymoon.”
“Now you’re just being demanding.”
“Consider it a wedding present.”
“Etiquette says I don’t have to give you a gift if I’m not invited to the wedding. Which you so cruelly pointed out, I am not.”
“A going away present, then.”
“Like I said, I’ll see what I can do.”
“I appreciate it.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
Apparently an invitation to my wedding was a hot commodity, because at the office the next day when I was getting ready to leave, Sarah stated, “I better be invited to your wedding.”
That surprised me.
“You want to go to North Carolina in August? It’s hot and muggy there this time of year.”
“No, I don’t want to go to North Carolina in August; the humidity is going to wreak havoc on my hair. But I do want to see my boss get married, and since that’s taking place in North Carolina in August, I guess I’ll suck it up.”
“I’ll make sure you get an invitation.”
“My feelings are kind of hurt I haven’t gotten one already.”
“I got engaged six days ago—and I’ve been here for three of those. We haven’t sent anyone an invitation yet.”
That I know of.
Although I wasn’t one hundred percent certain. There was no telling what Jess, Lainey, Jade, and Kristy had gotten accomplished in the last three days.
But I did know that they were supposed to take Jess clothes shopping that afternoon. I’d entrusted Lainey with my credit card again. I would have given it to Jessica, but I knew Lainey would be better about following my instructions to, “Not be shy about using it.”
****
Jessica
Denise showed up at the bakery around one that afternoon and came into the kitchen. She’d insisted on watching Ruthie while we went on our appointments in the afternoons this week. And I certainly wasn’t going to tell my future mother-in-law no.
“Hello, dear. How are the wedding plans going?”
“We’ve got the flowers, cake, and photographer all booked. We’re meeting with a DJ at two today.”
“Oh! I didn’t realize you were getting a DJ.”
“Lainey insisted. And since she’s letting us have the reception at the bakery, I didn’t argue with her.”
Mrs. Callahan smirked. “That’s probably a good idea.” She tilted her head and asked, “Did you decide on a location for the ceremony?”
“In my parents’ backyard.”
“That’s perfect! Since you finalized the locations, when are you going to send out invitations?”
Invitations?
Oh shit.
The panic must have shown on my face, because my future mother-in-law just calmly patted my hand and said, “Your wedding is unconventional, and I doubt your guest list is going to be that big. Email invites with maybe a follow-up phone call to anyone who doesn’t respond should be perfectly fine.”
“You don’t think an email is tacky?”
“Absolutely not. Besides, printing and mailing invitations isn’t feasible with your short time frame. People who care about you will just be happy to be invited to share your special day with you. But you probably want to get your guest list finalized tonight so you can send those out tomorrow.”
“We should have time to talk about it on the drive home from the airport.”
“Good idea.” She glanced at her watch. “What time should I wake Ruthie up?”
“You don’t have to watch her today. The DJ is coming here.”
A conspiratorial smile ghosted her lips before she said, “I think Lainey has something planned for afterward.”
~~~~
As I stood trying on a pair of shorts and blouse in the dressing room of the South Haven’s only clothing boutique, Lainey’s voice called from outside the curtain, “Come out and show us!”
I was barefoot when I stepped out and stood awkwardly with my hands clasped in front of me as Jade, Kristy, and Lainey perused me from head to toe.
“Oh, I like it,” Jade murmured.
“Super cute,” Kristy agreed.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. It seems awfully expensive. I think I could find something similar online for a lot less.” I glanced at the sales clerk standing behind the counter, hoping she hadn’t heard me.
She didn’t react, so I thought I was safe.
“We’ll put it in the maybe pile,” Lainey declared. “Go try on the next one.”
Apparently, Alan had instructed the ladies to take me shopping for honeymoon clothes, and they were taking their job very seriously.
I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman as I tried on jeans, dresses, rompers, shorts, blouses, shirts, bathing suits, and, yes, lingerie.
And I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive group to go with. I loved that they had no problem vetoing some outfits, but the majority of the clothes I tried on ended up in the “maybe” pile.
“Okay, let’s narrow our selection,” I suggested when I came out in the clothes I’d walked in wearing. I’d made some mental calculations and decided on the outfits that would give me the most bang for my buck.
Lainey made a pouty face. “Oh, I’m sorry. We already had everything rung up and bagged.”
“What?” I shrieked. “No! That’s way too much money!”
“Okay, I’m not supposed to tell you this, but Alan’s wedding gift to you is a new wardrobe. He wanted everything delivered to your new house so it’s all there when you move in.”
“He did what?”
She shrugged. “He said you made a comment about needing new clothes after having Ruthie.”
“I can’t believe he did that,” I murmured before a tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek.
Lainey noticed and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Whoa! What’s wrong?”
“What am I supposed to get him that even comes close to this? I mean, he just bought me a minivan on Sunday!”
Kristy waggled her eyebrows. “Oh, that’s easy.”
“No, it’s not!” I glanced around before lowering my voice and continuing. “Every time we’ve messed around, he makes sure I co—you know. But he won’t let me return the favor.”
Lainey wrinkled her nose. “I think you’re going to have to get aggressive and not take no for an answer.”
The idea made me nauseous.
“I don’t know if I can do that.”
“Sure you can,” Jade chimed in. “We’ll help you.”