Chapter 28
“To future happiness and love!” Sue Ellen called out holding up her second drink Harper had made her. It was pink. It was full of vodka. Sue Ellen had a cute blush on her cheeks as Tally sipped pink lemonade with Leah, Lacy, and Lindsey. “I love you all so much!”
“We love you too!” the crowd shouted back to Sue Ellen.
Nellie had never been happier, nor had she seen her sister happier. The celebration continued as the women talked about love, life, and the shocking number of weapons hidden in the church.
“Nell,” Kenzie said to get her attention.
She gestured with her head to have Nellie join her away from the others.
“Jen worked her magic in Charleston and I got Gavin to help too. He’ll be back from vacation on Monday, but he was able to sweet-talk one of the nurses in Boston.
To keep within privacy laws, we made this page and it was shared on to as many people as we could find. ”
Kenzie turned her phone to a social media page with a graphic Nell, Kenzie, and Jen had developed.
“Oh my gosh,” Nell said with surprise as she grabbed the phone.
“There are already thirty comments. Wait, there’s more now.
I can’t believe it. Look at the comments!
” Nell tried not to tear up as she read the replies to the RSVP post.
“I think we might need someplace bigger than the bar,” Kenzie told her.
“Will Karri let us use her space too?”
“Let’s go ask.”
Nell was wrapped up in her surprise planning when James Avery joined them.
Nell watched James Avery race to his mom talking a mile a minute about cereal.
Nell glanced around and her eyes stopped on the governor and first lady.
They were introduced as Gator’s parents and seeing them next to Gator she wondered how she never made the connection before now.
“Where are all the guys?” Nell asked Harper.
“Dare said they were doing some ‘male bonding stuff,’” Harper chuckled before Gator motioned for Nell to join them.
“It is such a pleasure to meet you and your beautiful children,” Mrs. Mercer said to Sue Ellen as James Avery whispered something to Tally.
Sue Ellen looked uncomfortable, so Nell swooped in and introduced herself.
However, it didn’t take long for Sue Ellen to relax as Mrs. Mercer and her husband ditched their political persona and seemed to meld back into Shadows Landing.
They hugged old friends, told Sue Ellen stories of Gator as a child, and loved on Tally and James Avery as if they were the children’s grandparents.
It was certainly a change from how Ingram’s parents treated them.
To them, they should be seen, not heard.
“Nellie,” Gator whispered, motioning with his head to step away from Sue Ellen. “I know it’s crazy, but I want to ask Ellie to marry me. Tonight. What do you think?”
“I think she’d love that. She can’t stop talking about you.”
Gator looked relieved. “Can you go meet Rowan at the marina? It’s for the proposal.”
Nell was out the door a second later. It wasn’t just Rowan at the marina. It was all the missing men. And Skeeter’s ship looked like something out of a fairy tale instead of pirate lore.
“They’re coming!” Turtle called out, sending everyone scrambling off the ship and into the shadows of the marina.
“What’s going on?” Nell asked as Rowan escorted her onto the ship.
“The proposal,” he said with a wink.
Nell craned her neck to get a good view of the ship as they were ushered into their hiding place. A minute later, Gator’s parents, Skeeter, Mary, and Turtle joined them. “They’re almost here,” Turtle whispered.
A second later the sound of James Avery’s and Tally’s excited feet racing across the deck could be heard.
There was silence as everyone watched through a small window as Gator got down on one knee and Tally climbed up to perch on his raised knee.
James Avery stood beside them holding a ring box from where Gator plucked the ring and slid it on Sue Ellen’s finger. Then tears, laughter, and hugs.
“She said yes!” Gator shouted and it was chaos. The family burst from their hiding spot and all of Shadows Landing raced from the trees and other boats in the marina. Fireworks were set off over the river as Gator kissed his fiancée.
“Nell!” Sue Ellen cried, racing over to her holding up her ring finger. Nellie enveloped her sister in a tight hug as they both laughed and cried. Happiness had been a long time coming and now it would be celebrated.
Gator had James Avery on his shoulders and Tally on his hip as he came over to kiss Sue Ellen. “I can’t believe you said yes to a man like me.”
“To an honest, loving, loyal man? There was no way I could say no to you, Gator. You’re our protector, our joy, our Gator, and we love you.” Sue Ellen kissed him again as Tally put a smack of a kiss on his cheek.
Gator turned away, but not before Nell saw him swiping away a tear.
“What a perfect night.” Rowan slipped his hand around her waist and kissed her temple.
For everything Gator was to Sue Ellen, Rowan was to her.
These men held their hearts and she wasn’t going to pretend she didn’t love him.
She was going to be loud about her feelings for him.
They were forever. “I love you, Rowan,” she said loud enough for everyone around her to hear.
“And Liv better not beaver dam me tonight.”
Olivia laughed and held up her hands. “Wouldn’t dream of it, sis. Speaking of sisters, looks like I'd better call Pen and tell her that her brother will be getting married soon.”
“The mysterious younger sister. I can’t wait to meet her.”
Music began to play and the party turned into a romantic dance on the ship’s deck. “Shall we?” Rowan asked, holding out his hand for her. She placed her head on his shoulder as they swayed to the music. Could tonight get any better?
The answer was yes. Twice. Later that night after they got home.
“I still can’t believe I’m engaged,” Sue Ellen said as they drove Nell’s recently returned car to Shadows Landing’s schools.
“Have you set a date?” Nell asked on that bright sunny Monday morning.
“I think we’re going to take our time. Let the kids get adjusted to living here.
Let things with Ingram and his family . .
. and ours, settle down a little. I still can’t believe Mom and Dad were reading me the riot act only to do a one-eighty so quickly it gave me whiplash when they met Gator’s parents.
” Sue Ellen rolled her eyes and Nellie laughed.
It had been a spectacle for sure. “We’re thinking springtime. ”
“I think that sounds perfect,” Nellie told her.
This past weekend, they’d gone back to Holland Springs. It was just as they left it. Within minutes, they both wanted to leave. However, they spent the weekend packing up their respective houses, closing accounts, and generally ending their lives there and moving to Shadows Landing.
Nellie parked at the high school and the two sisters looked at each other as they took a deep, calming breath. “Good luck,” Sue Ellen said, holding out her pinky.
Nellie hooked her pinky with Sue Ellen’s and they kissed their thumbs and broke apart. “Good luck to you too.”
They got out of the car and headed inside to meet with Susan Kingsley.
An hour later, they got back in the car.
They turned to each other, looking in each other’s eyes, and then screamed as they did a little dance in their seats.
Sue Ellen would have time to get certified before school started.
She’d be working as a long-term sub for a third-grade teacher on maternity leave for the semester to gain the hours she needed for her teacher’s certificate.
Providing everything went well, she’d be offered a full-time position.
Effective next Monday, Nellie will be the new school psychologist for all three schools.
She would work with each administrator to set up a program for each school.
Nell turned on the car and the radio filled the air.
“Judge Ingram Faust, who was arrested last week in Shadows Landing, South Carolina, has been handed over to the FBI. This afternoon he’ll be arraigned in federal court.
In a twist, his father, Mayor Graham Faust, has also been brought up on federal charges. ”
Sue Ellen reached forward and turned off the radio. “Ridge broke ground on the addition this morning,” Sue Ellen told her. “He hopes to have it done before school starts.”
“That’s great. I think I may have to move Rowan’s surprise party to WET. There’s been so many RSVPs that we might all fit here in Shadows Landing, but we wouldn’t be able to move.”
“I can’t wait to see his reaction next month. Where is Rowan today? Back at the hospital?”
Nell shook her head. “No, he said Miss Ruby and Miss Winnie needed him and Forrest for something. I think he said they’re at the marina.”
Sue Ellen’s brow creased. “What would they need them for at the marina?”
Nell thought about it. “You know, I don’t know. Why don’t we stop by to see if we can help?”
Nell pulled into the marina. She was surprised she remembered how to use the brakes on her car after seeing what she thought she was seeing. She put it in park, but wasn’t sure if she turned it off or not as she and her sister slid from the car completely speechless.
“I feel as if I shouldn’t be watching this,” Sue Ellen managed to say.
“You should definitely be watching this.” Jordana was laughing so hard she was having trouble standing upright.
“Why are they naked?” Sue Ellen asked in a shocked whisper.
“And holding pies in front of their dicks?” Nell asked.
“I think the better question is how are they doing that while holding hands and skipping,” Jordana asked through peals of laughter.
Miss Ruby gave some directions and the twin brothers looked ready to die on the spot. “Did you say patty cake?” Forrest asked, looking down at where he was holding, rather tightly, the pie in front of him. “How are we supposed to manage that?”
Miss Winnie giggled so hard she fell down. Rowan rushed forward, his pie held firmly in place, to check on her. “I’m sorry, we couldn’t resist and you sweet boys did it.”
“Why are Forrest and Rowan naked with pies?” Nell asked warily.
“The Summer Festival. Miss Ruby and Miss Winnie make banners using the men of Shadows Landing naked with their pies as their promo material. The men who pose get a pie a month for a year,” Jordana told them.
“And it’s totally worth it. I told Forrest if he didn’t do this, he wouldn’t get any sexy time for a month.
That pie is seriously the best ever. It’ll change your life. ”
Rowan helped Miss Winnie up, then what looked like a more professional photoshoot started.
“They’re good at this,” Sue Ellen said.
Nell had to agree. The twins moved as one and the shots were fantastic. Nell had to admit to taking a couple of photos with her phone too.
“How big is this banner?” Nell asked as the guys wrapped up.
“Oh, it’s big. Like ten feet tall. I can’t wait to see which photo they pick.”
“Thank you, boys. We’re done,” Miss Ruby called out.
Rowan and Forrest looked relieved. Then they turned their backs to everyone, raised up their pies from below waist level, and dug in while flashing everyone their matching bare bottoms.