Chapter 60 #2
“Ryan. And yes, technically, one of his brothers is the co-founder of Lux with Wells, but that has nothing to do with our relationship.”
“Right, yes, that’s right. That’s a great response, too. Keep that one for when the press asks at your and Brian’s engagement party.”
“Ryan, and I already had one. It was the night of our engagement.”
Silence.
I pull the phone back to make sure I didn’t lose the connection.
“I don’t understand. You couldn’t have already had one, your father and I weren’t there.
” A twinge of guilt starts to creep in at that fact.
“We would have had it at the club, or the tearoom has better lighting for the press. No, we will host the official one, of course. There will need to be a public statement from our PR firm, and we would need to vet the guest list because it’s just a precursor to the actual wedding itself.
Oh, I bet Wellington would be there, too. Wouldn’t that be a delight?”
Any small amount of guilt evaporates.
“No, there is no need for statements, and no press is required, Mother. Although we may put a wedding announcement in The Cotton Ledger.” I smile at the thought.
The small-town newspaper still publishes updates like weddings, engagements, and babies being born to families in town.
I find it charming, and secretly, it’s the first time I’ve wanted to see my name in a newspaper.
She hums. “I’m not familiar with that outlet. Are they domestic or international?”
“It’s the local newspaper of Forrest Falls.”
“In Forrest—I don’t understand. Honestly, Harlow. Did you hit your head? Where in the world is Forrest Falls? You say these things like I should understand what you are talking about. You’re supposed to be the genius, but sometimes, your communication skills are downright laughable.”
“Mother, Forrest Falls is Ryan’s hometown, and where I have basically been living since the holidays, outside of a handful of evenings I’ve spent at my condo or out of town for work.”
“And Ryan is Jack’s brother?”
I huff and look up at the ceiling, counting to five internally before I respond.
“Yes.”
Two points to me for not saying what I wanted to.
“And does Jack live in Forrest Falls as well?”
“Mother, I am not marrying Jack. Jack is in a committed relationship, and I love them as a couple and as members of my soon-to-be family. I am marrying Ryan. He is amazing, and this is where it would be appropriate for you to be happy for me.” I stomp my foot—grateful no one else could see my childish action. So much for my two points.
“Appropriate would be you marrying someone your father and I matched you with, but we will have to deal with the cards we’ve been dealt. I can start calling a few wedding planners I know and have them looking into venues. Is Ryan religious or would he be open to a wedding at The Plaza?”
She’s still not listening to me. “That’s not necessary. I’m not getting married in New York.”
“Excuse me? Of course, you will be getting married in New York. We can’t expect guests to travel to some small town—unless you want to have it on a private island.
I could get behind that, but it would need to be the right island.
A beach wedding would help incentivize you to get in shape if there would be a strapless gown, nothing crazy, maybe just twenty or thirty pounds to help you look your best.”
“Mother. No.”
“No? No to what, exactly?”
“All of it.”
“Harlow, if you expect your father and I to pay for the wedding of your dreams, then there will be stipulations and expectations,” she huffs.
“I understand that, and I appreciate the offer, but no. No to The Plaza or private island, no to the huge guest list and people I don’t even know being at my wedding, and no to you telling me what I have to do for my own wedding, especially when you're more concerned about who his brother is instead of the man I am actually marrying. No.” My hands are vibrating, and I clench my hand into a fist to try and stop the shaking.
“If you are going to throw a tantrum over basic requests, then you are even more of a bridezilla than I thought possible with your attitude. We will have a say in things or your father and I will not be there, Harlow.”
“Then that’s your choice.”
“Excuse me?”
“If you can’t choose to support me, then you can choose not to be present. That’s up to you.”
“Harlow, honey, can you give me a hand please and grab the strawberries and blueberries out of the fridge?” Savannah’s voice pulls me back to the present. I nod and move to Murphy’s massive refrigerator to hunt for the berries Savannah needs to add to the fruit salad she is now working on.
“Is your dad’s fridge always this full?” I locate the berries, but not without having to dig a little.
“Today is a bit more because of the party, of course, and since they added the fridges in the barn, it helps for big get-togethers. But yes, he is usually stocked in case we pop by—and I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s a lot of us.” Savannah winks with a grin.
I return the smile. “I have noticed, and I think it’s awesome.”
“Yeah?” Savannah’s smile grows. “That’s great, because we are super excited to officially add you to our family. Countdown is, what, just under three months to go? How’s that all going?”
I pick up a paring knife and start dicing berries next to her.
“Something like that. I think we are just going to keep it pretty simple. If the weather cooperates, we will have it in the field behind the barn, but if it rains, I love that the backup plan is literally feet away.”
“We can get bistro lights to make the entire interior look like a fairy wonderland. If you want, of course, it’s up to you, and I don’t want to overstep. But please know that Viv and I would love to help in any way we can.”
“Hey now, what am I chopped liver? I want to help too!” Tinsley’s voice startles me as she and Jack walk in from the mudroom.
“Wedding talk? I love wedding talk! Jack … I love you too. Now, go away, so I can hang with my girls.” Tinsley hops up on a stool at the kitchen island and blows a kiss to Jack.
“Sounds good, baby. Hi, ladies. Happy Fourth of July,” Jack says as he walks over to Tinsley and kisses her cheek before going out back to join the growing crowd.
“Hey, girl. I wasn’t sure if you would make it today with rehearsals,” Savannah says to Tinsley, who nods as she reaches over and grabs a strawberry to pop in her mouth.
Tinsley’s Freedom Tour will officially kick off in Nashville a few days after our wedding, and from what she’s shared about it so far, I don’t expect we will see much of her until her brief holiday break before she heads back out on tour. This tour is special—and incredibly personal for her.
“I know. Rehearsals really pick up in the next week, but I made sure to block the entire holiday, and also, I don’t have anything until tomorrow afternoon in case I have a little too much fun tonight.
” Tinsley winks. “We finalized what dancers will be joining me for the first leg of the tour, and probably the whole thing, but we will see.”
“You have enough planning on your plate with everything!” Our small wedding is nothing compared to the logistics she is facing daily right now. Tinsley waves away my concerns.
She reaches over and takes my hand. “I will always have time and space for my people, Harlow. Always.”
I try to blink away the tears that dare to fall. “That means more than I can even say, Tinsley. Thank you.”
“Well, there goes my mascara!” Savannah fans her eyes. “You two have had quite the road to our family, but damn, I’m so glad you are both here.” She pulls me into a hug as Tinsley slides off the chair and joins on the other side.
“I have no context, but I am not getting left out!” Vivian cries from the porch door as she rushes over and joins the group hug.
“The context is that we are so happy to have these two ladies in our family,” Savannah tells her sister.
“See? I knew it was good. And I agree. I’m so glad y’all chose our stinky brothers to fall for.”
“It was never a choice for me. It was always Jack,” Tinsley replies.
“I may not have a childhood crush as a foundation,” I say as Tinsley giggles. “But Ryan chose me just as much as I chose him.”
“Maybe Liam isn’t the only genius in our family?” Vivian jokingly asks.
“No, he’s not. We have Harlow now, too,” Savannah says as she squeezes me in another hug.
I can only nod as the emotions threaten to break my composure completely.
Ryan gave me so much more than just himself in our relationship—he gave me an entire family.