Chapter 40 – Eden
EDEN
Six Day Until the Wedding
“You owe me,” Jasper mutters, chugging his pitch-black coffee.
I roll my eyes. “You shared a room with Wade your whole childhood. Doing it again for a week isn’t going to kill you.”
“It’s not going to kill me,” he clarifies. “It’s Wade you have to worry about. He got on me this morning for not making my bed right. I had to listen to a whole lecture about hospital corners. If he keeps it up, he’s going to end up with my boot up his ass.”
“You can always pitch a tent in the backyard if you’re that annoyed with him,” I suggest. “But take it down by sunrise. I don’t want it in any wedding pictures.”
“The wedding is for one day, not a whole week.”
I ignore him. I know that when I asked to hold the wedding here, Jasper and Reed wouldn't realize that a wedding takes more than a day. There’s the rehearsal dinner, the brunch the morning after, and of course the bridal party will be staying longer.
They never imagined they’d have to deal with more than twenty-four hours of visitors.
Wade, at least, went in with clear eyes. He might not be an event planner, but as a foreman, he's the closest thing in the house. He knows how hard it is to get people in and out of somewhere this remote, both staff and guests.
Still, Wade isn't exactly happy about giving up his guest house. We have multiple houses across the ranch for the seasonal staff to use. That was before more housing opened up a half-hour drive away. We still offer the houses to farm hands to stay in during our busy season, but they rarely take us up on it. I don’t blame them.
The single apartment building and the trailer park over in the larger part of Sundre are close to the grocery store, the pharmacy, and our town’s single restaurant and bar.
Jasper is still complaining to nobody when I head out to make sure the houses are stocked and guest-ready.
Wade’s house is the closest to the main house.
I put James, Maura, and Hazel in there, partly so they wouldn’t have to walk far if they needed help with the baby and partly because Wade is the neatest. As I expected, he made sure to leave the house pristine.
He even changed the sheets and put out fresh towels, and I remind myself to hug him for being so helpful.
Despite his complaining, Jasper made sure the house he shares with Reed wasn’t a total disaster.
I have to give the kitchen a wipe down, but the main spaces and Jasper's room were clean enough. Reed’s room, unfortunately, is a complete disaster.
Clothes are strewn everywhere, and half the band posters he’s tacked to the wall are peeling at the edges.
I don’t even want to know why he has a sword on the desk he stole from me.
I just shut his door, and plan to tell Pippa and Ryan to stay clear.
It's a bit of a hike for me to get to the staff cottages.
The smaller one has been renovated recently, with ivory walls and maple-washed wood.
I suspect, based on the pink bedspread and matching curtains, my brothers have kept this house open for me, in case I ever planned to move back.
A small pit forms in my stomach. The careful renovation is a gesture of love, one they must feel like I threw back in their faces.
Just another reminder that I chose to leave them.
At least the house is perfect for Cat and Nate. Nate made sure to send baby supplies ahead, so I confirm that the bassinet and changing table are ready to go. I instructed Reed to set them up a few days ago, but it’s always 50-50 with him whether he’ll listen. In this case, he did me a solid.
The last house I've visited several times over the past few days. I transformed the largest cabin into a bridal suite, putting vases of wildflowers in every room and a handwritten note on Brinley’s pillow.
I stocked the fridge and cabinet with all her favorite snacks, and made sure a guest room was photo-ready for bridal prep.
I even hung up a white silk robe reading “bride” across the back.
It’s exactly the kind of corny gift that Brinley will roll her eyes at but secretly love.
Once I’m satisfied with Beau and Brinley’s house, I let out a breath. The guests start arriving this afternoon, and we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.
I’ve set up the main house for a welcome party.
The kitchen is fully stocked with drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and I can smell the burgers Wade’s grilling out back.
Mom, Jasper, and even Reed are sitting on the front porch with me, waiting for our guests.
Everyone flew together in James’s private jet, except for Luke, who had an Air Canada meeting and had to fly out the next day.
I try not to let myself feel disappointed.
With each couple renting their own car, I’m not surprised that their arrivals are staggered based on driving style. The first car to come down the drive is a flashy Ferrari convertible, which I’m not surprised to see Ryan driving.
“I'm sorry I broke your gates,” he says by way of greeting, handing me a metal hinge. Jasper stares at him, horrified.
“I would offer to fix it, but I don’t want to make things worse than they already are,” Pippa says, then turns to my mom. “You must be Eden’s mother. She’s told me so much about you, Mrs. Locke.”
“You can just call me Rose,” Mom says.
Pippa leans down and folds Mom into a fierce hug, which makes her laugh and makes me love Pippa even more fiercely.
Jasper takes the hinge out of my hand. “I’ll be back,” he mutters, running into the house for his suitcase.
Nate and Cat arrive next in a sensible SUV. I jog down to help them with baby Sylvie.
“How was the drive?” I ask.
“As expected,” Nate replies.
“Seriously, as expected,” Cat tells me quietly, pointing to a printed-out list of directions by the dashboard. “He’s got printouts with the routes to the nearest hospital, by the way. He wants everyone to take a copy, just in case.”
I nod. “From him, I'd expect nothing less.”
Nate drives the many suitcases he packed over to their guest house while Cat joins the party. Mom melts when Cat hands Sylvie to her. “You’re just the sweetest little thing,” she coos. “You have the most perfect eyes in the world, and the most perfect tiny hands, and the most perfect smile!”
“There's still one more baby coming,” Reed reminds her. “Try and save a few superlatives for her.”
The whole group whoops when Beau and Brinley pull up in a pickup truck.
“I don’t want to hear any shit about driving a pick-up when we don’t use it for real farm work,” Brinley declares as soon as she gets out of the car. “We’re on a ranch, and we’re allowed to drive trucks for fun, Reed.”
Reed puts his hands up. “Why am I getting attacked?”
“Because you’re the one who always gives people shit for driving trucks if they don’t have dirt on their boots,” I tell him.
Mom waves to Brinley. “Hello, darling. You look beautiful. I’d get up to hug you, but someone has me a little occupied.”
Brinley gives Mom a one-armed hug. “I don’t blame you. I’d be distracted by you, too.”
“And who’s this handsome fellow?” Mom asks, smiling at Beau.
“I’m the fiancé, ma’am,” Beau says, extending his hand. “I hear that if you don’t approve, this wedding is over.”
“I've known Eden so long, you're kind of like an honorary mom,” Brinley says.
My heart clenches. It's beyond sweet, but it's just another reminder of what I stand to lose if Brinley and I can't make up. I hope that knocking her wedding out of the park is a step in the right direction.
Brinley meets my eyes and comes over to hug me next. “Hey, Eden,” she says. “Thanks for having us. Well, obviously, more than just having us.”
I squeeze her harder than I need to. “I’m so, so happy you're here.”
“Where are Wade and Jasper?” she asks when she pulls back.
“Wade’s in the back grilling, and Jasper’s trying to undo whatever Ryan did.”
“What did Ryan do?” Brinley asks at the same time that Beau excitedly says, “Grilling?”
I laugh. “I’ll let Ryan fill you in, Brin. Beau, let me take you back. I’m sure Wade has an extra spatula you can grab.”
Wade isn’t exactly happy to see a strange, smiling man bounding up to his grill, but he doesn’t complain when he finds out Beau’s the groom.
By the time I’ve got Beau set up with his own spatula, James and Maura have arrived in a practical SUV.
Maura’s seated next to Mom in the swing holding baby Hazel right next to baby Sylvie.
“Have you seen this perfect angel?” Mom says. Hazel has her hand wrapped around Mom’s finger, and I can tell it’s going to be a battle getting either of the babies away from her.
“Wow, she looks so big compared to the last time I saw her!” I say, looking down at Hazel in amazement. Sylvie was so small the last time I saw her, it’s not a surprise that she’s grown. I haven’t spent a ton of time around babies, though, and Hazel looks gigantic to me.
“She had a growth spurt since you left,” Maura says. “She’s at the top of the chart in height, too.”
“Not a surprise, since you and James both make me feel like a shrimp.” Brinley laughs. “Hazel’s going to be taller than me by the time she’s ten.”
“Maybe even sooner,” I joke, earning a warm look from Brinley. We’re not back yet, but it’s closer than we’ve been in a long time.
I’m trying not to think about Luke, or how I’m going to have to perform our relationship for my brothers one last time. I try not to look at the long drive, wondering what car he’ll drive down it.
I try and I fail.