27. Chapter 27
We had only two days until the rehearsal dinner.
Caitlin updated the weather app so often that finally Angus laughed.
“It wouldn’t be a Scottish wedding if there wasn’t at least some rain.
Anyway, rain on your wedding day is good luck.
And we’ve already been lucky—we went from no venue to loads of outdoor alternatives like the Fairy Glen and the Old Man of Storr.
Now we have the venue we originally wanted and photos in front of all the alternate locations. ”
“And we have each other,” said Caitlin, pressing a kiss against his lips.
I made a gagging motion with my finger, and they burst into laughter.
“I hope you don’t do that with all your clients,” she said.
“Not all my clients are relatives… and they usually don’t get quite so sappy in front of me.”
Caitlin laid her head on Angus’s shoulder. “What? We do have each other. And I’m realizing more and more that’s what’s most important to me.”
I wrinkled my nose. “You really can’t quit with this positivity, can you?”
She was radiant and glowing and clearly in love, so no, she couldn’t.
“I only wish I’d known you longer,” Angus said.
“Can you imagine, though? I would’ve been completely intimidated by you,” said Caitlin, laughter in her eyes.
A cocky grin spread across Angus’s face. “And I was an arse back then. You wouldn’t have liked me.”
“I doubt that,” Caitlin said.
“Fortunately we didn’t meet then,” said Angus, putting his arm around Caitlin.
I tapped my spoon against my coffee mug. “Enough mushy stuff. I have a checklist here.” I pulled up the list on my phone. “Do you two lovebirds have time to finalize plans so we can get you married?”
“Yes, please!” said Caitlin, tearing her gaze away from Angus.
I glanced at the first item on my list. “Rehearsal dinner. Drinks, appetizers and mains are set. Any changes?”
They exchanged a look and shook their heads. “We’re good.”
“Flowers?”
“Sorted,” said Angus.
“Thank-you gifts?” I asked, awkwardly. After all, I was the wedding planner, the maid of honor, and the bride’s sister.
“Got ’em,” Caitlin said with a taunting grin.
I raised an eyebrow. “Need help wrapping them?”
Caitlin gave me a knowing wink. “Already done.”
“Okay,” I said. “Next—speeches. You’ve told people when?”
“Yep,” Angus replied.
“And the restaurant will provide dessert.”
“Yep,” said Caitlin.
“So… we’re all set.”
Caitlin broke into a bright smile. “Looks like we are!”
“The wedding is all set for the MacAlister Inn. Drew has a tent outside for the appetizers and drinks, and then the sit-down dinner will be inside, where you first met.”
“Technically, we first met on the banks of Loch Ness,” said Caitlin, batting her eyelashes.
Angus scratched his chin. “Could be a good name for a new album.”
Our jaws dropped.
“Are you thinking about recording again? Getting the band back together, as it were?” asked Caitlin.
“Never say never… We’ll talk about it,” said Angus. His voice carried a finality that made me realize this was a huge conversation that I shouldn’t be a part of. Just as I started to get up, Caitlin pulled me back down.
Tears in her eyes, she held onto my right arm as she took Angus’s hand. “I really don’t know where I’d be right now without you two. You mean so much to me, and if Lindsay hadn’t left her purse on the boat…”
Angus grinned. “But you did, and you saved me. I was such a disaster for years. Running away to Boston, hiding in a pub—partially because it was the one pub I could ensure would never, ever play that music. Then you came along, and the storm ruined everything except for us.”
“I should go.” I started to get up again, but her grip tightened on my arm.
“Sit your ass back down, sis!” Caitlin ground out.
“Wow. From tears to bossy older sister in seconds,” I muttered as she loosened her grip on my arm.
She met my eyes. “Seriously, Abby. I’ve never needed you more than now.
And it’s not because of your mad planning skills—which you definitely have.
It’s not just because you knew how to calm Mom down over the lack of a wedding venue, or even how you fixed it so we got the venue back.
I’ve just been missing you from my life, Abs.
And now that you’re around, I really notice and appreciate you. ”
“I love you, too, man…,” I said in my best drunken voice, earning me a quick swat.
She took my hand in both of hers. “And I want you to have love.”
I rolled my eyes.
“I mean it, Abby. You’re always making lists. You’re always organizing everyone’s life. You’re really freaking good at it. But what about you? What’s on your wish list? You never focus on yourself.”
It hit me like a gut punch. Because so many times in life what I wanted hadn’t worked out.
I’d found a career I loved and a guy I loved, but I couldn’t have both.
Somehow I’d ended up losing both. And after many pints of ice cream and some navel gazing, I’d decided to focus on making other people’s dreams come true.
“Go after Max, Abby. He’s the love of your life. You can’t just hide here behind a clipboard and wait for a happy ending.”
I kissed her on the cheek and grabbed my keys, thankful I’d picked up a rental the day before.