May 22nd #3
Before I can greet my cousins, Uncle Tripp has ordered Wilder—the husband of Van’s daughter, Peony—to start pouring. Wilder and Peony are in their late twenties, have been married for two years, work in marketing, and swear they are going to travel the world and not have children.
And when you have seven nieces and nephews, I can see how that might be enough for you.
I used to want kids. Lots of them. Like my own baseball team.
Probably because I’m an only child.
But then I named said children with my ex, Brad, and dreamed of our future together—only for that illusion to be shattered, causing me to swear off all those things. I will admit, however, his idea of naming our kids in alphabetical order was a pretty clever idea on his part.
“You’re an A. I’m a B. Our firstborn will have to have a name that starts with a C.”
“And our second one with a D? ”
“Now you’re getting the picture,” he said with a radiant smile. “If we have nine kids, we’ll make it all the way to K.”
I shake the memory out of my thoughts; high-five my oldest cousin, Baron; get a hug from his wife, Alexa; and take a flute.
I notice that the kids are all getting Popsicles to toast with. And it makes me smile. “Remember when we used to do Popsicle cheers?” I say to Baron.
“Gotta continue that tradition for our kids. It was one of my favorite things about coming to the lake.”
“Me too,” I agree.
I see that Uncle Tripp and Uncle Van have Popsicles.
They gather all the kids around, and Van says, “I realize that you might not know that the Popsicle cheers you do every year was started way back when we were your age. Our brother Rocky can’t be here with us today, but it was always one of his favorite things.
So, I’d like each of you to toast to your brothers, sisters, and cousins and know that you are in a special place, surrounded by love. Cheers!”
I can’t help but grin as I watch the kids toast each other, then walk around and press their Popsicles against the grown-ups’ glasses.
“And now for the rest of you,” Tripp says.
“Thank you for making time in your busy schedules to join us for the grand opening of our reimagined resort. Whether you are here for the day, the weekend, or our three-week reunion, I hope you will find this place still holds all the memories of yesterday while offering more beauty and function for today.”
When I turn to clink my mom’s flute, I notice she has tears in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s hard to hear them talk wistfully about your dad,” she states.
“I wish they all got along. Just please promise me you’ll stay for the weekend so we can have some time together?”
She nods, but doesn’t look sure. “I will for as long as I can. In a way, I feel like I’m betraying your father somehow. Which I know isn’t really logical.”
I want to ask her the question I’ve aways been afraid to ask. Why doesn’t Dad want to spend time with his brothers?
Because how could being surrounded by all this love make you feel bad?
After chatting for a bit, we all go to our rooms to get ready for tonight. On my desk, I find a note that says:
Welcome to the reopening of The Archibald Lodge. We are so happy you are here and can’t wait to share a weekend of events that will showcase all this resort has to offer. There is nothing better than time spent with family and friends!
Tripp Archibald
Van and Lori Archibald
Danny and Jennifer Diamond
Phillip and Jadyn Mackenzi e
I set it down, noting the heavy cream paper and deep green ink, along with what must be the resort’s new logo at the bottom. I assume they put this in each guest’s hotel room, and it’s cool that they let us see them too.
I quickly unpack, change into a cute little strapless dress, throw on a pair of sandals, and freshen up.
But before I leave, I take a moment to sweep open my curtains and take in the beautiful view of the lake.
I swear, I just feel so at peace here.
And I hope I can share some of that peace with my mom.
“This is a really beautiful night,” she says wistfully as we arrive at the amphitheater.
“It’s changed a lot since last year,” I say in awe. “The lawn is perfect because it’s now made from synthetic grass, and it’s got mesh tenting over it, meaning we don’t have to worry about bugs.”
“And there’s a country band playing on the stage. I love it,” she says.
“You look refreshed,” I tell her, taking in her bright eyes as I squeeze her hand. “I’m so glad you’re here. ”
I’m broken.
Damon
It’s been quite the day.
To be honest, I’m still in shock.
My best friend, Chase Mackenzie, is marrying my sister, Devaney “Dani” Diamond.
This weekend.
We grew up living next door to each other. And three years ago, at this very resort, when Chase was fifteen and Dani was sixteen, they fell in love.
Although I’m pretty sure they had been in love with each other most of their lives.
Things were amazing while we were here, but then they got into a huge fight when we got back home and barely spoke to each other for, like, two years. Which was a bit awkward.
Fortunately, for all of us, they got their shit together and got back together.
What I didn’t expect was for them to be getting married so young.
Or for it to be a surprise.
Even to my sister.
Apparently, Chase worked in secret with my mom, whose brother-in-law, Tripp, owns this resort, along with my stepmom, Jennifer. I guess, at one point, Chase and Dani discussed eloping. And she told him that if he could conjure up her dream wedding, she would marry him anytime.
And so he did.
They got engaged last night. And today, she was presented with three options. She and Chase could get married this weekend, or they could have an engagement party be part of the festivities, or it could be as advertised—the grand reopening of the resort.
I watch as Chase speaks to my dad’s sports agent, Carter Crawford—well, now he’s my and Chase’s agent too.
We play football—Chase as quarterback and me as receiver.
Which everyone thinks is funny since my dad is a three-time championship-winning quarterback.
The story is that I loved running when I was a kid.
So, I’d go out for a pass and make Chase throw the ball to me.
And to be honest, I still love that feeling. The freedom of running as fast as I can to get to the perfect spot where the ball just drops into my hands. Or even better, when I have to run toward it to catch it.
I’m ready to jump into their conversation when my stepmom, Jennifer, brings over the actress Keatyn Arrington. Keatyn works in the movie industry with Jennifer. I’ve met her and her husband numerous times, as my dad is an ambassador for their charity wine, Moon Wish.
Thankfully, they all move on, and I’m able to sneak up behind my sister. “I’ll tell you what my moon wish is.”
“Damon,” she warns, “behave. ”
“Sis, I don’t need to wish for that ,” I say with a smirk. “I just gotta open my mouth. You know I talk as good of a game as I play.”
“Yeah, we all know you are quite the player—on and off the field,” she says, rolling her eyes.
“There she is,” I say with a sigh as I see the girl I fell in love with at first sight a few years ago walking into the party.
And she looks even more gorgeous than I remember. She’s with a woman who must be her mother.
Lord help me, but could that little orange dress be any shorter?
And now I’m starting to think about what’s under it.
“Don’t look now, but Ainsley just got here,” I tell her. “Remember when I first saw her, I told you that she was my future wife, that I’d get together with her when I was older.”
Of course, both of them turn around and go, “Ainsley!”
“Ugh! I told you not to look. Or call her over. You guys suck.” But then I think of another way to play this.
“Although I do appreciate the engagement and wedding stuff that’s going to happen this weekend.
Weddings make girls feel romantic because it allows them to imagine their own special day.
And since we are going to be here together for a few weeks, it’s literally the perfect time to make her fall in love with me.
Oh, don’t tell her about the wedding. I want her to find out tonight with everyone else. ”
“Ainsley, it’s so good to see you,” Dani says, sharing a hug with her.
It’s then that I notice the orange dress she’s wearing has little flowers all over it. Like my Garden of freaking Eden, waiting for me.
“How are you?” Ainsley asks my sister. “How does it feel to be done with your first year of college?”
“Really good,” Dani replies as Ainsley gives Chase a punch in the shoulder.
“And I heard you had a good spring game. My uncles are suddenly Nebraska fans. I suspect they will be coming up to see some of your games this fall.”
I clear my throat, and she finally turns toward me. “Damon.”
Just the way my name rolls off her lips gets me all hot and bothered, but I nod.
“I apologize,” she says. “I mean, both of your games. Think you might start?”
“We hope so,” Chase says.
“We will,” I counter, winking at her. “And you are welcome to come to Lincoln anytime, preferably without the family.”
She scrunches her cute little nose up at me, making me want to kiss it.
And just when I consider it, my sister says, “We’re going to get food. Would you like to join us?”
I shake my head and place my hand on my heart. “Ainsley, would you do me the immense honor of joining me on a blanket and sharing a bucket of chicken with me tonight?”
“Uh, sure,” she says as my sister puffs her lips out in a pout .
“Don’t worry, sis. We’ll park our blanket next to yours,” I offer, even though I want Ainsley to only have eyes for me tonight.
“Good,” Dani says.
I hold my elbow out for Ainsley. “Shall we?”
Surprisingly, she complies, wrapping her hand around my bicep, which I can’t help but flex just a little.