Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“Which doesn’t normally matter.”
“Yeah. You get it. People come in the summer and sit out on the patio—”
“—which is huge.”
“Which is huge. Yeah.”
“We’re here in the off-season.”
“You’re here in the off-off-season,” she assured me.
“This is the strangest wedding venue I’ve ever been at.”
She scoffed. “I’ll bet you money the bride and groom came here either in the summer, when it’s gorgeous, or in the winter, when it’s like a Hallmark movie.”
“But the rooms would be freezing in the winter.”
“Absolutely not. The fireplaces blaze twenty-four seven. We have guys we bring in just to take care of that. Hearth workers.”
I chuckled. “That’s hysterical.”
“It’s awesome here in the winter because seriously, it looks like a postcard.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “But this transition time between winter and spring, not so great, am I right?”
“All you have to do is look outside and see that it’s like a bad horror movie out there. It’s foggy and wet, we’re under construction from the winter storms that hit us harder than usual, and all the outdoor activities have been canceled. I feel really bad for the kids.”
I nodded.
“And worse for their parents.”
“Yeah.”
“But at least the bars are open in town, so you all can get your drink on, the ghost tours are running, the historical ones as well, and there are supercute shops and restaurants all up and down Central Avenue.”
“Thank you for telling me,” I said, smiling at her. “So do you have an ETA on us all sitting in the meat locker?”
“Five minutes?”
“Excellent,” I said excitedly, and she laughed.
“I feel like I talked to you before.”
“Maybe on the phone earlier in the day?”
“Oh, right. Mr. Davis. You were nice then, and you’re nice now. How many with you?”
“Just the two of us.”
“Perfect. I’ll find you somewhere to sit on the main floor.”
“What’s your name?”
“Kendra.”
“Thank you, Kendra,” I said, then left her.
“Five more minutes,” I told everyone I passed in line but didn’t spoil the surprise about the lack of heat. What would be the point?
When I reached Ash, he was speaking to an older woman who was holding on to his arm. Her thick platinum hair was pulled up into a loose chignon, she had large diamond studs in each ear, a thick, oversize white turtleneck sweater with a black pashmina over that, and wide-legged black dress pants. The heeled black-sequined boots finished the outfit. She was both stunning and stylish.
The woman smiled at me and said, “Oh, darling, are you one of Orson’s groomsmen?”
“No, he’s not, Mrs. Walder,” Ash answered for me. “He’s my plus-one.”
Her smile was daring. “Is he really?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, I’m his grandmother, Sophia,” she informed me, quickly slipping her arm into mine, leaving Ash.
“Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Walder.”
“And you, but please, call me Sophia.”
I grinned at her; I couldn’t help it. Her smile and the eyebrow waggle, along with the wink, were enchanting. “Thank you.”
“And what is your name, you gorgeous thing you?”
“Cooper Davis.”
Her eyes flashed with excitement. “Do people call you Coop? I’ve always wanted to know a Coop. It sounds like you should play baseball.”
Okay, so yes, I was a sucker for grandmothers. I adored my own, my mother’s mother, who had lived with us since before I was born. It was a no-brainer that I would like Ash’s, even though I doubted he thought of her that way. She was, by blood, as she was his father’s mother, but there was no familiarity there. I had to wonder how she knew him at all. “Most people do call me Coop, so I would love it if you would as well.”
“Wonderful,” she said with a sigh. “Now, sweetheart, do tell Ashford he must call me Gran as all the others do. It’s ridiculous that he’s always so formal.”
He glanced at me and gave a quick headshake.
“Mother,” a woman said as she reached us just as the line started moving. “We’ve all been looking everywhere for you.”
“Oh, Elaine, I’m right here with Ashford and his…” She turned to him. “Do you say boyfriend these days, or friend like they did when I was young?”
“Partner,” I answered before he could. “We say partner and then husband once the ring goes on, just like everybody else.”
“I love that,” she said, still holding my arm as we began to walk.
“Mother,” Elaine said, glancing at me, “we need to get back to the table and—”
“Well, Coop is going to walk me. You can come along with us if you like.”
She looked so harried, even in her Dior gown and with her hair and makeup done immaculately. She seemed halfway between trying to keep up a brave face and ready to cry.
“We would love it if you showed us the way, Aunt Elaine,” Ash suggested.
Her exhale told me she appreciated his words, and when he offered her his arm, she stared at him like he was an angel.