Gerard kissed her gently on the cheek, then turned and walked away—Gerard always had to have the last word—and Winnie watched him go. Someone in Diamond Cove was spilling everyone’s biggest secrets … and her biggest secret ever was moving in right to her backyard.
Chapter 26
“I want to do something splendid…something heroic or wonderful that won’t be forgotten after I’m dead. I don’t know what, but I’m on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday.” —Louisa May Alcott
Theweeksleadingupto the wedding were a complete whirl of finalizing the cake, setting up appointments for hair and make-up, following up with catering, and now they were deciding if they should set up the flower archway facing the ocean or facing the beach.
“Think about how amazing the pictures will be with the ocean behind us,” Julia said. Hot wind whipped through their hair, pushing it into their eyes and mouth. Hopefully the wind would be much less intense during the wedding. It was still too early to check the weather forecast, but Julia said that same day had been sunny and clear for the last six years.
But seven years ago, it had stormed so bad all of Diamond Cove had lost power.
“They would look good,” Eliana agreed. Which was why she’d made that very point twenty minutes ago. But Julia wanted to walk through all the scenarios.
“But I’d love to look out and see all of my friends and family with the ocean behind them. That would be lovely too.” She sighed and faced the other direction, her eyes half-closed as if trying to picture it.
Eliana’s phone buzzed, and she pulled up a notification on a new town home in Diamond Cove that was up for rent. She’d set up alerts, hoping something perfect for Asher would pop up.
This one seemed really nice, except for the amount they were asking for rent. Maybe too nice. But she didn’t know how much money speech therapists made, so she starred it to show him later.
“Whatcha doin?” Julia peered over her shoulder. Her eyes lit up when she saw the house listing, and she excitedly grabbed Eliana’s arm. “Are you moving home?”
Eliana started to tell her she was helping a friend, but then paused. Why not move home? What was keeping her in Boston? She could work from anywhere, and she’d missed having her family so close.
“I’m thinking about it,” she said.
Julia squealed. “I’d love that so much. I’ve been really worried about being gone for four months, and I’d feel so much better if you were here to help out.”
“Plus I’d be here when you start having all your babies,” Eliana said, mostly to freak Julia out, because things were getting a little too real.
Rather than being scared off, Julia’s entire being lit up. “I didn’t even think of that! You’ll be the best aunt.” Julia hugged her tight, as if it was already a done deal. And maybe it was. She’d been gone long enough. Plus, shewouldbe a stellar aunt.
And maybe a certain, handsome man was a draw as well.
She couldn’t think about Asher without tingles dancing along her skin like soda bubbles popping on her tongue. They were pretending the kiss had never happened.
Well,shewas pretending the kiss had never happened.
Asher caught her watching him sometimes. He’d smirk like he knew exactly what she was thinking about, and her whole body would ignite, and it would take all of her self-discipline not to launch like an Olympic hurdler over the boxes they were sorting through and drag him into another kiss.
Not that she thought she had to drag him. He’d given her plenty of appreciative looks as well—and those were even harder to resist.
“Did you still want to do your livestream?”
“I do. Have you figured out the archway?”
Julia cringed.
“What?” Eliana asked, already dreading what her sister might say.
“What if—” She paused, and then seemed to inhale for courage and tried again. “What if I don’t want to get married here?”
“Here? As in Florida?” Eliana’s voice rose in panic.
“No. Here as in the beach,” she said, sounding miserable.
“Why wouldn’t you? It’s gorgeous! The archway would be absolutely perfect with the ocean behind it.”
“I know, which is why everyone thought we should get married here, and I didn’t want to say no.” Julia had always struggled with significant people-pleasing tendencies. It was hard for her to say no—even when it came to the location of her wedding, apparently.
