HARPER - TWO YEARS LATER
“Everything looks good here,” Harper said, turning in a slow circle and surveying the wedding venue. The event was to take place tomorrow, but everything had been set up in advance. The table settings were ready. Ivory-colored bows had been tied around the chairs. The dance floor was in place. Harper would put in an appearance tomorrow at the ceremony just to make sure that everything was going well. But for the most part, her job here was done.
“I can’t thank you enough for all your work,” said the bride, who was on the other end of the phone. “I know it’s going to be a perfect day.”
“I think you’ll be very happy,” Harper agreed. “It’s been a privilege working with you. Definitely don’t hesitate to give my contact information to your sister-in-law like we talked about. I’m looking forward to hearing from her and helping her plan her wedding as well.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’m going to be telling all my friends about you,” the bride said. “I couldn’t have imagined this going any better.”
“Well, I hope it’s a beautiful day tomorrow, and congratulations again on your marriage,” Harper said.
She ended the call and tucked her phone into her pocket. She was finishing her day a little earlier than she had anticipated, which was a good thing, because now she could go home to her family.
This wedding-planning business was everything Harper had ever wanted career-wise, but her dreams were also coming true in her personal life. As she got into her car and turned it on, nursery rhyme music came to life, and she couldn’t help laughing. It was her daughter Savannah’s playlist. She’d had it set to auto play, as she usually did. It was always amusing to hear those familiar childish songs come to life when she was least expecting it.
The drive home was quick. She had another wedding in the works that was scheduled for two weeks from now, and she considered using this time to call a few vendors, but she decided against it. The plans were in place for that event, and there were only a few last-minute details left to take care of. She could do that tomorrow. For today, she was ready to put work down and focus on what really mattered.
She parked the car outside her house. Sitting there, she could see through the kitchen window. Theo was moving around, working on something, though she couldn’t tell what. She sat for a moment, just watching him, allowing herself to dwell on the gratitude she felt for all the good things in her life. Her beautiful daughter, her co-parent, this home they shared. It was all so wonderful.
Harper got out of the car and went inside.
“Mama!” Savannah had been standing on a chair at the kitchen counter, her arms buried in sudsy water, obviously helping to wash dishes. But now she toddled over to Harper and flung her wet arms around her mother’s waist. Harper scooped her daughter up into her arms, not minding the water, and kissed her on the cheek.
“Are you helping Daddy?” she asked.
“Yeah!”
“We’re doing the dishes,” Theo explained unnecessarily as he pulled a plate out of the soapy water and began to dry it.
“Not using that top-of-the-line dishwasher you said we needed?” Harper set Savannah down.
“She wanted to play with bubbles.” Theo grinned. “Couldyousay no to her?”
“I really couldn’t. What did you make?”
“Chicken wings. They’ll be out in a few minutes. Are you hungry?”
“Starving.” She moved to the sink to wash her hands, keeping them above the suds. “How was your day? Did you two go into the ball park at all?”
“Nah, Max is handling things right now since his kids are away all day.” Jenna was in second grade this year, and Jack was in all-day preschool. Theo had made his brother co-owner of the Stallions shortly before Savannah’s birth, allowing him the time he needed to stay at home with his family and to support Harper while she tried to grow her career. The arrangement also allowed Max plenty of time to continue his sportswriting, so everyone was happy.
“How does the wedding venue look?” Theo asked.
“Oh, it’s gorgeous. They’re going to be so happy with it,” Harper said.
“Do you want to consider the same venue for our wedding?”
He was grinning. Harper knew it was a joke. “You know that isn’t up for debate,” she said. “We know wherewe’regetting married, and it isn’t negotiable.”
Theo nodded. “I wouldn’t consider anything else,” he agreed. “After the way we first got together, it’s got to be there.” They would be marrying in six months’ time at the same venue they’d used for Max and Tara’s wedding, and they were taking their time with the planning. It was going to be the wedding Harper had dreamed of all her life.
Even now, she couldn’t believe it was all really happening. She was going to be married to the man of her dreams. And though it hadn’t happened exactly the way it had in her fantasies, she wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Harper went to the table and began to set it for their supper. “Did you two have a good time today? I wish I could’ve been here.”
“Oh, don’t be silly. You had to work. We understand that, don’t we, kiddo?” He put his hands on Savannah’s shoulders and guided her over to a chair. She started to climb up on her own, but Theo bent down and picked her up, swinging her into her booster seat. He settled her in and pushed the chair up close to the table so she wouldn’t wiggle out of it. Savannah picked up her spoon and whacked it against the table.
“Hey.” Theo put a gentle hand on top of Savannah’s. “None of that. Take it easy with the spoon.”
