Tables were being lined up with chairs that he could see.
There were no less than ten people moving around the backyard when he glanced out there. None were in uniforms so he wondered if they were friends or guests.
“I’m sitting back. Courtney is out there directing everyone, but she’ll be getting ready soon. She wanted it set up just her way.”
“Is Nick here?” he asked.
“No. He’s coming later, but the bridal party and some other family members are taking care of the table and chairs. The tent company set everything else up last night along with the heaters.I’m not sure why Courtney couldn’t have gotten the wedding planner like Nick wanted.”
“No clue and he shouldn’t let you get in the middle of it.”
“It’s my house so I’m going to have some say,” his grandmother said with her arms crossed. “At least she took my recommendation on the florist. They do a lot of the work on the grounds and understand where the best placement is and where not to go.”
“It will be over soon,” he said. “I hope they hired people to clean up and your yard won’t be left like this while wedding members take care of it.”
“I told Nick he had to do that and he did. That was part of my condition on having the wedding here. Courtney’s parents are nice, but they are in over their heads.”
“I know you don’t enjoy having this many people in the house. Why didn’t you just tell Nick no?”
His grandmother sighed. “Because I’ve only got two grandchildren and I couldn’t. I’d tell you yes, so I had to tell him yes.”
“I’d never ask. That’s the difference. I’m sure Uncle Justin is paying for most of this from what you’ve said about Courtney’s parents. It’s only about fifty people. They could have had it at a restaurant.”
“Arik. Don’t be cold. I know you’ve never been exposed to anything sentimental, but that is why Nick wanted it here. You know he was close to your grandfather. He wants to be married on the grounds.”
He sighed. He’d been closer to his grandmother than grandfather. It’s not as if he didn’t get along with his grandfather, but Nick sucked up more. That was how Arik chose to see it.
“It’s his right, but don’t insult me by saying I’m not sentimental. I am.”
His grandmother lifted a sharp eyebrow. She wasn’t ready for the wedding, wearing black pants, a pink silk shirt, her stylish bob always immaculate, black flats on her feet. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her in jeans.
She had sneakers, he’d seen them. And shorts, she wore them in the summer.
But blue jeans. Nope. Not Sophie Crest.
“You say you are, but I’m not convinced.”
“I’m not sure what I need to do to convince you. I come home for holidays to be with you. On Christmas Eve, you and I drank those hot toddy things you always have that no one else will drink. We even watchedMiracle on 34th Street. Come on, if that isn’t sentimental, I’m not sure what is.”
He’d been watching that movie with his grandmother on Christmas Eve since he was a kid. He hated it. Could recite it word for word, but sucked it up for her.
“You’re right. I’ll give you that one. Tell me more about Natalie. Do you have time for a cup of coffee?”
“Do you really want to go in the kitchen around everyone to get it?”
“No. You’re going to do it for me. Grab a few of those biscotti I like while you’re at it.”
“Sure,” he said. His grandmother took a seat in the formal living room at the front of the house away from the action while he ventured toward the back.
People were moving around. He noticed the bride from her picture on the save the date card. “Who are you?”
He wouldn’t snap back in the same tone. He’d give her a break due to the stressful situation.
“Arik,” he said. “This is my grandmother’s house.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I’m Courtney. The bride. I’m trying not to let strangers into your grandmother’s house and it’s hard to keep track.”
“I appreciate that,” he said. “She’s not some young little filly that should wrangle up the herds for this.”
