“Let me see the happy couple,” Kellianne crooned as she came in next. Her boyfriend, Ted, trailed behind, carting luggage of his own.
She hurried over to Betzy and gave her an exuberant hug. “Oh, dear,” she mumbled, pulling back to look her in the face. “Is everything all settled then?”
Betzy looked around the room, spotting her mom, Matthew, and Grandma Lo. James and Camila were there too, all of them seeming to wait for the answer to Kellianne’s question.
Joy, gratitude, and excitement rushed through her at the glorious sight of them. “Yes,” Betzy announced with a grin.
“I’m so glad,” Kellianne gushed, pulling her in for another hug. She pulled Sawyer into the embrace and sighed. “I’m so happy for you two.”
“So am I!” squealed Lilly.
The rest of the family members greeted them with hugs and words of congratulations. “Does that mean you guys are going to get married for real?” Lilly asked as she skipped circles around them.
“I hope so,” Betzy said, turning to look at Sawyer. “I did sayyes.”
Sawyer held her gaze, seeming to register what she was saying. “Yes, you did. And we’ve already waited a very long time to get to this point.”
She bit at her lip and grinned. “Short engagement?”
Sawyer grinned back. “Christmas wedding? In Italy?”
Betzy scanned the room for Grandma Lo. She spotted her in the corner of the room, a knowing look on her face as she pointed a thumb to her side.
She glanced over to see that Matthew held one of the boutique’s gowns, the logo on the zipped bag making it clear. A gasp pulled from her throat as Betzy looked back at her grandma.
“Is it?” she asked, chills rippling up her arms.
“It is,” Grandma assured with a smile.
Betzy turned back to Sawyer. “Let’s do it.”
At once, he pulled her into his arms and lifted her off the ground. “I can’t wait.”
“A Christmas wedding in Italy it is,” Grandma cheered.
Betzy sighed as Sawyer kissed her once again. She assured herself that their time alone was coming at last; she could hardly wait. They did have a guesthouse, after all.
For now, it seemed as if she had a wedding to plan.
“I’ll contact the local preacher,” she heard her mom say.
“I’ll take care of the food,” Camila offered.
Betzy gave Sawyer one more kiss before joining the cluster of improvised wedding planners.
Duke pressed his hands to his cheeks. “I’ll paint everybody’s nails,” he joked.
“Do mine first!” Lilly said, hopping up and down.
Matthew pointed a finger at Duke. “She’ll hold you to that.”
“Great,” Duke grumbled with an eye roll. “At least ifIend up having to get married, I’ll know that Betzy’s wedding arrangement was crazier than mine.”
Betzy moved her gaze from Duke to Zander, recalling the wedding game show he’d mentioned at the cabin. Was that actually a real thing?
“How does it feel?” Grandma asked, coming up beside her.
Betzy tore her thoughts back to the present. “How doeswhatfeel?”
