MAKING THE CALL
ASHLEY
“Of course Beckett’s coming on the cruise,” I say, smiling wide, my voice light. Breezy. “We’re both so excited to watch you get married.”
Across the table, a neat stack of papers sits where mail usually accumulates, demanding my attention.Later,I promise with a scowl.
“Oh, I’m so glad!” My sister’s voice bubbles through the phone, a little starry-eyed at this point. “We missed your man at the engagement party, and I know he’s been really busy lately, but I just want… I want for you and Bex to have someprivatetime together. Get him on the ship and you two can finally get some romantic time.”
“We’ll still have the boys.” I point out the fact that my twin seven-year-olds will be there. “And besides, this isyourwedding.”
“I know that. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be wined and dined as well. Besides, you know Mom and Babs will want to help out.”
She isn’t wrong. “Fine, fine, just don’t worry about me and Beckett so much. We areallgoing to have a great time. You’vegot enough to worry about with your show, and packing—and, oh, can’t forgethismom. How’s that going, by the way?”
“We’re doing good. She hasn’t come down here much. She and Courtney have been busy with some new investment thing, so she hasn’t had time to be a problem.”
“Like that’s any better,” I scoff. “I know they’ve been working together since way before you and Noah got together, but still. It’s her son’s ex-wife. It’s weird. Do I need to have a talk with your future mother-in-law about loyalty? Because I will.”
“Do not.Oh, my God, Ash?—”
“Just say the word. On another note, did you get everything together to make this thing legal?” Getting married in Mexico is a lot more complicated than I’d imagined, so Luna’s been working on making arrangements for blood tests, translated birth certificates, and a slew of other insane requirements.
“Yep. We’re all good.” She lets out a little squealing sound. “Can you believe I’m getting married in less than two weeks?”
I nod. And then exhale. “Nine days.”
“And you’ve helped me so much.” She laughs, but then her voice turns more genuine. “Let me worry about my future mother-in-law, okay? You just focus on having your little family ready to sail.”
My family… Got it. “If you say so, Loony.”
“And you’re sure everything’s okay?”
“Why wouldn’t everything be okay?” But I don’t give her a chance to answer. “I mean, it’s been a little busy with baseball and swimming lessons for the boys and the usual last month of school stuff, but we’re all doing great over here. Did I tell you Max and Blakey both made the dean’s list?”
“Aren’t they in like second grade? Is that even a thing at that age?” Luna asked.
“At St. Prescott Academy? You bet.”
I’m moving around the kitchen now, gathering the notes I’d taken for the latest job I’d accepted—reworking Mrs. Ainsley Prescott’s walk-in closet.
Because room for 200 pairs of shoes wasn’t enough.
“I think there’s a science lab for little sailors on the ship. The boys are gonna love it.” Luna sighs. “And there’ll be romantic stuff for the adults.” Back to the wedding again.
Not that I blame her, I was probably ten times as bad before Beckett and my wedding.
“I can’t wait.” I make a little swoony sound.
Luna goes quiet, though. There’s a hesitation on the line that makes me nervous.
“You aren’t having second thoughts?” I ask.
“Only good ones. Like, how lucky I am. I’m gonna be bruised if I keep pinching myself.”
“Then stop. You deserve to be happy.” She deserves all of it.
“So do you.”
