“He seems like a good guy. Bren won’t let him stay with us. I think your sisters visiting us will be a lot for him as it is.” I wasn’t sure where we’d put them since they were too young to stay in the guest house. We had some rooms we didn’t use much downstairs. Maybe we should make a guest room.
One of those rooms would probably end up as Grace’s creepy doll room. But that could have a pullout couch. Ooh, we could put people there that we didn’t want to stay for long.
Not that we had many guests.
“Compass BioTek can help with housing placements. Also, the professor hasn’t agreed to Tru visiting us yet.” Grace was still texting.
“What else are you worrying about? Is Margie still giving you issues at work? You said that Deb and Blaise loved all your suggestions from the conference.” Something was bothering her.
“Spencer wants to have our reception at his club. He’s going to take me there. Evan wants me to have two different wedding planners. It feels so privileged.” She laughed. “Most weddings I went to growing up had their receptions in the church hall or at someone’s farm.”
Rich people shit. Got it. I knew she worried about it being elegant enough for Spencer. Something Evan’s insistence at having a special wedding planner only ratcheted.
“Spencer’s club is nice. I’ve been there. They’ll probably make everything really easy for you. But that man is over-the-moon in love with you. You can have a cookout in the park with a bouncy castle, and he’d be all for it. It would be the fanciest one ever, though. Gourmet bouncy houses, and grilling champions flown in for it.” It actually sounded way more fun than something at his club.
She laughed. “I love it. Still…”
“You don’t have to have a wedding planner for your dinner. Mrs. K will probably have it planned in an afternoon, complete with things you never knew you needed,” I added.
“She’s nice.”
“Yes, she is.” We parked in the lot, which wasn’t empty. Pity. But unlike in our dreams, outdoor sex was illegal here.
Tragic.
I got out the picnic basket and a blanket. Taking her arm, we made the easy hike. It was still a bit until sunset. But that would give us a chance to eat.
On the way up we passed families, several friendly dogs, and some couples.
“Are we still getting all the animals? Or are you waiting for your motorcycle license so you can go to the hardware store andbuy chickens?” I looked for a suitable spot for us to have our picnic.
Grace laughed as she helped spread the blanket out. “So, Bren was wrong. We’re allowed six chickens and no roosters. Should I order a coop and a bunny hutch?”
“As much as I’d love for you to start a petting zoo in the backyard, you should probably bring it up to everyone first.” I opened the picnic basket and got out the meat and cheese board I’d ordered.
We sat and ate as the sun set. Other people were doing the same.
“What do you think? Is it as you remember?” I put some cheese on a cracker.
She leaned in and kissed me. “It’s more beautiful. Also, more people-y.”
“True.” After we finished our dinner and dessert, I pulled out four bottles of whiskey.
“How drunk are we getting?” She laughed.
I placed some glasses on the blanket. “Whiskey tasting. For our fountain. Your talk of menus and cake tasting made me think of it.”
Pouring some for each of us, we tried the four bottles that had been recommended. As we tried them, the lights came on over the city.
“This one.” She held up one.
“Oooh, good choice.” It was one of the more expensive options, but Evan liked that brand.
Grace cuddled into me, leaning her head on my shoulder. “This is so pretty, thank you.”
“You know, now that I’m sitting on this blanket, I’m pretty sure that having sex up here won’t be as much fun as in our dreams,” I admitted.
“But we can still make out, right?” Grace tipped her head up and caught my mouth with hers.
