“Mama!” Darby scolds as laughter from the gallery drowns her out.
“Mom, I can assure you, she was not as healthy as your horses hours ago when I thought we were headed to the ER.” Evin’s arms round my waist. “You want all the details, I’ll give them.”
“God, no. I have enough memories from my early months that I don’t need to hear about someone else.” Ashlyn adds.
There’s a loud collective gasp as her implication sets in and her mouth drops. “I didn’t mean.”
“I’m not pregnant,” I rush to say, the color draining from my face.
“When I was pregnant with Andrew…” Janie, Ashlyn’s mom prattles, but Evin cuts her off.
“Poppy is not pregnant,” he emphasizes on a low growl.
I’m so caught up in the back and forth in horror, I miss the last call requesting in. Evin hits a button while my mind spins.
“Awesome! Everyone is here. As I explained, it's a short, simple call to see these photos. Unfortunately, not everyone is in them, but it doesn’t take away from the magnificence.” Darby’s voice breaks, her eyes welling up.
I glance at Stephanie and see the same wetness.
All these people think this is about the newlyweds and we’re stealing their moment. Panic sets in and I begin to tremble.
It’s then I hear the familiar and comforting voices of my best friends. “Hey, everyone. It’s Ryanne and Dante from Vegas! We’re here because Evin wanted to share this first weekend family visit!”
I squeal low and clutch Evin’s wrists that are linked around my middle. “Oh, my.”
“Evin is handling the pictures.” This is Darby’s cue.
I sit frozen as everyone goes to mute, and the slides start. Watching it full-screen is a novel experience. I tear my eyes away to watch the others. At first, there is utter shock.
My breathing picks up, and Evin tightens his hold, laying his chin on my shoulder. “The most stunning woman in the world walked down that aisle to me.”
To my surprise, he added a shutter of shots when Dante handed him grandma’s ring, and I have no control of the small cry that escapes.
The music ends and Ryanne’s homemade video blares.
“So, Chris Hemsworth, aka, Evin Graham, are you gonna ask her to marry you?” she shouts.
“No, Ryanne, it’s a given she’s marrying me. I wanna know if it’s tonight.”
His mouth closes over mine, and he lifts until I’m wrapped around him.
“Poppy?” he questions lowly against my lips.
“Tonight.”
That’s it. The presentation ends, and there’s only silence. Annie is nowhere to be found.
My heart sinks, “Evin, your mom…”
“She’s got something in her eye.”
As soon as the words leave his lips, Edward comes on. “Annie’s got something in her eye.”
I try to hold it in but drop my chin to hide my grin.
“Fuck me, everyone has something in their eyes after that.” Miller has Ashlyn tucked close. “Damn, man, you did it. You eloped in Vegas.”
“Would you have waited?” Evin shoots back.
“Not if I had a choice.”
Everyone comes off mute and the conversation explodes. My phone buzzes beside Evin’s thigh with a message from Dante.
We fucking love you to pieces, Pips—so proud of our gypsy goddess!
My eyes dart to the screen, and I hope they can see me sending them the same love.
“Poppy?” Stephanie’s voice cuts through the chaos, and I straighten, giving a short wave.
“You were a breathtaking bride. Thank you for sharing this with us. That being said, you two are lucky I’m in a blissful mood. If you ever try to hide something this huge again, no matter what the situation is, I’ll take it personally. You don’t want me to take it personally.”
I whip my head to Evin to find him grinning. “Steph, you trying to be a badass on your honeymoon?”
“It never goes away,” Todd utters. “I’ve tried.”
“Can we call you Aunt Poppy?” Cole and Maya pop on the screen in front of Pierce and Darby. Maya is wearing a crown of flowers that I taught her to make this weekend.
Another round of emotions rush through me. “I’d love that.”
“Guess this means my chances are zilch,” Andrew jokes.
“You never had a chance,” Evin informs him.
“Of course he didn’t have a chance. Neither of my boys knows how to step up. Dozer, you need to talk with them. Thank God, Miller knew how to sack Ashlyn or I’d never be a grandma!” Janie has no problem throwing her sons under the bus.
I catch Miller’s smug grin as he cradles Ashlyn’s stomach.
So many people talk over each other, and I settle back, trying to keep up.
Annie makes an appearance. “Poppy?”
“Yes?” I answer hesitantly, jerking up.
The mix of conversations dies, now all eyes and ears on us. The intensity of this moment is not lost on anyone. “I need you to pick me out a few photos for the wedding announcement. Tomorrow, I’ll draft something up for you to review. If we act fast, I’ll have it in the paper next Sunday.”
“We’re going by my office tomorrow. We’ll drop by the farm afterward,” Evin answers for us.
“That’ll work. And I think this calls for much more than a small family dinner.”
“Wednesday night, our place. Anyone is welcome to come early and we’ll make it a pool party, too.” Ashlyn speaks the loudest and with total authority.
Annie narrows her eyes and Darby’s face falls. “Not fair! I was distracted.”
“Rookie mistake. I called it first,” Ashlyn gloats, blowing a sarcastic kiss to the screen.
“Early dinner, Poppy has to catch a flight on Thursday,” Evin tells them.
A slight ache coils in my stomach at the reminder, but it’s forgotten as the subject turns to the menu.
“Hey!” Stephanie shouts. “I’m going to back to my honeymoon and letting y’all plan this. Happy for you two.”
They exit and the conversation keeps on. There’s not much for me to add, so I sink into Evin and enjoy the banter. After a few minutes, people drop off, mostly the men.
“I’ve given it ten minutes. Can we end this now?” Evin asks quietly.
“Yes, I think it would put the husbands out of misery.”
He sits us up, explaining that he’s ending the call and everyone can call each other to make the plans. Without waiting for responses, he shuts it down.
“Well, that went well. I’m sorry it wasn’t the way you pictured it.”
“Are you happy?” His question strikes me as odd.
“Absolutely.”
“All I wanted was to share our news. However that happened was fine.”
Once again, I’m reminded of how lucky I am. Before I can show my appreciation, my phone rings.
“Answer it, baby. My phone’s about to blow up, too.”
I take the call, sliding off his lap. “Hey.”
“Girl!”
Uh-oh, I know this tone. Ryanne’s in a mood. “What?”
“We will dissect that call in a minute, right now I’m wondering why I’m not kicking your and Dante’s asses for not telling me how fucking hot Ashlyn’s brothers are! Especially Andrew!” she yells so loud Evin rolls his eyes.