Arabella smiled. “Let’s head up to the house and plan the menu. It may be a wedding, but we’re also promising people food as well.”
“What do you mean, you don’t want to have a girls’ night?” Greer asked as she followed me through the barn store where I was cleaning up after a record-breaking day.
“Just that, Greer. I don’t want to have a girls’ night. Today was the last day of the season, we were so busy, and I’m exhausted.”
“But…but we have to!”
I paused in the middle of putting all the crafting supplies in a tub to store until next season. Slowly, I stood and faced her. I narrowed my eyes, and something akin to guilt washed over her face. “Why do we have to?”
“Um, well…look at how fun the last one was. It brought you and Bishop together!”
“Are you expecting someone to call the police?”
She smiled. “Bree’s in town, so you never know!”
“Maybe after Christmas, Greer. I’ve got a lot on my plate planning the Christmas Eve luncheon, and the store is still staying open for the next few months, so I need to do an inventory of everything.”
Even though we had sold out of Christmas trees for this season, we still kept the tree farm open on the weekends for folks to stop by and shop the store, as well as enjoy the outdoor space. The firepit was still one of the most popular attractions.
“Yes! And that’s why you need a night off. It’ll be fun, Abby. Besides, we never got to throw you a proper bridal shower before.”
The ribbon I’d been about to place in the container fell to the floor when I spun around. “What did you say?”
“Nothing!” Greer said, staring up at the ceiling.
“No. You said you never got to throw me a proper bridal shower.”
Greer’s eyes met mine, and she swallowed hard. “That’s true. And we all know you and Bishop will get married again—you’ve both said so.”
I folded my arms over my chest and glared at Greer. “Was it Candace or Arabella?”
She scrunched up her nose. “I kind of overheard Candace talking on the phone with Arabella. She didn’t know I was there, and I heard her mention a wedding cake, you, Christmas Eve…and I sort of put it all together myself. So really, you’re the one who just told me by confirming my suspicion.”
“Oh my God, are you learning all of this from your suspense-writing boyfriend?”
Her cheeks flushed. “Maybe.”
I grabbed her hand, pulled her into the craft room, and shut the door. “You cannot tell anyone.”
“Oh, come on, Abby! Please let me just invite the girls over. You know they won’t say anything to Bishop. Annie James got in some new fancy lingerie yesterday, and I’m dying to buy you some!”
I shot her a look that said I knew she was feeding me a line of bullshit. “You want to buy yourself some and use me as an excuse. What if Annie asks who they’re for?”
“Please!” Greer said with a fake laugh. “Like everyone in town doesn’t already know you and Bishop are back together. It wouldn’t be a big surprise if I said I was buying you a Christmas present.”
Her words made me think about it a little more. I sighed. “That’s true. I know you girls won’t tell anyone else that it’s not really a luncheon. But we are serving food! There will be lots of food. Arabella, Candace, and Misty have all been busy preparing for the dinner. MaryLou is going to come and help the day before Christmas Eve, since Brighton is in town and can help her mom at the bed and breakfast.”
“Do you need me to do anything?”
“Well, since you know about it now, can you help me with the table lanterns Christmas Eve morning? I want to put fresh flowers in them, along with candles—the flameless kind. I’m also going to be making an arch for the altar, and I need help with the flowers.”
“I can help. What about distracting Bishop?”
“Yeah, that’s going to be an issue.”
Greer snapped her fingers and pointed at me. “Hudson! He’s been picking Bishop’s brain about Christmas tree farms because he wants to write that book. I can have him ask Bishop if he’s free to talk that morning. I can say I’m coming to help set up the tables.”
My stomach dipped in excitement. It really was going to help, having an extra set of hands. Even though I was keeping this small and not going over the top, it was still a struggle with just Arabella and me doing most of the work. She was handling the cooking and baking, while I was doing the flowers and finishing the decorating.
“That’s perfect,” I agreed.
“Good! And this means we can have girls’ night tonight, right?”
Letting out a chuckle, I replied, “Yes. We can have girls’ night tonight.”
Greer threw her arms around me and squeezed. “It’s going to be so much fun! I need to send out a group text to the girls and tell them you’re in!”
I sighed as I watched Greer bounce out of the room, talking to herself about all the things that needed to be done. When I turned to finish packing, she poked her head into the room again.
“It’s going to be at my old place above the bookshop. Say, around seven? I’ll order pizzas.”
With a nod, I said, “I’ll be there.”
“Great! See you then!”
And like the wind that blew through the trees in a winter storm, Greer rushed through the barn and out the door before I could even say goodbye.
Bishop
Standing in the middle of Hunter’s living room, I stared out the front window as a light snowfall drifted down from the sky, turning everything into a winter wonderland. I swore it was the perfect picture and reminded me of a snow globe.
“Beer?”
I glanced over my shoulder and gave Hunter a nod. He handed me the beer, and I popped it open.
“She really thinks you don’t know?” Hunter asked as he sat down in his oversized recliner. Jack lay dutifully by his feet.
I smirked and took a seat on the sofa. “She thinks she’s being clever, pretending it’s a Christmas Eve luncheon, but I’ve known the entire time. I, on the other hand, have been busy planning a surprise or two of my own.”
“Did she even have time to get a dress?”
“Arabella told Kyle, who told me that she’s wearing a dress she bought from Annie James. It’s not a traditional wedding dress, which I’m happy about. This honestly feels like we’re simply renewing our vows.”
“At least this time you won’t have me and Kyle fighting over who’ll be the best man.”
“Christ, I had forgotten all about that. I thought the two of you were going to kill each other.”
Hunter laughed. “We almost did. Good thing Aiden wasn’t around then; I’m sure he would have been in on it.”
“Maybe I should tell Kyle I asked you and Aiden to stand up there with me, since he got to do it last time.”
“Dude, please make sure to do it when I’m there to see his face.”
A knock on the door had us both turning. Jack stood and waited for Hunter’s command.
“Down, Jack,” Hunter stated before he called out, “Come on in!”