“We should probably start cleaning up,” Margaret said, standing. “We all need our rest for tomorrow.”
“We’re taking Brent away,” William said with a chuckle. “Only we won’t say where.”
Brent rolled his shoulders back. “Best prepare myself for anything, in that case,” he said, and everyone laughed.
Hope frowned, not understanding.
Margaret patted Hope’s shoulder as she strode past her. “Don’t worry, dear. It’s going to be loads of fun.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Rise and shine.”
Hope groggily opened her eyes to find Meredith standing beside her bed and holding out a coffee mug. She was dressed in a nautical-looking outfit and wearing a quirky sailor hat and boat shoes. Ava, who was dressed similarly, stood in the doorway. Their outfits were all clearly part of a gag, but what was the joke, exactly? Whatever it was, they wanted Hope in on it, because her mom paraded into her room next holding an outfit that looked nearly identical to Meredith’s for Hope to wear.
“It’s time for your getaway,” Ava said as thunder boomed outdoors.
Heavy rain pounded against the roof of their small cottage as Hope sat up in bed. “Where are we going in that?” she asked, referencing the weather.
“Grandmother Margaret has a plan,” Meredith informed her with a bright grin.
Hope propped herself up against the headboard with pillows and took a sip of coffee from the mug Meredith handed her. She eyed the others curiously. “Have the guys already left?”
“Oh, yes.” Ava waved her hand. “Hours ago.”
Hope checked the clock on the nightstand, seeing it was nearly ten o’clock. She couldn’t believe she’d slept so hard—or so late. “I guess I missed breakfast?” she asked with a grimace.
“Nope.” Meredith grinned and motioned toward the kitchen, then whispered behind her hand. “The others are out there, so you’re Jackie.”
Seconds later, Sally appeared in the doorway with a bountiful breakfast tray, complete with a small carafe containing more coffee. Hope spotted a selection of tasty-looking pastries, including a divinely puffy chocolate croissant, sliced fresh fruit, and butter and jams. “You guys,” Hope said, feeling her eyes mist. “Thank you.”
“You’re our Princess for the Day,” Elsa said, also appearing alongside Margaret, who grinned broadly. Sofia stepped past them and placed a sparkling toy tiara on Hope’s head. It said “Princess Bride.”
Hope cupped her hand to her mouth, then touched her crown. “I love it. I really do.”
She noticed all the others were dressed as if they were going boating, too. “We’re not…actually going out on the water?”
The women raised their eyebrows at one another, all repressing smiles.
“You’ll want to wear non-skid shoes,” Margaret said. “As well as your slicker.”
“Well, okay,” Hope said, feeling game. Although she sincerely hoped life vests would also be involved. She took a bite of the flaky croissant, and the warm chocolate melted on her tongue. “This is amazing.”
Meredith giggled and picked up a napkin, leaning toward her. “You’ve got chocolate all over your face.”
For the life of her, Hope felt as if Meredith was warming to her. And she had to be in a bind, trying to both support her new friendship with Hope and remain loyal to Jackie. Above everything else, though, Meredith appeared to value real love. Which made total sense. She spent her entire career focused on arranging it.
“Do I?” Hope laughed. “It was worth it.”
…
Brent had no clue what his brothers had planned, but since his dad and grandpa were coming along, he suspected things wouldn’t get too out of hand. And they basically didn’t.
When William removed his blindfold, he found himself in Derrick’s rustic cabin.
“What are we doing here?” he asked with a happy laugh. Streamers were everywhere, and a signed draped across one of the wood-paneled walls proclaimed “Bachelor Party.” He stared at Derrick. “When did you do all this?”
“There was no ‘emergency’ at the boat school.” Derrick chuckled. “I was getting ready.”
“Aww.” Brent affectionately hugged his baby brother. “Thanks, man.” Through the sliding glass doors, Brent saw rain beating against Derrick’s deck and the attached dock. Like Grandpa Chad, Derrick kept his bigger boat at the marina, though he had some smaller crafts he kept stowed away in an outdoor building here.
Brent saw that Derrick’s round kitchen table had been laid for a card game. “Poker?”
Chad eagerly rubbed his hands together. “Prepare to lose your shirt.”
“Not so fast, Grandpa,” William said. “I might be taking home the winnings today.”
While they never played for much money, the family group often tossed some spare change into the pot to make things more interesting.
Derrick strode into his kitchen, where he had bags of chips and pretzels lined up on the counter. “I laid in the snack foods,” he said. Next, he pulled open his refrigerator door. “And stocked up with tons of subs and pickles.”
Brent’s eyes warmed. “Sounds like you thought of everything.”
“Don’t forget the entertainment,” Parker quipped, and Brent quirked a doubtful eyebrow.
“Not that kind of entertainment.” Derrick laughed and slapped Brent’s shoulder. He lifted the remote off the coffee table and turned on the enormous wide-screen television he had positioned between two side windows with a partial view of the water. “Streaming ESPN. All day long.”
Brent chuckled in understanding. “Sounds like my perfect day.”
“Plus, the pièce de résistance…” Derrick proudly pulled a heavy cauldron of something from the top shelf of the refrigerator and set it on the stove. “Homemade chili for supper.”
William smirked playfully. “You have been a busy bee.”
“We also have gifts.” Grandpa Chad nodded toward a stash of colorful bags on a table near the corner.
“I feel like it’s my birthday.” Brent laughed.
“It’s better than a birthday, mate.” William shared a grin. “You’re getting married.”
“To somebody wonderful, too.” Parker handed Brent a package.
“You want me to open it now?”