A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn(77)
She was as taken aback by his teasing as she was by how charmed she realized she’d be if he actually did something like that. “It is a long service, but don’t worry, you won’t be expected to be there for the whole thing.”
“Of course I’m going to be by your side for the whole thing. What would Tricia think?”
She was starting to think that they were talking about more than just Tricia’s wedding. “If you’d like, I could simply bring you in for the important parts. It’s customary for folks who put on the wedding to come and go. A wedding is a part of our lives, you know. It isn’t meant to take over everything.” Of course, as she said the words she couldn’t help but smile. Her little speech was in direct contrast to what had been happening; the wedding had taken over her life for weeks.
“Let’s play it by ear, okay?”
Again came the little tingle of awareness she felt every time he gazed at her directly. Suddenly tongue-tied, she simply nodded her head.
Looking satisfied, he glanced at the clock. “It’s now five thirty. What do you want to do first?”
“I’ll make you some breakfast. Then, how about we start putting out the tablecloths and setting the tables? After that we can start gathering all the food.”
“What do you mean, ‘start gathering all the food’?”
“Oh, Eric. You have no idea. I’ve got plates and dishes stashed all over this town. It’s going to be a wonder if I can find it all.”
He chuckled. “I’ll help you gather all you want, Bev. Just tell me where to go and I’ll do it.”
The tension between them had dissipated and she was so, so relieved. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” After taking another sip of coffee, he asked, “You got any cereal?”
“I do. I have a brand-new box of Cheerios just for you.”
“I’ll have a quick bowl of cereal, then start on those tables.”
“Thank you for helping.”
“No worries. I may be your boss, but today you are in charge, Bev.”
His warm expression conveyed everything they’d been hinting around for the last few minutes. There was more to them than a simple working relationship. A whole lot more. It made her giddy and a little flustered. Therefore, she said the only thing she could say. “All righty, then. Eat your cereal, then roll up your sleeves. The next four hours are going to be the fastest of your life.”
He winked. “Yes, ma’am.”
Oh, that wink. “I’m just going to, ah, go get something from my room that I forgot. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time, Beverly. I’ll still be here when you get back.”
And that, of course, was what she was afraid of.
Now that they were together again instead of miles away from each other, Beverly knew it was going to be even harder to ignore her feelings for him. Yes, he was her friend. And yes, he was also her boss. But he was also becoming something else to her—almost her secret crush.
Chapter 25
Jay should have realized that it didn’t matter how many times he practiced his father-son speech or how many times he prayed for strength and guidance, nothing could completely prepare him for the day his son got married.
He’d woken up at four, said his prayers, and quietly gone about the morning chores: gathering eggs, feeding the cat and kittens, watering the small garden they’d recently planted next to the house. And as he’d done so, he’d wondered where the time had gone. It seemed like Ben had just been a shy boy starting school, then an irritable teenager fending off two younger brothers, and, most recently, a handsome young man with a look of despair in his eyes as he tried to push his grief to one side in order to comfort his brothers.
Through it all, Jay had been proud of him. He’d told him that, too. He’d also made sure Ben had known he was loved.
But this day? This day called for something special to say about his son. He simply didn’t know how to begin. After waking up William and Mark and serving them their breakfast, Jay had sent them back to their rooms to get ready so he could concentrate on what he wanted to say to Ben.
Time was running out and it was making him a nervous wreck.
Just then, Ben entered the kitchen. After pouring himself a cup of coffee, he offered to help with the chores.
“Nee, Ben. You have a seat. I, um, made you breakfast.”
As Ben sat and ate, Jay couldn’t help but notice that his eldest was looking as cool as a cucumber. Almost as if he didn’t have a care in the world. How could that be? Had the Lord seen fit to simply lay all the burdens and worries on Jay’s shoulders?