The boy continued his run to the fort to join a handful of other boys.
Cal shook his head. “Well, that was easier than I thought.”
“Hey, I can cook better than you. What more does a boy want?” Becky Lee teased him.
“Now I guess we can move on to the planning the wedding stage.”
“I’ve got that all covered. Saturday at my friend Bella’s place. Simple. Just a few people. I called my friend Luke, and he’ll officiate. Jenny and Bella are mentioning around town here and there about the wedding. Saying it’s just family. Soon the whole town will know.”
“What can I do to help?” Cal marveled at all Becky Lee had already arranged. “Oh, what should I wear? How fancy is this going to be?”
“Not fancy. I’m borrowing Jenny’s vintage dress. You can just wear slacks and a dress shirt.”
“You sure you’re okay with all of this?” Cal looked closely at Becky Lee. “I know women dream about their wedding… and this is… well, I’m sure this is nothing that you ever dreamed of.”
“I am sure. It’s fine. I am a bit uncertain of the whole until death do us part type of vows, though. All the traditional things people promise.”
Cal nodded. How could they pledge all those things and not mean them?
“And not to make things more complicated than they already are, but I guess you two will be moving in with me? I have a bedroom for Scotty, no problem. I need to clear out a bunch of yarn and knitting stuff. It’s my yarn stash room right now. There’s an extra bathroom in the hallway. But… well, what do we do about you?”
Cal wanted to slap his forehead with a duh moment. Of course, they needed to figure out sleeping arrangements.
“I do have a sunroom with a daybed, but what happens if someone comes over and sees that you live back there? Or what if Scotty lets slip that your bedroom is the sunroom?”
Cal frowned. “I… just don’t know.”
“I guess I could clear out part of my closet and you could put your things in there. Wait until after Scotty goes to sleep to head to the sunroom?”
“That will have to work. I’ll make sure I’m up before Scotty. He’ll never know. I can share the hall bathroom with Scotty. I’ll tell him yours is full of women stuff and it’s easier to use a guy bathroom.” Cal grinned. “I assume that part is true?”
Becky Lee laughed. “That part is true. I have taken over every available inch in my bathroom.”
“Well, that takes care of the living arrangements. Scotty and I will move in after the wedding.”
“Good.”
“Next week after things settle down, I’d like to take a trip to Baton Rouge. Get more of Scotty and my things. Look around TJ’s home and see if I can find that missing paper giving me custody.”
“I don’t feel like things are ever going to settle down, but let’s do go to Baton Rouge. I want to see Theresa Jean again. We’ll do that and get things from her home for Scotty.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“I better head out. I have a ton of things to do.”
“I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Make sure to tell me if there is anything I can do to help.”
“I will.” Becky Lee headed back down the walkway and he watched as she disappeared around the corner.
He turned back to watch Scotty play, feeling a little lost and not liking the feeling. How in the world was all this going to work out?
~ * ~
After Cal put Scotty to bed, he sat at the kitchen table with a pad of paper and pencil. There was one thing he could do. He could write vows that he and Becky Lee could promise. Things they could promise each other that wouldn’t be lies.
He could do this.
He scratched away at some ideas and crossed off just as many ideas as he came up with. He got up and went to the fridge to grab a beer. He took a long swallow of the cold liquid and sighed. This was going to be harder than he thought.
He determinedly crossed over to the table and sat back down. He could do this. He could.
He started to write:
I take you as you are, unconditionally, to be by your side…
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Bella glanced at her notebook to make sure everything was going as planned. The arbor had been decorated with mini-lights and ivy. A handful of chairs had been placed in the yard. Becky Lee hadn’t wanted to walk up an aisle, so they were all just going to gather at four in the afternoon.
Luckily the heat wave had broken. It would still be hot, but not smothering hot. She’d also put a few fans outside blowing on the arbor and the chairs.
Jenny was picking up the bouquet and bringing it over with her. Becky Lee should be here any minute. Owen had picked up the wedding cake, and it was sitting on the table she’d decorated with flowers. They’d have a small reception inside her home after the ceremony.