Page 75 of To Have and to Scold

“Nice to meet you.” I step back and glance over the small crowd of eight. “Welcome to Willow Wood. Come on in.”

Dallas and I lead the way to the kitchen, where foil pans full of food dropped off by their parents sit on the counter. Earlier, we set out candlesticks and long, tapered candles, white tablecloths, as well as several bouquets of flowers around the dining area.

And when I say “we,” I mean that it was Dallas’s vision. I only helped execute it.

“This place is amazing!” one of Leo’s friends says.

“Beck’s done a great job, don’t you think?” Dallas is looking at me and I melt at her expression. We get the kids squared away, and Leo keeps trying to get my attention. His look saysOkay. You’ve done your duty. Now get.

I place my hand on the small of Dallas’s back as she’s finished telling Valentina how much she loves her dress.

I like what Dallas is wearing, a dark pinkish-orange flared dress that hits just above the knee. As I stand behind her, I steal a drag of her citrus scent.

She turns and tilts her face to me. “You ready to finish up the bride’s room?”

I’m tired, but I can’t stop now. This room is important to Dallas, so therefore, it’s important to me. And Mayor Dobbs and the rest of the wedding party are going to love it.

I give Leo a look of my own before leaving the kitchen with Dallas. I’m hoping he gets that my look is blaringYou all behave!

We walk up the stairs and make our way to the library. “How did you…?” I’m stunned when I enter. “It looks like a completely different room.”

“Shhh. Wait.” She goes to one of the built-ins and clicks a button. Makeup lights lining the edges of the vanity mirrors illuminate the glass. “Now you can say what you think.”

I point to the walls. “Wallpaper?” There’s a paisley print in shades of light blues and greens. “How did you hang wallpaper?” I scratch my head and take in the large, heavy mirrors on stands flanking the pedestal. “How did you do all this on zero budget? And almost no time?”

“I managed. I always do.” She tucks her hair behind one ear, steps onto the pedestal, and does a slow turn, following her likeness in the mirror. “Lila Dobbs is going to love this.” She stops when she notices my expression. “Are you upset?”

“Not upset.” I glance around the room again. “Confused. Wallpaper?”

She hops off the pedestal and goes to the wall to my left. “It’s only one wall since the built-ins take up the others. And it’s removable paper. It’s not glued on. Easy to install and easy to remove, if the mayor decides to do something different.” She chews on her lip. “I wanted to surprise her and Lila. I wanted to surprise you.”

“I’m surprised.” I let out a short breath. “We were already over budget as it was—”

“Which is why I used my own money. I told you I would,” she insists. “I told you it was my wedding present to the happy couple.”

But she doesn’t look happy.

I step to her, taking her hand in mine. “I think it looks great. They’re going to be amazed. I just—you didn’t have to, and I’m worried about you spending this much.”

She squeezes my hand with hers, but then pulls away. “It’s fine. I wanted it to be special. It’s my first wedding in Willow Cove. We had to go big with this one, so I went big. And it didn’t cost too much, truly. Some of the things—” she points to the baskets on the shelves. “—were even free at a yard sale. I arrived when they were cleaning up and the woman said I could just have them.”

“All good things. But how did you manage to do all this? When I told my crew to help you with whatever you needed, I wasn’t picturing this.”

“We just vamped it up. Nothing structural. All quick cosmetic fixes. Besides, I got Portia to help me.”

“Portia?”

“Beck, she was my saving grace with this project. That woman knows her way around a scrub brush. She cleaned the shelves and walls so well we didn’t need a drop of paint in here.”

“Not a single drop, huh?” I feel a smile coming on.

“And she loves your brother so much. I think you’re being unfair because they’re such a great couple. She told me the story of how they met. I’ve heard hundreds of couple origin stories the last five years, but theirs is one of the best. Did you know they met when he defended her on public transit when someone tried to steal her bag?”

“Really? I never heard that.” But had I ever asked him for details on how they met or anything about them? No, I hadn’t.

“Elliott was probably being modest and that’s why he didn’t tell you. But yeah, he got the bag back from the guy and called the police for her, too.” She fans her face. “So sweet.”

“What is this? You’re sentimental about somebody’s meet-cute?”

---