Page 31 of Finding Home

“Don’t remind me,” he muttered.

“Does he do this to you too, or is it a girl thing?” She tipped her head to Tobey, who’d followed Pete out.

“It’s worse when you live here.” Tobey relieved her of a carrier tray of drinks. “Lets himself in all the time to be sure we haven’t left the toaster plugged in.”

Elle laughed. “You should take away his key.”

“Eleanor, this is Perry. We don’t lock our doors. Wouldn’t be neighborly,” Pete scoffed, placing the bags of food on a table set up in the garage.

“You made sure I locked the door at the Little Red Barn!” she accused, hands on her hips.

“That’s different; you’re a girl.” He cleared his throat.“Excuse me, a woman.” His tone was self-congratulatory, as if calling her a woman instead of a girl made it less sexist.

“Never change, Uncle Pete.” She pressed a soft kiss to his scruffy cheek. Despite the anxiety dully meandering within her, she was grateful to be here, to be with them.

“Aw, shucks.” He kissed the top of her head and brought her in for a hug.

“Stop with the sap!” Tobey wagged a finger. “Eleanor you’re my designated non-crier. Mom has cried three times already today, and it’s barely noon. And don’t get me started onthatone.”

“My baby is getting married,” Pete mocked, chasing Tobey out of the garage with kissy-face noises.

“Oh good! You’re here and finally wearing something appropriate. Nice shorts!”Janet burst into the garage from the house. She carried a broom, wielding it like a determined general leading troops into battle. “Okay folks! First, lunch. Then we work.”

“Hello to you, too,” Elle snarked with a playful expression.

“Boys, stop fooling around!” she chided Pete, who was either trying to hug or put his son in a headlock, maybe both.

They straightened at the “I mean business” tone of Janet’s voice, each shifting blame to the other.

“Mom, did I hear you say lunch?” Jerome boomed, as he exited the house, a blue cap withGroomyin white block letters atop his thick black hair.

“Mom!” Janet sniffled, placing her hand over her heart.

“Jerome did it!” Elle pointed at the bewildered Jerome, his fiancé glowering at them both.

After several hours of arranging and rearranging the tables to Janet’s exact specifications, Elle stood surveying what she prayed was the final configuration of the reception tent. Tobey and Jerome had left to pick Jerome’s dad up at the airport.

Elle, Pete, and Janet stood in the center of a temporary wooden dance floor. Janet consulted her clipboard and mumbled to herself. They’d strung fairy lights throughout the large white tent. Crisp linen cloths covered the mixture of round and rectangular tables. Mason jars wrapped in white ribbon sat in anticipation of pink carnations. Tomorrow the flowers would be placed and the tea lights lit to complete the table decorations.

Soon, Pete and Janet headed inside to clean up for the rehearsal. Dinner would follow the dry run. Elle volunteered to wait for the bartending crew coming to set up for tomorrow’s festivities. After, she’d head out to doll up for tonight’s mini shindig.

Ten minutes later, Noah strolled into the tent followed by Todd. Elle had been texting with Willa and Viet, who were dying for Clayton updates.

“When you said you’d be at the wedding I assumed it was as a guest,” Elle greeted Noah.

“Can’t I be both guest and servant?” Noah teased with a lopsided grin.

“A man who wears many hats.”

“And they all look good on Prince Charming here.” Todd pinched Noah’s cheeks.

“Prince Charming?” Noah groaned, his mouth open and brows lifted.

“If the crown fits.” Todd flicked Noah’s forehead.

“Ha!” Elle snorted. Yes, she snorted.

She was realizing that keeping her goofy and sometimes awkward self hidden was a losing battle, and she was fighting too many other battles with emotions and memories that wanted to come out. Losing this one in hopes of winning the more important one that she’d face the next day seemed a small concession.

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