Page 60 of Wreck Me

“What?” Monique sputtered. “Now?”

Ginny didn’t need convincing, but she gazed up at Nico standing next to her. “What do you think? You up for a housewarming wedding?”

Monique’s grip on Ginny’s hand became vicelike. “No, that’s?—"

Nico winked at Sadie and Grant. “That’s been the plan—assuming you’d have me.”

Monique snatched up Sadie’s hand too and yanked both her sisters back into the kitchen. She rounded first on Ginny. “What are youdoing? You’re only two years from your birthday. Twoyears from amillion free dollars!” She glared at Sadie. “And you! Look at you encouraging her. Just because you didn’t get your inheritance, you don’t want Ginny to either? In case you’ve forgotten, a few months ago she was still driving a death trap around!”

Sadie smiled up sweetly at her sister, who appeared to be one blood pressure point short of cardiac arrest. “Did Nico make very much money off that land deal? You would know.”

“He made an obscene amount, but?—”

Sadie tilted her head. “So, are they going to miss a million dollars?”

“No, but…but…Great Aunt Lydia?—”

“Oh, to heck with Great Aunt Lydia,” Sadie said with unusual temper. “Why should her miserable opinions?—"

Ginny cleared her throat, getting their attention. “You both know I wouldn’t care if he was a dumpster diving squatter. I want to marry this man, and I want to marry him now, with all our family here, in our brand-new antique house, with his mother alive and knowing who he is. I will never recreate this beautiful moment ever again in all of eternity. That’s worth all the million dollars in the world to me. Can you understand that, Monique?”

Monique harrumphed. “Just don’t let Sadie ask if there are any objections, or you just might hear one.” But, as if absorbing Ginny’s words on slow motion replay, Monique’s face softened. She placed her hands on each of Ginny’s shoulders and looked into her eyes. “You’re sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything. I only wish Mom and Dad were here, but I have you two, and when we’re together, they’re here.”

“To Mom and Dad,” Sadie whispered as the three sisters hugged. “Oh, Ginny, he’s so perfect for you, so handsome and smart and kind.”

“And rich,” Monique said, for which she received a hearty jab in the ribs from Sadie. “What? He’s also nice, but being rich doesn’t hurt.”

“Such a romantic!” Sadie said to Monique as the hug ended. “Just wait. You’ll fall in love with a pauper who lives in a forest hut the week before you turn thirty.”

Monique took her time smoothing her already taut and shiny ponytail. “You wish. I’ve got more drive and self-control than you two put together.”

“My drive and self-control are in the negative range, thank goodness, so that's not hard,” Ginny said. “But let’s stop arguing and enjoy my once-in-a-lifetime moment.”

Sadie gave Ginny a conspiratorial grin. “Speaking of which,” she said to Monique as she pushed her playfully back toward the living room, “go use your drive and self-control to organize everybody in there for a wedding.”

“Why me? What are you guys doing?” Monique asked as she let herself be pushed out of the kitchen.

“You’ll see!” Sadie said. “Nico and I have one more secret surprise for Ginny!”

28

With his mother’s hand clamped to his arm for balance, Nico followed Sadie back to the master bedroom where Ginny waited for them. Behind him, Monique was ordering chairs moved and people silenced. Even Vince’s boys, not known to follow orders, seemed to understand instinctively that they had met their match in Ginny’s big sister.

Ah, well, Grant will smooth things over if Monique ends up ruffling egos.

He, Sadie, Ginny, and his mom had more important things to do.

Ginny’s freckles dance over cheeks rosy with happiness as Nico and his mother arrived in the room. His bride-to-be sat on the edge of the bed, her legs crossed and her raised foot bouncing with unrepressed curiosity. Nico gently sat his mother down next to her.

His fiancé leaned in toward his mother. “Do you know what my next surprise is?”

“I have no idea,” his mother said. “But that lady seems even more excited about it than you do.” She pointed at Sadie.

“I am!” Sadie said. “And the surprise is for both of you. Close your eyes tight!” Petite like Ginny, Sadie reminded Nico of a bird. He half-expected her to lift off the floor and start flitting around the room. “And, Ginny, no cheating like you did on your fourteenth birthday.”

“That sounds like a story I should hear,” Nico said.

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