Page 53 of No Place Like Home
He put one hand up in surrender and opened the file on the table.
“Like I was saying. These are the schedules for this week, what needs to happen when. Rowan, your list has all the things I expectthe guys to accomplish, especially their tuxedo fittings. You need to make sure they actuallytrythem onand that they fit well.”
“Wait, you want me to go with each of them?” I asked as I looked at the schedule.
“Absolutely,” she agreed. “They’re all going on Wednesday, so there shouldn’t be any problems. It’s your brothers, and Kai, of course. They’ll all be fine. The only one who might give you any problems is Lance, but you know how to handle him.”
“Seriously? Are we going here again?” Kai asked.
“Sorry, honey, but if you knew him as long as we have, you’d know plans tend to be all about Lance. I mean, come on. He’s thirty-six and still very single.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I cut in. “I can handle him. He’s like another brother. He won’t be a problem.” I read over the list. “So, it looks like I need to focus on the tuxes and that they try them on before they bring them home. It says here that there’s a bachelor party Thursday night and I’m planning that.” I glance at Kai. “Shouldn’t I have been told this?”
“Consider yourself told,” he said with a smile.
I rolled my eyes.
“And Friday night,” Susie said, taking over for Kora, “is the rehearsal at the Warfield ranch, and everyone needs to be there by four. Practice is first, with dinner following at five thirty.”
“Yep,” answered Kora leaning back with her coffee in her hand.
Susie continued. “Rowan, starting Friday, I’ll make sure everything runs smoothly. You just need to be by my side, and make sure to do whatever I tell you during the wedding. But beforehand you’ll be with the guys, making sure they have everything they need.”
I chuckled. “Absolutely, ma’am.” I gave her a military salute.
She nodded. “Good.” Then she turned to Kora. “See, he listens well.”
“Sis, you make him sound like a dog,” Kai said.
“It’s okay. Seems like he’s as loyal as one, and we can see he’s just as cute.” Her quip made Kora laugh, at least. I couldn’t decide if she was being funny or rude. But I did know that she was coming out of the quiet shell she had been in when I saw her at the housewarming. She turned and talked with Kora about other wedding details I couldn’t—and honestly didn’t—want to keep up with.
As they talked, I checked Susie out. Not that I was interested in her—not in the least. Sure, she was sweet, but her looks reminded me of one of the cheerleaders I dated once or twice in high school—and she was nothing compared to Summer. Summer’s quick-wittedness and sassy attitude were fucking hot, not to mention kept me on my feet and in check.
“How long are you staying, Susie?” I asked when they took a break in their conversation.
“I have school Monday morning, so I leave early Sunday. I should be home by late afternoon. I’ll be back in the summer. Hopefully, by then I’ll have a niece or nephew to love on.”
“No pressure, sis, thanks,” Kai responded.
“Just letting you know what I’m expecting. It’s been nice visiting. I wasn’t sure about seeing dad, but he’s cleaned himself up. Things were a little awkward at first, but I can tell he’s really trying to make amends for all the years we missed having a father. Kai, that’s all your doing.”
“What do you mean?” Kai asked.
“You could have kicked him out and ignored him. You know me or Sebastian probably would have, but that’s never who you were. It’s just like you to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.”
Kai shrugged. “I guess. But everyone here was so welcoming to me, I had no choice but to return the favor. I’ve told him that even though he wasn’t much of a father, we could figure something out. He’s stepped up since, so it’s all been pretty good.”
They talked more about Terry and how well he’d done in the Alcoholics Anonymous group he attended. It was good to learn about Kai’s family, and it made me appreciate how lucky my brothers and I were. We had two parents who loved us and each other.
Kai, Susie, and Summer weren’t that lucky. Kai, though, came out pretty good on the other end, and eventually learned to believe in love.
That gave me hope for Summer.
Chapter 24
Summer
Wedding week was off to a great start. Wednesday, the princesses came in for their nail appointments. Those three girls were already a handful, and they weren’t even out of kindergarten, but the salon lit up when they visited. At times they remind me so much of me, Darlene, and Kora when we were in middle school—except they were always happy, they didn’t have blue, black, or red hair like I did, and they weren’t rude or ignorant like I was. Thank God.
