Page 12 of Love and Other Trials
Wig talk had calmed Tiffany, but her sister still had her nose scrunched up in a prime Bridezilla pose. God, this was too much.
“Really, Ariel,” she said, shaking her head like Ariel was a naughty girl. “You know how important wedding photos are.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Tricia said, proving she’d taken her daily bitch pill. “She’s still single.”
“If Ariel said it was unavoidable, I’m sure it was,” Dax broke in, stepping protectively behind her, warming her now-numb heart. “She’s had a long day. How about we find her cottage?”
Tiffany gave him another hard look, and Ariel wondered if it was because Dax hadn’t flirted back or because she knew she was in trouble with her fiancé’s best friend. “Dax is right. Sherlock and I are tired and want to go to bed. We can talk more in the morning. I heard you have my key.”
“Sleep always helps your mood.” Tiffany reached out and rubbed her arm. “About the room… I needed a little more space for the wedding and the gifts, so I moved you in with the boys.”
“What?”She fell back a step in shock, rocking into Dax’s warm, comforting body.
“We put all five of them in their own cottage because Marshall is thirteen and Ripp is twelve, but us girls got to thinking it would be nice to have an adult around. You didn’t bring anybody, so we didn’t think you needed the extra space, and the boys love to play with Sherlock. There’s a nice pull-out couch in the living room for you and a homemade doggie bed on the floor for Sherlock.”
This was a new low. “You got rid of Lisa assisting me with the weddingandyou want me to babysit? Tiffany, I’ve been working a tornado site this past week, and you know how rowdy the boys are.”
“You’re always doing something like that.” Her sister blew her platinum bangs off her forehead. “It’s what you do. Besides, it’s not babysitting. It’s just minding your nephews, whom you don’t spend enough time with. And they only get a little rowdy, being boys.”
Five boys between the ages of eight and thirteen would only get a little rowdy? Was she kidding?
“It’ll be fun.” Tiffany jostled her with that beaming smile of hers, something even three in the morning didn’t dim. “Think of all the memories you’ll make. And—we don’t need Lisa now that you’re here.”
The change from one shocking subject to the other wasn’t unheard of with her sisters, but she was a little slow given the lateness of the hour. “I need her?—”
“She wasn’t doing things the way I wanted.” Tiffany glanced at their other sisters, signaling them to join her side, as always. “Ariel, she was trouble. I would think you’d be thanking me.”
“Thanking—”
“Plus, she and Rob get to save some money,” Terry put in, smoothing back her strawberry blond hair from over her shoulders. “Do you know how much Lisa’s services cost per hour?”
She felt Dax’s hands come to rest on her shoulders and savored the strength they imparted. Because she was about to blow her top. “Yes, I know how much Lisa costs.Ifound her. She’s essential to things coming off.”
“No, you are.” Tiffany crossed her arms, and Terry and Tricia mirrored her stance. “Besides, you have Dax here to help you. Right, Dax?”
He was silent a moment. “Of course. I plan to help Ariel in any way I can.”
“See.” Tiffany jostled her and cut Dax a saccharine smile. “You have a big, strong man to help you. Better than Lisa.”
Unbelievable.
“I really want my own space, Tiffany,” she said.
Her sister’s dismissive wave had her gritting her teeth. “Don’t be like this. It’s my wedding. Besides, you love your nephews.”
Guilt. The oldest trick in the book. “That’s not the point?—”
“This way we get to spend some quality time with our honey pies, Ariel,” Terry drawled as Tricia nodded. “Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve been away from the boys? We need a break.”
“So do I!” Ariel cried out.
“It’s different with kids.” Tiffany gave her a hard look. “Ariel, you must be tired. Why don’t you head along to your cottage? You and the kids are in number 7. Let me get you the key card.”
“Make sure to sneak in quiet,” Tricia added, putting a finger to her lips. “Ryland is a light sleeper.”
She couldn’t make her feet move. She was sleeping on a pull-out bed in a three-bedroom cottage filled with five boys. Ones she was supposed to beminding.Of all the things she’d imagined coming out of the Three Tornadoes’ infamous minds, she’d never imagined this nightmare.
Sherlock nudged her with his head, his sad eyes likely mirroring hers. She shook herself. There was nothing she could do about it tonight. She knew the resort’s availability. Every cottage was accounted for by other guests until they fully occupied it starting Thursday. There was her grandmother’s place on Folly Beach, but it was much too late for her to go there, not to mention she didn’t have her own car.
