Page 168 of Lavender Lake
Lucy came up to me and gave me a hug. “Congratulations, by the way.”
“Yeah, congratulations,” Gideon added as he approached.
Wedding guests continued to offer me their felicitations and well wishes. But then the questions started.
“Does this mean you’re moving home for good?”
“Are you and Bowman getting married?”
“Does your father know?”
On and on they went.
Poet wormed herself between me and a few guests. She placed her hands on her hips, peered up at me, and glowered.
I waved at her. “Hi.”
She pointed her finger at me. “Don’thime. Wyn said you told her you were pregnant.”
“She caught me puking a few days ago,” I said lamely.
“And Muddy said she knew too,” Poet added. “I’m guessing you told Hadley as well?”
“No,” Hadley interjected. “Salem didn’t tell me. I already knew, though. Because Salem was acting weird and not eating certain things and she threw up when we camped out.”
“The beer . . . that spill was on purpose,” Poet said in realization.
“Yep,” I said.
She frowned. “I was the last to know.Again.”
“My father doesn’t know yet,” I said, patting her hand. “So technically, he’s the last to know.”
“He knows,” Muddy said from behind me.
I whirled. “Don’t sneak up on me!”
She shrugged.
“And what do you mean Dad knows? Who told him?” I demanded.
“Your fiancé,” she said. “He just asked your father for your hand in marriage.”
“Oh no,” I murmured.
“He wants to see you,” Muddy said, giving me a little push toward the house.
“But I’m at a wedding,” I said lamely.
“I’ll go with you if you want,” Hadley said.
“No, I’m no chicken. I can handle Dad.” I grimaced. “You think he’ll lecture me?”
“About what?” Hadley asked with a wry grin. “Getting pregnant? He’d have to lecture me, too.”
“I meant, do you think he’ll lecture me about falling in love with a bull rider?” I corrected.
Wyn turned to Poet. “We’ve got to get the fuck out of here. Like, immediately.”
