Page 51 of Coming Home

Gerard took several pictures and then turned off the light, thinking Knott would have done the same. Gently, he pulled the sleep mask back over his surgeon’s eyes.

“You really did a nice job, Doctor. I thank you.”

He walked out of the bedroom. From now on, he would think of himself as Anthony.

And begin a new chapter in his remarkable journey.

CHAPTER 18

Ainsley was the last to arrive at Eats ’n Treats. She caught sight of Tenley waving from a booth in the back and headed that way, pleased to see that Gillian Roberts was also present. Gillian slid from the booth and gave Ainsley a tight hug.

“Congratulations, my dear. You are getting a real winner in Jackson, but he is getting a marvelous partner in you.”

“Thank you, Gillian,” she said. “I know Jackson looks upon you as family because you had a hand in helping to raise him, along with Boo.”

Ainsley slid into the booth, and Gillian followed. Everyone greeted her, and Tenley said, “We’ve already ordered for the entire table. We know you probably still have lots to talk about with Jackson, and we wanted this meeting to go as quickly and smoothly as possible.”

“Thank you all for being here tonight. For always being here for me,” she said from her heart. “I look upon each of you as dear friends and my chosen family.”

The server set down iced teas and waters for everyone and told them their appetizers would be out soon.

“Let’s get down to the good stuff,” Rylie said. “Do we know the time of the wedding?”

Willow said, “I actually called Jackson before coming here. He said he had arranged with the Barton County clerk for the ceremony to be a week from this coming Monday at three o’clock that afternoon.”

“Perfect,” Tenley said. “We’ll have time for the ceremony and pictures afterward, and then we can all return to Boo’s and get things set up.” She looked to Ainsley. “Have you decided what you might like us to serve? And whom you’ll invite?”

Ainsley pulled up a list of guests on her phone which she and Jackson had worked up. “I have the list. I’ll text it to everyone here so that you all have access to it.” She did so. “As far as food goes, we will have two cakes, both our wedding cake and a groom’s one. I’ve entrusted Gus to make the groom’s cake, and he was thrilled to be asked to do so.”

“Can you tell us a little about the wedding cake? I assume you’ll be creating it,” Gillian said.

“I’m going to leave that as a surprise. Only Jackson and I will know its design before that day. Maybe Gus, because I’ll need him to help me transport it to Boo’s. As far as food goes, though? I’m all about finger foods and ease. You know me, I could make a meal out of appetizers.”

“Speaking of appetizers,” Willow said as their server returned with a large round tray filled with food, setting down plates of nachos, wings, fried mozzarella, and eggrolls.

Ainsley chuckled. “This is exactly the kind of things I love to eat and would like to serve at our reception.”

“Carter had some ideas,” Tenley began, pulling out her phone and bring up a list. “He wants to make all the food as his contribution to your big day. I’ll help him. I’ve learned lots from him, and I’m turning out to be an excellent sous chef.”

Tenley began detailing the appetizer ideas Carter had come up with, including mini-sliders, prosciutto-wrapped persimmons in goat cheese, shrimp cocktail shooters, and fried mac-and-cheese bites.

“It all sounds wonderful to me,” she told her friend. “I say give Carter free rein and let him come up with any or all on your list. And if he can get a few vlogs from it, more power to him.”

As they nibbled, Ainsley agreed to every suggestion her friends made. Willow said she and Dylan would provide the wines and champagne. Gillian offered to arrange the bridal bouquet and flowers for the serving tables at the reception, asking Ainsley what her favorite flowers were and promising to incorporate them into the bouquet and arrangements she would create.

Rylie asked, “What’s there for me to do? I suppose I can help pull together an outfit for my cousin. If I recall, you only have two dresses in your wardrobe, both black. I’m sure Jackson saw one of those when he took you to the Old Coast Pub House.”

“Yes, please take me shopping. Even though it won’t be a ceremony where I march down an aisle, I want you to stand up beside me and sign the license as one of our witnesses.”

“I’m having all the fun at this wedding,” Rylie said. “First, the shopping for a dress and shoes. Then I get to help furnish the lovebirds’ new house. How is that going?”

“Pete e-mailed an estimate for the various jobs that we discussed as we walked through the house with him. Jackson and I will talk things over this evening and decide which renovations to move forward with.” Ainsley glanced at Willow. “Jackson’s decided to move into my apartment while construction is going on. We thought it would be more convenient to leave the house open instead of Pete’s crew having to work around us.”

“You are always welcome to stay at Boo’s,” her friend said. “Dylan and I expected that you would until the house was finished.” Then Willow smiled, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “Unless you’re intending on having lots of raucous sex that would disturb our sleep.”

They all laughed, and Ainsley joined in, saying, “I hope we do. Actually, Jackson has made me feel so cherished in that regard.”

“He’s always been a gentleman,” her future sister-in-law said. “I can imagine how much he will treasure you as his wife.”

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