Barefoot by the Sea

Except John hadn’t booked. He’d gone to his children and back into hiding. “He might have had a good reason for leaving, Ash.”

She got a “Get real” look in response. “I don’t care about him. I have to know.”

“And so does your mother,” Tessa said.

She dropped her head back and closed her eyes. “She’s going to be so disappointed in me.”

“For a minute.” But not much more. Tessa remembered so, so well the day Lacey had returned to Gainesville after she’d gone home to deliver this same news to her parents. Lacey wouldn’t make her daughter feel like the world’s biggest disappointment, like her own mother had. “But you have to tell her. Now.”

“Will you break it to her?”

The question hit hard. Tessa knew, or had at least suspected, that Ashley was doing more than kissing her short-term boyfriend. And she hadn’t told Lacey.

“I’m the one she’s going to be disappointed in,” Tessa said on a sigh. “I should have stepped in and done something.” But she’d been too busy with her own romantic interludes.

“No, Aunt Tess, you did what I asked you. I won’t let her be mad at you for that. Anyway, if she hadn’t been so wrapped up in the baby and the resort—”

Tessa stopped her. “Don’t, Ash. Don’t blame other people for your mistakes. Own them.” She pulled the girl a little closer, the full weight of what this news could mean actually hitting her. Another baby, another life, and Ashley’s whole future suddenly turned on its head.

But before they could worry about that, they needed to tell Lacey. And get confirmation.

“Tessa!” Zoe’s voice came from the lanai, excited and high-pitched. “What’s taking you so long?”

Ashley and Tessa shared a look.

“Come on, kiddo. You better hope the wedding consultants give good news.”

Holding hands, they crossed the grass to the open screen door where Zoe waited, bouncing on her toes. “They’re on the phone in Lacey’s office right now. She’s got the door closed.” Zoe grabbed both their hands. “What are you guys doing out there?”

“Talking,” Tessa said, stepping in front of Ashley to save her from Zoe’s prying “Have you been crying?” questions. “Is Joss here?”

“She’s changing Elijah. Come, come.” Zoe led them around the pool deck to the open sliding doors leading to the family room, where Jocelyn was settling down on the rocker with the baby. “Door’s still closed,” Joss reported. “Anyone have a working boob?”

Ashley spun around and headed for the kitchen. “I’ll get a bottle for him. She has some pumped in the fridge now that he has a tooth.”

“Good girl,” Jocelyn said. “What an awesome mother you’ll make.”

Tessa didn’t dare look at Ashley. Oh, Lord. They weren’t ready for this. She covered up the awkward silence by cooing over the baby.

“Hey, little boy blue.” She stroked his cheek and was rewarded with a huge baby grin as the office door popped open. They all froze, waiting for Lacey, who took her sweet time coming down the hall. That couldn’t be good.

Even Elijah was quiet, as if he knew the importance of the moment.

Zoe leaned forward on the sofa, her hands in a classic prayer position. Ashley came in holding the bottle. Tessa reached to hold Jocelyn’s hand.

“Are you all sitting down?” Lacey called as she walked in.

“Sitting down and dying,” Zoe said.

“Well.” Lacey put her hands on her hips and made a tight face, shaking her head. “They’re not going to recommend us to the AABC.”

“What?”

“Why?”

“That’s BS!”

Lacey didn’t say a word during the outburst, but quietly took the bottle Ashley was holding and thanked her with a quick, gentle touch on the shoulder. While Zoe spewed near obscenities and Jocelyn and Tessa grumbled under their breath, Lacey scooped up her son, gave him a kiss, and settled on the sofa next to Zoe, still silent.

“You’re pretty zen about this,” Jocelyn observed.

“Because you all didn’t let me finish.”

That quieted them.

Lacey positioned the baby to take the bottle, humming softly as she got him settled in and comfortable. “Have you seen his little tooth?” she finally asked.

“Lacey!” All four of them shouted loud enough to startle Elijah.

Finally, Lacey’s smile widened. “They aren’t recommending us because it would be a conflict of interest.”

Another shower of questions rained, but she waited until they were quiet.

“It would be a conflict of interest because…” Her eyes danced as her smile widened. “They are banding their three consulting businesses together, starting one super amazing wedding-planning organization, and they are moving here to hold the weddings at Casa Blanca.”

“What?” They all screamed that question, too.

“Can you believe it?” Lacey leaned forward, beaming over her baby. “They didn’t like Barefoot Bay, they loved it. They adored Casa Blanca, but they don’t think we know anything about how to put on a great wedding.”

“We don’t,” Zoe said. “We need professional planners on staff.”

“Exactly. Remember all the strange looks and weird vibes we got? They’d been planning this from the minute they got here and, seeing how many times we slipped up, they were certain it was the right move.”

“So they’re going to work for us?” Jocelyn asked.

“Not on staff, but I think we’re going to figure out a way to give them office space here. Between the three of them with existing destination-wedding clients lined up for years, they’ll have Casa Blanca booked for at least two weddings a month for the next year, maybe more. We don’t need to be recommended to the AABC!” She nearly hoisted Elijah with joy. “The word will get out all on its own. And wait until you hear the name of their new company.”

They all waited breathlessly.

“Barefoot Brides!”

“Oh, I love it!”

“Perfection!”

“All brides should be barefoot.”

Ignoring the outburst, Lacey looked around, a frown pulling. “Where did Ashley go? Did she even hear this news? Ash?”

Tessa’s gut twisted. It was time. Good news about to be followed by—no. No one could think a baby was bad news.

“I’ll get her,” she said, pushing up. “Ashley?”

She headed down the hall to take the back stairs up to Ashley’s room, but as she passed the master, Ashley’s arm reached out and grabbed her.

“Aunt Tess! C’mere!” Her eyes bright, she pulled Tessa into the dimly lit room and stuffed the plastic bag into Tessa’s hand. “Don’t need this!” She practically sang the words. “I just got my period!” She threw her arms around Tessa. “Could I be any happier?”

She couldn’t answer as an old twist of envy spiraled through her. What must it be like to be happy to get your period?

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely! That’s why I ran out of the room, but judging by the screaming we got the recommendation.”

“Actually, we didn’t, but it’s even better news. Come on, let’s—”

“What’s going on, you two?” Lacey stood in the doorway, still holding Elijah. “Ashley, are you okay?”

“I’m great, Mom!”