“Even more interesting,” Gabi noted. “You’re the one who looks a little shaken, Samantha.”
“I just think we’re all getting way ahead of ourselves. You and Wade have been together for ages. Boone and Emily, well, they’ve been in love for years. Ethan and I have only been acquainted for a couple of weeks.”
Ethan’s eyebrow shot up. “Acquainted? That’s how you see things?”
She elbowed him in the ribs. “I’m trying to get you off the hook. You need to cooperate.”
Gabi was openly laughing at the squabble. “I must say you’ve given a new definition to getting acquainted in my book, too. I think I’ll do a quick survey of the crowd here to see what they think.”
“You do and you won’t live to have a honeymoon,” Samantha warned.
“You don’t scare me,” Gabi retorted. She grinned at Ethan. “She used to utter all these dire big-sister threats when Emily and I were annoying her. She never followed through on any of them.”
“Times change,” Samantha said. “I learned a few secrets about committing the perfect crime when I was hanging around all those soap operas.”
“Okay, you two, stop fussing at each other,” Cora Jane said as she joined them. “This is a happy occasion.”
Gabi beamed at the reminder. “Yes, it is.” She met Samantha’s gaze. “I forgive you.”
“For what?” Samantha asked indignantly.
“Threatening me on the happiest day of my life.”
“Obviously I’m supposed to give you a pass for meddling, since it’s your wedding day,” Samantha grumbled.
“That would be nice,” Gabi agreed. “Especially since I only have your best interests at heart.”
“There,” Cora Jane said with satisfaction. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be. Now let’s go home and celebrate. Jerry’s already left to get the barbecue going.” She gave Gabi a stern look. “Your father has gotten you the bridal suite at his hotel on the beach. You and Wade will stay there tonight. Samantha and I will look after Daniella. No arguments, is that understood? And tomorrow Wade will move in, at least until you decide if you’re going to live in his house or find a new place of your own.”
Gabi enveloped her in a hug. “I’m glad one of us has this all figured out. I have to admit, I only got as far as picking today for the wedding.”
“The most important piece of the puzzle,” Cora Jane assured her. “And you can always count on family to have your back for anything else.”
Samantha knew that was true. And lately she’d come to count on it more and more.
* * *
The party for Gabi and Wade had wound up early, partly because Wade had been openly eager to get his new bride off to himself and partly out of respect for the early hours demanded of Cora Jane and Jerry to have Castle’s open just after dawn. Ethan took off, too.
“Do you think he looked awfully relieved to be getting away from here?” she asked her grandmother.
“Absolutely not,” Cora Jane told her. “He just saw that you’re going to have your hands full with Daniella since I need to get some sleep.”
“Sophia and I will stick around in case Samantha needs a hand,” Sam Castle volunteered. “At least until the baby’s down for the night.”
Samantha regarded him with surprise. “That’s not necessary, Dad.”
“We want to do it,” Sophia said, beckoning for the baby, then cuddling her in her arms. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a chance to pamper a little one this size. Even the youngest of my grandchildren are in elementary school by now. The oldest is a senior in high school.”
Sam looked startled. “You must have been a child bride.”
“I was, and unfortunately my oldest daughter followed in my footsteps. When people lead with their hearts, some mistakes just can’t be avoided, it seems.”
Samantha had a feeling it was a topic Sophia and her father ought to be exploring in private, but she wasn’t about to leave them stuck with her job as babysitter. Instead, she turned to her father. “Maybe we could talk about that property,” she suggested.
To her surprise, Sophia’s eyes lit up. “Your father says you’re thinking of opening a playhouse. What a wonderful idea! You must be so excited.”
“Right now I’m more terrified than excited. I keep wondering if I’m biting off more than I can chew.”
“Don’t you dare think like that,” her father scolded. “If this is something you believe in, then you can make it happen. Sophia and I drove by the property earlier today. I think the location would work, but the house is in bad shape. Maybe we should get Tommy Cahill over there tomorrow to see if it can be salvaged. I can give him a call.”
Samantha nodded. It was the logical next step, even if she felt as if things were starting to move way too quickly.
“It’s too bad Emily’s not here,” Sophia said. “She’s an absolute genius when it comes to doing renovations on a tight budget. I wish you could see the miracles she’s performed with these safe houses.”
“She’ll be back next week,” Samantha said. “She can take a look then. I’ll definitely want her input.”
“But this is your project,” her father reminded her. “You need to be sold on the idea. Could be you’ll want to tear it down and start from scratch.”
“I don’t think I’ll have the budget for that,” Samantha said.
“You will,” her father contradicted. “It may make more financial sense in the long run. We’ll work it out.”
“Listen to him,” Sophia encouraged. “He’s very smart about these things.”
Samantha hid a smile at the faith Sophia clearly had in a man who’d been unreliable in so many ways for his family. Either she was starry-eyed, or this new leaf Sam had turned over ran even deeper than Samantha had realized.
Sophia glanced down at the baby in her arms. “I think she’s down for the count,” she whispered.
“I’ll take her up to bed,” Samantha said, reaching for her. “Thanks for sticking around.”
“We’ll see you in the morning,” her father
