Hitched (Promise Harbor Wedding) - By Erin Nicholas Page 0,106
ladder. I’m getting too old for that stuff.”
Right. Gavin didn’t believe that for a second. But he took the hammer and climbed the ladder.
It was a start, at least.
Chapter Thirteen
Allie sat with her dad on the big swing in Sophie’s backyard. He had his arm over the back of the swing behind her, and she leaned into him. The scent of Tide and coffee surrounded her—the combination that would forever bring her father to mind.
The scene in front of them was very familiar too. The Brewsters, even Greta and her new boyfriend, Hank—it seemed everyone had been busy falling in love in the past two weeks—were gathered with Danny, Charlie and Lydia, Hayley and Jackson, and Devon and Josh.
Josh, as usual, manned the grill, while Sophie made sure everyone’s glasses and plates stayed full.
Allie watched the woman she’d always thought of as her second mom. “Did Sophie go crazy with a church full of people and no wedding?” Allie asked her dad.
It was the first time she’d spoken of the wedding debacle with anyone here other than Josh and Devon.
Owen chuckled. “Of course. But everyone went to the party. They forgave.”
“Well, they all got their gifts back, I assume,” Allie said, pushing the swing lazily with her foot. “No one was really out anything but an hour of their time. And no one could say it wasn’t entertaining.”
Owen chuckled and squeezed her upper arm, but he said nothing more.
“Were you…disappointed?” she asked him. “Or angry?”
He didn’t reply right away, and Allie looked up to find him seemingly thinking about her question.
“Dad?”
“Not angry,” he said easily. “Not disappointed either.”
Allie shifted so she was out from under his arm and could face him fully. “Then what? Worried? Shocked?”
“Surprised. You let it get too far. You didn’t want it,” he finally said in his choppy way of speaking. “But it was Gavin—not shocked.”
“Really?” Allie was a little shocked at that. “Concerned then?”
Owen shook his head. “No. You wanted to leave. You’re careful. You know what you want. You wanted Gavin, so I didn’t worry. Just felt bad for Josh.”
Of course he had. Everyone in the church had, she was sure. She knew that the town had quickly divided into Team Josh and Team Allie.
That had been apparent, even without Danny’s explanation, when she’d gone to the grocery store that morning for fruit salad ingredients and more hamburger buns. She’d been greeted and glared at equally, but she definitely hadn’t gone unnoticed.
Some thought she was the biggest bitch to ever set foot in the harbor for leaving Josh. Most thought she was crazy. Apparently there was a rumor going around that she’d been kidnapped by Gavin. Another rumor was that Gavin was blackmailing her and another that she was pregnant with Gavin’s baby. But there were also some people who thought Gavin’s actions were romantic and that if Allie didn’t want to marry Josh, then it was good she hadn’t gone through with it.
Several thought that Josh was, and always had been, too good for her anyway.
“Sorry about the gossip. And the money,” she said.
“I’ve survived worse,” Owen said with a smile.
She leaned over and hugged him. “Thanks, Dad.”
“You and Gavin might have to do smaller,” Owen added when she released him. “Can’t swing another open bar too soon.”
The comment was casual, even a little teasing, but Allie felt the sharp clench of I want that in her chest. She wanted a wedding with Gavin.
She swallowed hard before she could respond. “We don’t need anything fancy.”
Did that mean she was considering marrying him? But the answer came immediately. Of course she was going to marry him.
“How long are you staying?” Owen asked, his eyes on the party rather than his daughter.
“Staying?” Allie looked around. Everyone was very settled in their chairs, their stomachs full and their loved ones gathered around. This party wouldn’t be breaking up anytime soon. “A while. Gavin’s not even here yet.”
Which, if she thought about it, flipped her stomach. He wasn’t just late—he’d missed lunch entirely. The barbecue had started two hours ago.
Where was he?
She was better just not thinking about it. They didn’t need to be together twenty-four/seven. And he had old friends here. Maybe he’d run into someone. Maybe he was just sleeping late. Lord knew that she was all about shutting down when things got crazy. Besides, he’d still been very awake as of two a.m.
She knew he hadn’t actually left. Not back to Alaska anyway. But he also wasn’t here. He hadn’t called or sent a