Healing Hearts (Hope River #3) - Margaret McHeyzer Page 0,68

with you?”

“You can if you like. And instead of wedding dresses we can stop off at the bar and have copious amounts of White Russians. How does that sound?” She perks up, seemingly more excited about alcohol than her wedding dress.

“You don’t want to go try on wedding dresses?” Aunt May asks.

“Ugh.” Hope falls back on the sofa, and pokes her tongue out. “I’m not cut out for this. It’s too much meh for me. Why can’t we just have it at one of the festivals? Just spring it on everyone, ‘Hey River and I are getting married right now. Come on over. Whoo.’” She shimmies her hands out to the side.

“If that’s what you want to do, then do it,” I say.

“River wants a whole proper wedding thing. I feel sick to my stomach thinking about wedding planning, and all that stuff brides do.”

“I think you’re the opposite of a bridezilla,” I say and chuckle.

“We’ve at least decided to hold the wedding in the back yard of the B&B. But the rest… ugh.” She closes her eyes and groans.

“Get River to take over if you don’t want to do these things. He’s the one who wants the proper wedding,” Aunt May says.

“I could, but that’s not fair to him. We’ve got so much going on at the moment. It just feels like bad timing, you know. We’ve got the five houses we’re flipping, and the family retreat at the back of the B&B, not to mention a couple of people have approached me to do renovations on their houses over in Mulberry Point. One of those firefighters, which one was he? Um.” Hope taps her bottom lip. “I think he’s Alec, or Alex.”

“Alec Morgan?” Aunt May asks.

“Yeah him. His Mom’s house needs a new bathroom or something. I don’t know. Anyway, he stopped by and asked us for some ideas. I don’t mind helping, it’s just trying to find the time.”

“You’re complaining about being so well-respected that people are clamoring to have you help them with their houses?” Aunt May says.

“I’m not complaining, Gran, I’m just saying I have a lot on my plate.”

“Then say no.”

“No, I don’t want to do that. I want to be able to help. Truthfully, I’d rather do that then this wedding stuff.”

“Then leave that wedding stuff for that boy of yours. Of all the places in the world, you both ended up here, together after many years of being apart. Don’t take this second chance for granted, Hope. Either commit to it, or don’t. But he loves you, and even though you whine like a baby, I know you love him too. Just get it done. The whole town is here to help if you want. You can loosen that white knuckle grip you have on everything, and let some other people in.”

“Someone had her ass handed to her,” I murmur under my breath.

“Besides, I have a bucket list of things I need to see before I die. And this little episode of mine reminds me that I’m not Wonder Woman. Who would’ve thought? And neither are you, Hope.” Aunt May sarcastically says with an overzealous eye roll.

“What’s the bucket list of things you want to see?” I ask.

“It would be nice for you and Charlie to marry, and to see Hope and River marry, and Elle and Jake too. And I’d like at least one, maybe two babies I can spoil to be born out of these unions.”

“Babies?” Hope and I say in unison, staring at Aunt May.

“Yes, babies. I’m partial to one from each couple.”

“I’m not having kids, Aunt May,” I say adamantly. “Look at what I had to deal with.”

“There go your walls again. Not giving this thing with Charlie a chance before making a decision to shut out the possibility of a future.”

“No, I’m not…” I argue.

“Really? Then why are babies out of the equation?”

I look over to Hope and whisper help. “Hey, her focus is on you, not me. So I ain’t saying nothin.’” Hope holds her hands up in surrender.

“Don’t you have a dress to shop for?” I retort. If she isn’t helping me, then she may as well go dress shopping.

Hope stands rapidly, and grabs her phone. “I was just thinking that myself. I’m out of here, I need to find a dress.”

“Where are you going? Mulberry Point?” I ask.

“Yes, ma’am. Apparently, there are two bridal stores over there. I’ll have a look and see what catches my eye. Anyway, can I borrow you and Elle