noise had been. Bethany stood with her hands on her hips as the doors to the helicopter opened.
“Oh, no,” Renee breathed. “It’s her parents.”
“The king and queen of El Bahar?” Verity asked. “That’s so thrilling. I’ve never seen anyone royal before. Well, I have, but only on television or in magazines. They look normal.”
Renee recognized the older couple from the previous year’s prewedding party for Bethany and Cade. The king was very handsome and just a little imposing. Liana, Bethany’s mother, was a slightly older version of her daughter, with blond hair and blue eyes.
“Darling!” Her mother held out her arms. “There you are. We went to the ranch first, but they told us you’d come to town so we decided to surprise you.”
“You couldn’t drive?” Bethany asked.
“The helicopter was faster.” Her father kissed both her cheeks.
“Where did you even get a helicopter?” Bethany asked.
“I bought it,” her father told her. “It will be wherever you are, from now until you have your baby. There are pilots on call, 24/7. If you need to get to a hospital, they’ll get you there in a few minutes.”
Bethany looked horrified. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“Not at all. Now come. We’ll fly back to the ranch together.”
Bethany cast a helpless glance over her shoulder. “But my car is here.”
The king waved and a man jumped out of the helicopter. “Give him the keys. He’ll meet us there.”
Bethany dug in her handbag and pulled out a set of keys, then sighed heavily and got in the helicopter. The engine started right up and then they all flew away.
Renee watched them go.
“That was quite the show,” Verity said. “What an amazing town you have here.”
“It’s not usually like this, Mom.” Renee said automatically, all the while thinking Bethany’s worst fears about her parents were being realized. A helicopter standing by until she had the baby? What else was her father going to do to “help”?
The crowd began dispersing. Ed whispered something in Verity’s ear. Verity nodded, then looked at Renee.
“Did you have plans for us this evening? Because I can keep myself busy.”
“Not really. Did you want to have dinner?”
Verity hesitated. “Rain check.”
“Sure. No problem.”
They hugged, then Verity and Ed walked away. Renee was just thinking how nicely that worked out when she suddenly got what had happened. She came to a stop on The Promenade.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No. It wasn’t that.” She looked at Jasper. “My mother wasn’t with Ed, was she?”
“You mean like dating or something? I don’t think so. Didn’t you tell me they met when she talked to the giraffes? He would be interested in her gift. I’m sure they’re just friends.”
He was right, she thought. That made sense.
Jasper put his arm around her. “So dinner and a sleepover?”
“I’ll be there.”
* * *
HANNA REACHED UP and touched her hair. She’d had her hair done at a local salon earlier that morning and the complicated updo suited her face.
“It feels weird to have my hair up on my head like this,” she admitted with a laugh. “But I wanted to see if I liked it.”
Renee grinned. “You look great, but you have to be comfortable with whatever style you decide on. Live with it for the day, take some pictures, then decide.”
“You’re right. Okay, so champagne.”
For once Hanna was the only one attending the planning meeting. Graham was out of town and Jasper had a conference call with his publisher’s marketing team. Not that Jasper was an actual decision maker but he did want to be as involved as possible. Or at least in the loop.
Thinking of Jasper made her happy inside. Things were good between them—which, while interesting, was not anything she wanted to have on her mind during an important meeting.
“Champagne,” Renee echoed, then waited.
Hanna raised her shoulders up and down several times. “I can argue both sides.”
“Then let me offer an opinion. No one is expecting a drink before the wedding. You have to pay for bar service along with the champagne and you’re starting your guests on the road to getting drunk even earlier than usual. I’m not sure it’s the best use of your money. Just as important, I don’t think it adds to the experience of the ceremony.”
“It seems so elegant,” Hanna hedged. “Plus, not everyone likes bagpipe music so we thought it might help.”
“Not everyone likes ‘Ave Maria’ yet you hear it all the time at weddings. This is your day, Hanna. My job is to help you and Graham have the