get married, but I’m positive he was inebriated for most of it.
“I don’t think he’s feeling much of anything right now,” Wes answers, in a voice that conveys his pity and also irritation at his brother. “Why can’t—”
“You guys!” Jessie runs up, her cheeks pink and her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I just heard the craziest news from Marlowe. Are you ready for this?”
I nod, watching Marlowe walk up behind Jessie. She’s a head shorter than Jessie, her dad’s the mayor of Sierra Grande, and she’s been Jessie’s best friend for years.
“Her dad just gave permission for a production company to film a movie here, and that’s not even the best part…” She beams, trying to draw out the suspense, but she can’t take it and she blurts it out. “The actress signed on to do the film is Tenley Roberts. Tenley Roberts, you guys!” She grips Wes’s upper arm and shakes it.
“Who?” Wes asks.
Jessie huffs out an annoyed breath. “How can I be expected to go back to campus now? I need to be here. Maybe they’ll need extras.”
Wes makes a face. “You’re going back to college tomorrow, Jessie. This was just a weekend trip for the wedding and the opening.” His voice is stern, and very father-like.
Jessie shoots him a dirty look. “I know, Dad.”
An involuntary snicker comes from me, and Jessie grins proudly. “I’m going to go tell somebody who will have the right reaction to this news.” She marches off with Marlowe trailing behind her. Something tells me that’s how those two spend a lot of their time, with Jessie leading and Marlowe following.
“Don’t worry,” my dad says, laughing and patting Wes’s shoulder. “I don’t know who the hell Tenley Roberts is either.”
I can’t help my eye roll. I don’t keep tabs on Hollywood, but even I know who this person is. “Guys, she’s a big deal. Ever hear of Single And Loving It? Little Black Book? Worst First Date?”
“Those sound like chick movies.”
“Pretty much.” I shrug. “She’s basically the queen of romantic comedy.”
“I hear movie and I think of increased traffic in town,” Wes gripes.
I tap the tip of his nose. “Lucky for you, we don’t live in town.”
Wes kisses me, but it’s chaste, because my dad’s next to us. It’s not at all like the kisses we shared last night. Or this morning. And, hopefully, later tonight.
The Orchard’s grand opening festivities continue for a few more hours. One thing about the town of Sierra Grande is that they know how to party. The advertisements for the opening went out to neighboring towns, and based upon the number of attendees, I’d say we had a good turnout from those folks.
On the way out, a few older men stop and chat with Wes. One wears a ball cap bearing a military insignia. I am only a few feet away, close enough to introduce myself, but I don’t. Wes never talks about the meetings, and I don’t ask. Wading through grief and trauma is tough work, and deeply personal. Experience has taught me this.
The old men move on from Wes, smiling over at me as they go. I may not know them, but they appear to know me.
Wes slips an arm around my waist and pulls me close to his side. “Are you ready to go home, Mrs. Hayden?” he murmurs into my ear.
“So ready,” I answer. The Orchard is mostly empty, and Jo already told me to take off, promising she was more than capable of closing down. Wyatt left an hour ago, nearly carrying Warner out while Anna’s parents looked on. They didn’t look pleased, but I think it had more to do with their daughter’s choice than Warner’s drunkenness. Wyatt’s irritation, however, was definitely because of Warner. Caring for a shit-faced brother isn’t a role Wyatt is used to; from what Wes tells me, it’s usually the other way around.
I say goodbye to my dad, and Abby and her family. I’m meeting them for breakfast in the morning, before they leave to head home. Abby brought me a necklace of our mother’s to wear for my wedding, and when I go to unclasp it, she stops me.
“Keep it, Dakota. It looks better on you.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, pulling her in tight, and when she moves away, I hold her tighter. I love Wes and Sierra Grande, but I’m going to miss my sister.
They leave, my sister and Armando each carrying an exhausted little girl, and I wave goodbye to Jo.
Wes ends up having to