Page 126 of First Bride to Fall
Grant pursed his lips. “Oh, I’m pretty sure that it’s over.”
“No chance?”
“Maybe if she’d given me a sign.”
Jordan stared at the package he’d set on the table. “Looks like she brought you a present.”
“Yeah, but I’m not supposed to open it until tomorrow.”
“What if it’s a sign?”
“I doubt that. It’s probably more of a guilt gift.”
Jordan frowned, thinking this over. After a while, his eyes glistened sadly.
“Then I’m sorry, man,” he said. “I really am.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
The next morning, Nell’s family saw her off at the café. They’d all come in early for her send-off. Mei-Lin and Lucas, too.
“Here’s a neck pillow for the plane,” Charlotte said, handing her a gift bag.
Misty gave her a gift bag, too. “This is one of those eye masks, so you can sleep if you want to.”
Nell hugged her sisters. “I love you both so much.”
“We love you, too,” Charlotte and Misty said.
Her mom handed her an envelope. “Your dad and I wanted you to have this little bit.”
“Mom, no,” she said. “You need that here.”
Her dad gave her a fatherly grin. “You can pay us back shortly.”
Lucas cleared his throat. “Here, this is for you.” He gave her a flash drive.
“What’s this?”
“I downloaded one of the playlists from Bearberry Brews,” he said. “I thought it would remind you of home.”
Nell hugged him, and Misty said, “Aww, Lucas. That’s so sweet.”
Charlotte folded her arms in front of her and observed Misty’s completely oblivious gaze. “That was sweet, Lucas.”
Mei-Lin stepped forward. “I have something for you, too.” It was an envelope holding a gift card to an online store. “I wasn’t sure what you’d need so thought maybe you could pick something out for yourself once you get there.”
“Oh, Mei-Lin.” Nell hugged her. “Thank you.”
“Be sure to let us know about the wedding, now,” her mom said.
“Right.” Her dad nodded. “Civil or not, we’ll all want to be there.”
“All right,” Nell said. “I’ll let you know when the date is set.” She stared at them uncertainly. “I don’t know about the plane tickets, though, and how much they’ll cost.”
“I’ve already talked to Jane about that,” her mom said. “She’s bringing us over. All of us.” She grinned around the room. “Lucas and Mei-Lin, too.”
This made Nell feel a thousand times better, like reinforcements were coming in.
