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“We’re so happy for you!” Lily squeals into my ear as she hugs me, nearly causing my eardrum to rupture.
“Quit hogging her!” Rosa teases as she pushes Lily away so she can hug me too. “Congratulations, Bella.”
“Thank you,” I tell them before I’m pulled into another hug, this time by Papa. He holds me tight for a moment before whispering, “I’m sorry Mama didn’t come.”
“Me too,” I say, pulling back to look at him. “Thank you for giving your blessing, Papa.” I give him a kiss on the cheek and he grins.
“Honestly, you’re so independent, I never dreamed a man would ask for my permission. He impressed me.”
Pride fills my heart at his comment, loving that my father respects the man I’m marrying.
“Okay, let’s see this ring!” Sophie says, coming toward me. Odette, and David’s mom, Diane, join her and the three of them bombard me.
Diane grabs my left hand and gasps. “Oh it’s gorgeous! Your grandmother had excellent taste.”
Sophie nods in agreement. “It’s stunning.”
Odette tears up. “I’m so happy someone is finally marrying David.”
Brooks sidles up next to me and gives me a big side-hug. “I can’t believe someone is actually marrying David.”
Drew appears next to Sophie, Samantha in his big arms and Penny right beside him. “Congratulations. David really is the best. Ignore Brooks.”
Madden joins the circle. Oliver is asleep on his shoulder and Bradford is barely standing upright while sleepily clinging to his leg. “Drew’s right. You couldn’t have picked a better man, Isabella.” He yawns.
Ted, David’s dad, gives me a pat on the shoulder. “Congratulations to you both.”
I feel warm arms wrap around my waist from behind and know it’s David. He presses a kiss on the sensitive skin behind my ear and whispers, “Are you ready to tell them?”
A rush of nerves flutters through me, but I nod my answer.
David releases me and clears his throat to get everyone’s attention. “Why don’t you all have a seat? We have a bit of a surprise.”
Penny jumps up and down. “Oh, I hope it’s a gondola ride!”
Everyone chuckles at her comment as they each find a seat at the table. “Sorry, Pen. That’s not it.” Her shoulders slump in disappointment.
The table quiets down and waits for David to announce the surprise. “I know you all came here expecting to just celebrate our engagement… but our wedding is in…” He glances down at his watch. “two hours.”
Audible gasps and mutterings fly around the table. “Two hours?” Ted asks, his eyes wide with shock. “But you just got engaged.”
“Seriously?” Brooks crosses his arms over his chest in a pout. “This will be the first wedding ever where I haven’t brought a date.”
Madden, who’s sitting next to him, whops him on the back of the head. “Would you shut up? Not everything is about you.”
“Ow!” Brooks protests, then grabs Madden in a headlock.
Diane stands up from her seat, releasing an overly dramatic groan, and walks to stand behind them. She pulls them apart easily, which is impressive since she’s so tiny. “Stop acting like children,” she whisper-yells.
Papa looks on with concern, never having raised boys. Madden and Brooks shape up quickly after being chastised by Diane.
“Listen,” David starts again. “We know this is happening fast. But neither of us care about a big, fancy wedding… and we’re just ready to start our lives together.”
Drew speaks up, “When you find the one your soul belongs to, it’s impossible to wait.” He smiles at Sophie. “So, let’s get these two married.”
“Agreed,” Papa says, nodding his head in our direction.
Little Samantha starts crying for no apparent reason and her cousin, Bradford joins in. Drew hands her to Sophie and she rubs her back gently and makes a shushing sound.
