Home to Stay by Terri Osburn Read Free Book Online Page A

detail on her own.”
    “Lola tried to sneak this out of my bag, but I caught her.” Beth held the book with a death grip.
    “You have to let us help you.” Will held out her hand. “I swear to you, on Sid’s life, that we’ll set everything up exactly how you want. If the slightest thing goes wrong, you can bury her at sea.”
    “Who needs enemies when I have you two shits in my life?” Sid shook her head and returned her attention to her dessert. “She won’t give it to you.”
    Beth handed Will the planner. “All the numbers and details are in the back.”
    “What the fuck?” Sid said.
    Ignoring her, Beth continued. “You’ll have to stay on the tent company to make sure they’re prepared to be here and set up at the slightest chance of rain. Opal is taking care of the cake, but make sure she knows the delivery time. The florist is over in Hatteras, so you need to make sure they schedule plenty of time in case there are ferry delays.”
    Will felt the heavy weight of stress travel from Beth to herself. She’d figured everything would be done by now and she’d maybe have to arrive early to answer questions. This sounded like a full-time job, with more responsibility than she had running Dempsey’s.
    And Sid’s life was on the line. Which was still a funny joke, but in all seriousness, Will had to make sure this was perfect for Beth.
    “My dress arrives this Friday, so I’ll need you two to come with me for the fitting and try on your dresses.” Beth pointed a finger at Sid’s nose. “And do not argue with me. You’re wearing a dress. And heels. No boots.”
    Her finger floated to Will. “That goes for both of you. I know you like the skirts-with-combat-boots look, but that’s not going to happen on my day.”
    A moody, pregnant bridezilla had infiltrated Beth’s body. Will hoped the old Beth would return when the event of her life had gone off without a hitch.
    Now, to make sure there were no hitches.
    “We’ll be there and we’ll wear whatever you want.”
    Sid opened her mouth, but Will silenced her. “We’ll wear whatever Beth wants us to wear, and we’ll like it. Right?”
    “This is why I want to elope,” Sid muttered.
    “If you rob me of the chance to put you in a real wedding dress,” Beth said, “I will hunt you down and beat you until you can’t get up.”
    Sid blinked several times, then looked at Will. “Who is this woman?”
    “I don’t know,” Will said, loading pie onto her fork. “But if this beatdown occurs, I’m selling tickets. We could make a killing.”
    Beth finished her carrot cake, sat back, and yawned. “That was good. I think I might have another.” It was as if the temper she’d just displayed had dissipated into thin air. “I am eating for two, so the doctor said I could eat anything I want. Maybe I’ll try the cherry pie.”
    Going from carrot cake to cherry pie sounded disgusting to Will, but then some people hated rhubarb pie and she loved it. There was simply no accounting for taste.
    “Oh, one more thing,” Beth said, the cherry pie momentarily forgotten. “The tuxedos have been ordered, but Randy’s has to be specially altered. They don’t carry them in his size on the rack.”
    “Why does that not surprise me?” Will asked, not expecting an answer.
    “You’ll have to go with him up to Kill Devil Hills to get fitted. That’s the closest place I could find.”
    Wait. What? “Why do I have to go with him? He’s a grown man. He can go by himself.”
    Beth held out her hand. “Fine. Give me the planner back.”
    “You can’t be serious.”
    “The only way to make sure he gets the right vest in the right color and the right fit is to make sure a woman goes with him. I planned to go.” Beth pointed at the little tan book in Will’s hands. “Now you’re taking over, so you have to go.”
    What a load of…
    “Sid can go with him.”
    Green eyes narrowed as Beth leaned forward. Will leaned back.
    “I’ll go with him. Geez.