Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
That is what makes a family.
“I know,” Ivy says, “but maybe we can sneak in one last time before they move in. I’ll make the PB&Js and Harper can bring the juice boxes and Ani can bring some of her mom’s chocolate chip cookies and we can sit in that room and talk about boys and the jobs we’re going to have.”
I chuckle at the thought because we really are at a crossroads. “We’re all starting something new.”
“We can talk about weddings,” Ani corrected, “Because I intend to be invited to two of them soon. Ivy is set for this summer. Do you have a date?”
“Well, Reid technically hasn’t asked, but that’s because we agreed on giving it six months. We’re hoping by then the press around him will have died down.” I don’t mention the press around me since it’s already beautifully dead. Britta’s been doing a mea culpa tour blaming everything on bad advice and a medication she’s taking that apparently caused her to blackmail two brothers for years. I try not to pay attention, but I do know her agency dropped her.
I also stay completely out of Ross Construction since I divested my stock. Lawyer drew up the paperwork to legally give it all to my mother. She tried to refuse and sent message after message about how I was abandoning her and the whole family. Apparently Paul is already fumbling.
I took that up with my new therapist. Dr. Logan Warner is a funny man. He’s one of those people you can tell has been through some stuff but managed to come out of it all with light and hope and love. I’m going to do the same. Starting with setting boundaries.
I got a new number because I’m not ready to deal with my mother yet. I will be one day, but I need space and time to heal. So we’re engaged to be engaged. Hopefully by then we’ll have a new place to live and steady jobs.
I also don’t want to take away from Heath and Ivy’s wedding. We’re going to be in production meetings for the next couple of months, but Anika and Luca want to talk about producing our show. We’re weighing our options, but I know which way we’ll probably go. “I’m thinking winter. I like a winter theme.”
“That sounds perfect,” Ivy says and then her sweet smile turns a little ruthless. Her businesswoman smile. “Now let’s talk about getting testimonials from both of you. We’re launching Emma soon, and I want to show off how perfect she is. She’s three for three in weddings in our family. Also, I ran my mom’s questionnaire through and guess who she matched with? Thomas. I think my mom is going to end up marrying CeCe’s driver. I’m going to have a British stepdad. I’m also pretty sure he once was a wheelman for the mob.”
Wouldn’t that be perfect?
“You should expect my mom to want to oversee all the catering,” Anika says. “She was super upset that the palace wouldn’t let her serve mini corn dogs at our reception.”
Ivy practically vibrates. “Can she cater my whole wedding? I was thinking…now hear me out…”
“Food trucks,” Ani and I say at the same time.
“Yes,” Ivy agrees, and I swear she glows a little.
“Well, I’ll take Lydia then,” I offer because I don’t want to leave a mom out. CeCe doesn’t cook, and Diane would order pizza. But Lydia will prepare a feast for the ages. “I want it to be us. Just my little family.”
“Your family is about to grow,” Anika points out. “You know a crew feels like a family. We’ve gotten close to this one and we only worked together for a few months. What happens when you work with the same people for years at a time?”
I’ll get new friends and people to care about, but this group will always be my core.
“Our guest is three minutes out,” Patrick informs us. He’s got his clipboard in hand and competently gets everyone where they’re supposed to be.
Except us, of course. Reid and Jeremiah are both in stylish suits, ready to show the new owners their gorgeous spaces. They’ll be the ones walking them through, explaining all of the finishing touches. I don’t have to film today but I wanted to be here to watch. “Where’s a good place for us to sit while you get your exteriors?”
Anika promised us we can watch the reactions through the many laptops set up to handle the more technical aspects of the production. I’m nervous. I hope they like it. I hope whoever walks in here will love this place as much as we do. I hope this is the start of a beautiful time for everyone who lives in this space I and my friends and loved ones put so much of ourselves in.