“Good to see you, Holly, Jim, Irene and Carol.” She shook each of their hands. “What’s the plan for tomorrow night?”
“Well, hello, Mrs. Boone.” Carol nudged her with her elbow. “How have you been? Anything exciting happen recently?”
“Oh, that’s right, I think I heard something?” Holly joined in.
Jim just shook his head, chuckling.
“I’m sure it’s just gossip,” Irene added, grinning. “Right, Mrs. Boone?”
Annabeth resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “You mean me getting married?” she asked. “Yes, it’s true.”
“Nothing wrong with marrying your best friend,” Jim mumbled. “Solid start.”
Annabeth nodded. It was a good reason for getting married. And a much better reason than Ryder getting her knocked up. With twins. Twins. She swallowed, still digesting yesterday’s news. “Thank you, Jim.”
She laughed through the chorus of congratulations and hugs, wanting to talk about anything but her marriage. Her constant state of frustration, her irritability—she didn’t know why she couldn’t shake it. All she wanted was some time to herself, to have a long cry...or to take her husband to bed and do all the things she’d been dreaming about. She couldn’t take any more surprises—s
he needed continuity and reliability. Things she knew Ryder couldn’t offer her.
Carol was talking. “...and Holly found a bunch of flower garlands and lantern lights on clearance last year—”
“Couldn’t get the box in my car but I’ll bring it up after school,” Holly offered.
“Besides the ladder, what will you need?” Annabeth asked.
“Able bodies,” Jim interjected. “Maybe you can ask that new husband of yours to come lend a hand.”
“I’ll ask him,” she agreed reluctantly. She didn’t want Ryder to become a fixture here, too. It was bad enough that he’d slipped so easily into her life. He was everywhere, a reminder of everything she wanted but was destined to lose again. The sound of his voice eased her. His scent both calmed and excited her. She couldn’t wait for bedtime so his arms would cradle her against him all night long. It was ridiculous. She was acting ridiculous.
And then there was Cody. He was crazy about Ryder and he had no problem showing it. Ryder seemed just as enamored with his stepson, holding his hand, answering the million questions Cody would ask about cars and the rodeo at the dinner table. But what would happen when Ryder left? Cody would be crushed.
And it would be her fault. Since he’d been born, she’d invested so much time and energy into making sure Cody was taken care of. Now one stupid mistake could break his little heart.
“Can we send out this reminder note?” Irene asked, holding out a paper to her.
Annabeth scanned the note, nodding. “Sure. It’ll go home this afternoon.”
“I think that’s everything.” Holly shrugged. “I’ll bring the box up after school.”
“And I’ll try to get some extra hands to help out,” Annabeth assured them, her attention wandering around the cafeteria. Kindergarten and first grade were eating now, requiring all hands on deck.
“Two big nights in one week,” Irene spoke up. “Hope you don’t have to work too late this week, or you’ll be wiped out before your party this weekend.”
This weekend. The wedding party. Right.
Renata had been as good as her word. It seemed like all of Stonewall Crossing was coming to the Lodge on the Boone Ranch Friday night for her and Ryder’s wedding party. It was Wednesday and she was already dreading it. As if her pregnancy nausea wasn’t bad enough, now her stress was getting out of control.
“Isn’t the school board meeting this week?” Jim asked.
“No,” Annabeth assured him. “Not yet.” She smiled. She had a few more weeks to worry over a job she couldn’t afford to lose—especially not with twins on the way. Annabeth turned right as a piece of fruit cocktail flew across the cafeteria. “That’s my call.”
“Go get ’em,” Carol called after her.
Annabeth made her way to the kindergarten table. She arched her discipline eyebrow and waited. At this age, all it took was a stern face before the culprit came clean. Sure enough, Hugh burst into apologetic tears.
“He didn’t mean to, Ms. Upton,” another classmate, Franz, sounded off. “It...slipped.”
Annabeth refused to smile. “It slipped?”