“Weddings.” D.J. grunted. “Weddings, weddings, and more weddings.”
Scarlet gave him a curious look. “Have . . . well, have you two changed your mind? Is this vow renewal service too much to handle right now? I can totally understand that it might be. I mean, you guys are up to your eyeballs in work and with the babies coming—”
“Babies.” D.J. sighed. “They’re all getting married. All of them.”
“The babies are getting married?” Scarlet stopped and stared into my eyes. “Bella? What the heck is he talking about?”
“Oh, don’t mind him. He’s just a little worked up.”
“Well, obviously, but what in the world does he mean, the babies are getting married?”
“Oh, they are.” D.J. shook his head. “All of them. One day. But I’ll tell you what. I’ll be standing right there with my shotgun loaded, just waiting. Just in case. If anyone hurts my girls, they’re gonna have to deal with me.”
Scarlet held so tightly to my arm that it started to hurt. “Bella?” she said softly. “Why are we talking about shotguns? Is there something I need to know?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I’ve never seen this side of D.J. before.”
“Me either, girl.” I forced a smile and turned back to my husband, who hadn’t budged from his spot near the truck. “Are you coming with us or going back to the house for lunch?”
“Neither.” He pushed the button on the remote to lock the truck. “You’re having a girls’ day.” He scratched his head. “That’s ironic, isn’t it? I mean, you’re having a girls’ day and I’m . . .”
“Having a breakdown?” Scarlet whispered.
I nodded but said nothing.
D.J. seemed to snap to attention. “I’m going to Super-Gyros to get some Greek food. When I’m done I’ll come over and get you. But no rush. I know how girls are.” He shook his head and then asked, “Do I? Do I really know anything about girls? Do I know what makes them tick? What do I do when they want to talk to me about boys? Then what?” He muttered something unintelligible as he walked away.
“What in the world is wrong with him?” Scarlet glanced over her shoulder at my husband. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen D.J. act so weird. Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s just got a lot on his mind. There’s a lot to absorb.”
“Oh, stuff about the new facility? I got your email about that mayor. He sounds like a real jerk.”
“He’s got a personal vendetta against the Neeleys,” I said, grateful she hadn’t asked about the babies. “It’s kind of a long story.”
“Ooh, thank goodness I have plenty of time for a long story. Armando is managing the bakery for me for the next two hours. That’s about how long I figure it’ll take for all of us to get caught up.”
We entered Parma John’s, and I had to laugh when I read the banner hanging above the counter: “Parma John’s, home of Brock Benson’s favorite pizza and inspiration for TV’s greatest sitcom.”
I’d just started to ask Scarlet about the sign when the luscious smell of pizza floated through the air and captivated me. Pepperoni. Sausage. Peppers. Every bit of it looked and smelled delicious. I could hardly wait. Felt like months. Years. Decades. Okay, so I’d only been in Splendora for a month, but it sure felt longer.
I greeted my brothers and glanced at the counter, realizing this was the first time in ages Jenna wasn’t standing there. My brother Joey manned her station now, but it just wasn’t the same. Things sure were changing. Not that Joey seemed to mind. He waited on a customer, then headed back to the kitchen to help our older brother Nick fill orders.
Across the room, Hannah stood and waved. I walked to her table and smiled when I saw her infant daughter in the little carrier next to her. I leaned down and examined the baby girl, giddy with delight. Girls, girls, and more girls! And to think, I would be adding even more to the mix!
“You’re here!” Hannah squealed and hugged my neck. “What do you think of little Bridget? She’s gained two pounds since you saw her last!”
I’d gained a lot more than that, but didn’t mention it. Instead, I cooed with delight over the baby, then turned my attention to Cassia and Gabi, who were seated on the opposite side of the table.
I went from friend to friend, each one embracing me and carrying on about my pregnant belly. When I sat down, Hannah reached across the table and handed me a gift box.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“Open it.”
I did, and felt the sting of tears in my eyes when I saw the gorgeous baby blankets inside. Hand crocheted.
“My mama made them,” she said. “They’re in yellow and green because she didn’t know if we were talking boy or girl.” Hannah drummed her fingers on the table. “So . . .”
“So?” I teased.
“C’mon, Bella. Tell us. Are we having girl babies or boy babies?”
Scarlet leaned forward, as if anticipating my response.
“We’re having . . .” I pulled the ultrasound pictures out of my purse and pointed. “Girl babies!”
“Ooh, playmates for Bridget!” Hannah giggled. “That’s perfect.”
“Girls, eh?” Scarlet laughed. “That explains why D.J.’s having a meltdown.”
“Yep.”
“D.J.? Meltdown?” Hannah shook her head. “Now that would be something to see. I don’t think I’ve ever even seen him upset. He’s so easygoing.”
“Not right now,” Scarlet said. “You should’ve seen him. He was muttering something about shotguns and weddings.”
“Someone in Splendora is having a shotgun wedding?” Cassia clamped a hand over her mouth and then pulled it down, her eyes widening. “Oh, puh-leeze tell me it’s not one of the twins. Alex’s parents would die if one of those girls was . . . well, you know.”
“No, no. Nothing like that.” I put my hand up to dismiss the idea. “This is how rumors get started. D.J. is just worked up because he’s going to be the father of three little girls, and I think he’s already starting to worry about what he’ll do when they’re old enough to date and get married.”
“Ah.” Gabi sighed. “Well, speaking as one whose father has had very little input in her life, let me just say how awesome I think it would be to have a dad like D.J.”
“One with a shotgun in his hand?” Scarlet asked.
“One who cared enough about his daughter to give a rip about who she dated or married or whatever.” Gabi shifted her gaze out of the window.
“Well, all I can say is this: D.J. Neeley has a side to him I’ve never seen before and didn’t quite know how to deal with. So be praying for me, okay? I’m already overwhelmed with the wedding facility and the vow renewal service. Now this? Twin daughters?” I groaned.
“Ooh, it’s going to be glorious!” Scarlet giggled. “Little girls are so much fun to dress!”
Gabi nodded. “Bella, I can’t wait to sew for them. I saw the sweetest little dress the other day in a shop in Houston and thought, ‘Gabi, you could make that same dress for a fraction of the price.’ I could, too. Of course, I probably wouldn’t add quite so many ruffles, especially when the babies are so young.” She carried on and on until Hannah spoke up.
“Well, I get first dibs on taking their pictures.” She went off on a tangent about a recent birthday party she’d shot. The word shot just made me think of D.J. and his shotgun. Surely he wasn’t really worried about the babies dating and getting married . . . right?
Scarlet chimed in, saying that she’d like to make the babies’ first birthday cake—something in a Minnie Mouse theme.
Why was everyone trying to age my children? They weren’t even here yet.
To my right, Cassia got my attention by putting her hand on my arm. “I don’t know anything about babies, Bella. Maybe someday soon I will. But I do know a lot about trying to juggle two jobs. I’m still working at Super-Gyros and at the flower shop. It’s no biggie for me. I’m not pregnant. But you need to take care of yourself. I’m really worried about you.?
?? She gazed at the other women, who were still wrapped up in conversation about my babies. “We all are.”
“Please don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“Sure?” She gave me a motherly look.
I nodded. “I’m pretty sure I’ll be okay if I can just get past this junk with the mayor.” I groaned as I thought about the weasel-like fella. Had he shown up at the facility to pepper Cecil with questions? “Some people are determined to pull others down so that they can rise to the top. I’ll never understand that mentality.”
“What do you mean?” Cassia asked.
“Well, take the feuding between Uncle Laz and your dad. Remember the rivalry between Parma John’s and Super-Gyros?”
“It would be hard to forget,” she responded. “It’s the stuff sitcoms are made of.”
“True. What started out as a rivalry has turned into a made-for-TV comedy. But remember how ridiculous they acted? How out of hand it got? There’s just too much of that going on in the world—people trying to prove a point or trying to keep other people from fulfilling their dreams. Seriously, I don’t get it. Why do people have to knock the other guy down to be successful? That’s so . . . unbiblical.”
“It’s the very opposite of God’s way of doing things,” Cassia agreed.
From the other side of the table, Hannah glanced my way. “You talking about people being competitive in business?”
“Yeah. I just don’t get it. Maybe I’m a Pollyanna, but I’d like to think we could—and should—all work together. On the same team, I mean. Promoting each other.”
“Like what you’re doing with the vendors’ area at Club Wed,” Gabi said.
“Exactly.”
“Well, we just need to pray that this situation with the mayor turns out well in the end.” Hannah took a sip of her tea, then dabbed her lips with her napkin. “Do you remember what it was like when Drew and I first met? We couldn’t seem to lay down our competitive natures long enough to fall in love. I wanted to be the best photographer on the island. He wanted to be the best photographer on the island. It was a pride thing. But when we finally let go of the competition, it just made sense to merge our photography businesses into one. Love is the answer, Bella. No matter the question, love is the answer.”
“True,” I said. “And I think there’s plenty of room in this world for everyone to be successful.”
“That’s why we’re all so grateful that you’ve made room in your life—and your business—for us.” Gabi offered me a lovely smile. “It’s so great to see someone as successful as you use your platform to help others succeed too.”
“Platform? Successful?” I hadn’t thought about that in a long time.
Gabi reached over and gave my hand a squeeze. “Bella, just for the record, I think it’s peachy that you help out all of us wedding vendors like you do. We’ve all benefited from what you’re doing at Club Wed, and I feel sure those twins in Splendora are going to benefit from what you’re doing up there.”
“You think?”
She nodded.
My eyes flooded with tears. Blame it on the pregnancy. Hormones. Emotions. Blame it on the smell of caramelized onions grilling on the stove. “No, Gabi,” I said at last. “I’m the one who owes all of you. When I first took over the management of Club Wed, I was so clueless. I had my family, of course, but we were doing everything ourselves. Rosa was making all the cakes. Uncle Laz and Nick were catering. Joey was taking pictures of the weddings. Armando was running sound. It was too much. We were overworked and frazzled all the time. That’s why it’s been so nice to feature people outside the family who are good at what they do. I want to showcase your work, sure, but I also depend on you to take up the slack. You four do what I can’t. And that’s how it’s going to be with Jasmine and Lily too. I need them as much as or more than they need me.”
“You’ve learned your limits, in other words.” Gabi gave me a little wink.
“Yes. I know what I can do, and I know what I stink at.”
“I’m pretty sure you don’t stink at much,” she said.
“You might be surprised.” I sighed. “Sometimes I think I stink at mothering.”
“No way!” Scarlet looked floored by this. “Your kids adore you.”
“Yes, but I don’t have enough time with them. I get so project oriented that the hours tick by, and before you know it the day is over. I never get to take Rosie to the park or Tres to the ball game. I’m always working.”
“Honey, you’re just like every other working mom,” Hannah said. “Trying to juggle.”
“And I’m about to be juggling even more.” I rubbed my ever-expanding belly. “Kids . . . times two! And the new facility. And Club Wed.”
In that moment I felt a little woozy. Couldn’t be my blood sugar. Or my blood pressure. Dr. Mullins had just checked both of those things, after all. Must be that overwhelmed feeling creeping up on me again. My friends continued to chat, clearly oblivious to my inner wrangling.
“How’s it going at Club Wed with Sophia taking charge?” Scarlet asked.
“Pretty good, actually. From what I’ve heard, anyway. Haven’t seen it with my own eyes, but Mama and Rosa say she’s doing great. I haven’t had any complaints from brides, so it must be true.”
“Well, good. You need that.” Hannah gave me a knowing look. “And after the babies come?”
“Sophia has agreed to step up and do some wedding coordinating after the babies are born. For three months or so, anyway. After that, maybe I’ll be back in the saddle again.”
“Back in the saddle.” Hannah giggled. “Speaking of which, did you see that new life insurance commercial that takes place at a country-western wedding? Looked just like something you would do.”
This led back to a discussion about my upcoming vow renewal ceremony, which just got me anxious all over again. Couldn’t we talk about something else? These gals seemed bent on helping me plan for the big day. I’d rather just forget about it—for now, anyway. Still, with all of them staring at me, I needed to say something.
“I, um . . . well, to be honest, I’ve been so busy working on the new facility that I haven’t had time to think through the ceremony part much. I’m sure it’ll come in due season.”
“Come in due season.” Scarlet laughed and pointed at my belly. “Yes. They. Will.”
We all giggled at that one.
“I just want you to take care of yourself, Bella.” Hannah looked genuinely concerned. Really? “Remember what happened before you and D.J. got married the first time. Your mama told me all about it.”
“What?” Scarlet asked. “What happened?”
“I ended up in the hospital. Got so overworked that my body rebelled.”
For a moment I thought the conversation would shift back in time to that awful few days in the hospital. Instead, my brother Nick showed up with our pizza. Cassia agreed to pray and then we all dove in. As we ate, ate, ate the gooey cheese, spicy pepperoni, and crispy crust, the conversation switched gears. Thank goodness. Before I knew it, we were discussing Cassia and Alex’s upcoming wedding.
“Do you think you’ll still be able to help with my wedding, Bella? The babies are due just a couple of weeks after my big day. If they don’t come early, I mean.”
“Right. I didn’t forget.”
“Whew. I was worried there for a minute. I know that Sophia would do a great job too, but it just wouldn’t be the same without you.” She paused and her eyes misted over.
“What is it, Cassia?”
“Oh.” She wiped her hands on her napkin. “Nothing, really. It’s just that my future mother-in-law isn’t terribly happy right now.”
“Not happy that you’re getting married?”
“Not happy that it’s in Galveston. She wants us to get married in Splendora at your new facility.”
“Ah. Well, doesn’t she realize you live here?”
“I know. I think she’s reconciled herself to that fact, but it’s bittersweet.
She’s also a little bummed that roses won’t be in bloom in January—otherwise we could get married in the rose garden.”
I’d never known a family so intrigued by flowers before. That they planned events around a blooming season was an interesting concept.
“I’ve seen Alex a few times up in Splendora, but I heard from the twins that he’s thinking of transitioning down here. Is he still working for the family?”
“Yes. He’ll go back and forth, but I need his help with the flower shop, and he loves being there. We’re in the process of buying a little condo on the seawall.”
“You should totally buy Jenna and Bubba’s old place. I think they’re going to stay in Splendora for good.”
“You think?” This started a lengthy chat about Bubba and Jenna’s condo and then led back to Cassia and Alex’s ceremony.
“Are you doing the flowers for your wedding?” I asked, then took a bite of pizza.
“Nah.” Cassia shook her head. “Marcella is doing them for me. She knows what I like better than anyone else.” She paused. “Speaking of Marcella, did you hear the news? She’s retiring.”
I swallowed and nodded. “She’s talked about it for years. Glad she’s finally doing it.”
“Glad she’s following her heart,” Gabi said.
“So are you taking over the flower shop?” I asked.
Cassia nodded. “I am. Alex talked me into it. Said she was giving me a great deal. He’d put away some money and agreed to make the investment. Said I was worth it.”
“You are worth it, girl,” Scarlet said. “You’re totally worth it. Gotta love a man who supports his woman like that.”
In that moment I thought about the role all of our men played in our businesses. Mine worked tirelessly to renovate the new facility. Cassia’s fiancé worked to make her dream of owning a flower shop a reality. Hannah’s husband worked with her every day at their co-owned photography studio. Gabi’s husband encouraged her bridal gown designs. And Scarlet’s husband—my own brother—had finally settled down to work alongside her in her bakery. Go figure. Love had accomplished amazing things.
I reflected on something Hannah had said earlier: “Love is the answer, Bella. No matter the question, love is the answer.”