Total pages in book: 120
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
She jumped down and scrambled over everyone’s laps in the chaotic way only a four-year-old could, and my lips curved to a smile when she pulled off her favourite little pink plastic ring.
She held it out to George, then paused. “It’s just to borrow, otay?”
“Oh, okay,” George said, nodding his head. “Just give me a minute, all right?”
She nodded wisely and stepped back, her eyes never leaving the ring the entire time.
“I’m dying,” Isa whispered.
“What’s even happening right now?” I muttered.
“The wonderful weirdness of Hanbury.” She squeezed me, resting her head against the side of mine.
Yeah.
The wonderful weirdness of Hanbury.
For the first time today, my smile was genuine.
“Would you marry me, Susan? Please. I promise never to make fun of your melons again,” George said, holding out the little pink ring.
With a huge laugh, Susan held out her left hand and nodded. George tried the ring on each finger as cheers rang out, but it only fit on the tip of her left pinkie finger. I laughed, falling against Isa. The tears I’d desperately been fighting spilled over, streaming down my cheeks as Shaun stepped up and hauled George to his feet with the help of someone nearby.
Before he’d even finished groaning about his back hurting, Susan grabbed him and smacked an absolute whopper of a kiss on his mouth.
“Woohoo, Susan!” Isa hollered, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Get it, girl!”
I turned away from the scene and desperately wiped at my cheeks, and Uncle Dean pulled me into his chest with a gentle pat on my back.
And, for a moment, I just let it all out.
“Rose is crying!” someone shouted. “We’ve finally done it!”
“You bas—” I stopped myself at the sight of Abby still eyeing her ring. I cleared my throat and sniffed, stepping up to the microphone. “Can the newly engaged Miss Susan please return her delightful, borrowed ring to the young lady in the yellow dress?”
Susan obliged, beaming like she’d won the lottery.
Who knew?
Maybe it was the same feeling.
“And can the newly engaged Mr George Hathaway please sit down before he puts his back out and has his wedding ceremony in a hospital room,” I continued. “As well as procure a ring for his future bride, you cheap git.”
Everyone laughed as he flipped me the bird, and there was a quick shuffling around of people as everyone moved to allow George and Susan to sit together at the end of a row.
“And yes, I am crying, Colin. Thank you for alerting everyone,” I said dryly, wiping my cheeks. “Get a good look, because you’ll never see it again.”
More laughter.
Isa wrapped her arm around my waist and squeezed me into her.
“Well, I’m not sure what else there is to say as I don’t want to ruin this lovely moment with more misery, but I will say this. George, Susan, I’m going to miss you flirting over my plot, and if that’s how you two get married, I’m going to be very irritated if I’m not your flower girl.”
Susan held her hand up, wiggling her pinkie finger, and smiled warmly. “Pinkie promise. With or without the plot.”
“Hey, what about me?” Isa asked.
“What about you?” I shot back, glaring at her. “Stop ruining my moment. I’ve never been a bridesmaid before.”
“Your moment? Susan is the one getting married.”
“That’s why this is my moment. She gets the wedding.” I pushed her face away, ignoring everyone’s laughter. “Let’s bring this… uh, fittingly chaotic meeting… to an end. Thank you, everyone. If you’re having trouble with anything, grab one of the committee members and we’ll do all we can to help.” I paused, looking at everyone. “If any of you tell anyone I cried tonight, remember this: I know where you live, and I’m crazy.”
With that final round of laughter, I put the mic down and walked away from the chaos. Everyone begun the process of returning the chairs to the sides, and one by one, people slowly filtered out while Isa hugged me.
“Rose.” Susan touched my arm. “Are you all right, dear?”
I nodded, stepping away from Isa. “Just a bit sad, that’s all. But happy for you. Truly.”
Her powdered cheeks flushed. “I’m too old for all this.”
“Nonsense,” Isa sang. “You’re never too old for love, Susan. You two give me hope.”
“You have no shortage of boyfriends, dear. And as for this one…” She gave me a sad smile. “Well. Everything will work out in the end, I’m sure.”
Yeah.
This one knew more than she was letting on.
“It already has.” I forced a smile. “I’ll be fine. I always am.”
“Mm.” She sighed, letting her shoulders sag. “Such a shame. I wonder what changed his mind.”
I shared a look with Isa. “What do you mean?”
“Oh. I, um.” Susan shifted uncomfortably. “I… heard some things. That Oliver had changed his mind about selling the land, but I guess it was wrong.”