“Are you all right Dade?” Rachel asked from the backseat. “You let me sit back here with Steven, and you haven’t whined once about kissing and hugging.”
Dade grinned at her in the mirror. “I’m on my best behavior today, I’ll get back to whining another day.”
She smiled. “Good, I almost miss it.”
Cora turned around and grinned at her. “Don’t encourage him.”
He turned and smiled at her. “Encouraging me is a good thing.” He searched her face before turning back to the road.
“Noticed you ate a bit more at breakfast.” Steven said watching him carefully.
Dade nodded. “Yeah, my appetite returned this morning.” He grinned at Steven. “And I didn’t scream when I opened my eyes.”
Steven laughed. “That’s a good thing.”
They pulled into the address Gwen had given Leena. It was a large park with trees scattered throughout. Cora climbed out of the van and did up her jacket. She looked towards the large arbor and smiled. It would be perfect with the fall colors. A large covered area beside the arbor would be handy to seat guests. She watched as Leena and Owen wandered over to the arbor. Leena glanced over at Cora who smiled and nodded back at Leena.
“Guess this is the place, if the smiles are any indication,” Dade said quietly walking up behind her.
Cora turned and nodded. “It’s perfect don’t you think? It will be amazing with the fall colors at Samhain. Everything is turning already.”
He put his hands in his jacket pockets and looked around. “Decorating the stand and arbor area with fall plants and flowers would make for some great pictures.”
She smiled. “Yes. And it's part of our job to do the decorations, in case you didn’t know.”
“No, I didn’t know, but we’ll have to get the wish lists from the brides and see if we can’t accommodate,” he grinned, “hopefully they’re all in agreement.”
He walked beside her as they headed towards the covered area. A large building was to the far left of the area. A short barn-like structure. “Reception area?”
Cora frowned. “I don’t know but we could go peek in a window and see…having a backup plan for unpredictable weather would be good.”
He nodded and followed her over to the building. Leaning beside her, he cupped his hands and looked inside. A large stone fireplace sat at one end of the large open area. It reminded him of a barn inside too, one without stalls and animals. He walked over and tried the door, only to find it unlocked. Winking at Cora he motioned. “Come on, let’s take a closer look.”
Cora looked back to the others, then followed him inside. “Well its rustic, isn’t it?” She walked over to the fireplace. The mantel was at least a foot higher than she was tall. “Do you think it will work?”
Dade went over to check, moving the flu and damper controls back and forth. Dust fell onto the hearth. “I think it’s functional.”
She walked to the center of the room. “This place would look great decorated with fall leaves.”
He nodded and walked over to open a door. “Bathroom.” He said as he went to the open the other. “Kitchen.”
“Kitchen?” She walked over and looked inside. She looked around for a moment then smiled. “A very basic kitchen.”
“How many guests are coming?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure, as they’re still confirming things.” She turned and walked past him back into the large area. “But I think we need find out soon to be organized.” She grinned as Kasey walked in with a huge smile as she looked around. “Well what’s the verdict?”
Kasey stood in the center and turned. “Perfect, I think we have it. Whew!” She grinned. “Was starting to get worried.” She smiled at Chris walking in. “We have a reception area, or at least a weather proof area for the ceremony.”
Chris hugged her. “This will be a perfect place to leave our guests while we sneak off on our honeymoon.”
“Honeymoon? We’re going on a honeymoon?” She asked excitedly. “Where are we going? How long?”
He smiled down at her. “It’s a surprise gift, for a week, and you need to bring clothes for warm weather…a few bikinis maybe…”
“Oh!” She launched herself into his arms and kissed him.
“Well, what’s he done now?” Leena asked, walking in holding Owen’s hand.
Cora smiled. “Just told her that he’s got a surprise trip for a honeymoon and to bring bikinis.”
Leena smiled. “That would do it.”
“Are you two taking a honeymoon?” Dade asked leaning back against the stones on the fireplace.
Owen shook his head. “We’re going to go later. I’m up to my ears in the third book, trying to get through editing before the baby gets here, so I can take some time.”
Leena hugged him. “He’s working too hard trying to get it finished. I keep telling him you can’t rush genius.” Owen pulled her into his big arms and hugged her to him.
“We brought coffee.” Rachel said as she rode in on Steven’s back, waving a large thermos in one hand and mesh bag of cups in the other.
Dade walked over and took the thermos. “Allow me before you knock the man out, he’s the only doctor we have.”
Steven grinned and swung her around into his arms. “Is this the place ladies?” He kissed Rachel softly before letting her feet back to the floor.
Kasey was still hugging Chris. “I think so.”
Leena nodded. “Definitely.”
Cora took the bag from Dade and grinned. “Dade had a great idea to decorate with the fall leaves and flowers on the arbor and inside.” She started pouring cups and passing them out.
Rachel grinned. “That would be so awesome. Corn stalks with red and orange leaves and white flowers.”
“Definitely white flowers.” Leena said with a smile.
Kasey almost ran over Dade as she flew at him. She hugged him tightly. “That is such a great idea, you’re brilliant.”
Steven looked at Chris. “Aren’t we the grooms? Why is it he gets all the hugs and they bat their lashes every time he speaks now?”
Chris looked at Dade. “I’m not sure, he showed us up last night by offering to help and now he’s brilliant for coming up with some leaves.”
Kasey turned around with hands on hips. “Christopher.”
He held up his hands. “I’m being nice.”
“There’s a kitchen and a bathroom here too.” Cora said. “We can set up in here for the reception, with food.”
Leena nodded. “Who has plans for the rest of the day?” No one spoke up. “I think we’d better go back to our place, sit down and make a plan.”
Kasey nodded. “Yeah, we’re really running out of time here.”
Dade shrugged. “Sounds good. How many people invited all together?”
Leena closed her eyes. “Nine for Owen and me.”
“Eight for us, well plus Connie, Kyle and the kids.” Rachel said sipping from a cup.
Kasey looked at Chris for a minute. “We have seven, but I think Greg and Violet should come. Oh, and Lorne and Tina.”
“Tina?” Chris asked.
“Justine. Oh, and Chase but the fang lady isn’t invited.”
Chris smiled. “Absolutely. And I think the judge and his wife will be quite happy to watch me get hitched finally, they’ve set me up with every female in close range.” He shrugged to Kasey’s glare. “I’ll ask. Short notice but most don’t have other plans on Hallowe’en.”
Leena watched Steven stand there in thought. “Ah, well, we have Gwen and Justin as well, oh and Jean and Kathy and her husband.”
Steven was now looking at the ceiling.
“I’d like Kevin, Patrick and Rhonda too.” Rachel said.
Steven looked around. “That it?” Everyone nodded. He turned to Dade and grinned. “That’s forty-nine including the eight of us.”
Dade shook his head. “I don’t want to know how you kept up. I lost count at seventeen.”
Steven poked a finger into his own chest. “I’m the smart one, remember?”
“That’s debatable, sometimes.” Owen said quietly.
Dade looked around again. “We should be able to fit that many in here comfortably.” He grinned at the men. “Ready to go now, so we can all sit down and plan?”
“Can’t wait.” Chris mumbled quietly.
“Owen, what are you doing?” Leena stood at the bottom of the stairs.
“I’ll be down in five, baby.”
She pursed her lips then smirked.
“Aw, baby, you’re blowing pages all over on me.” He called down.
“I wouldn’t be if you weren’t up there working instead of down here with everyone else.” She heard a door close. Turning back to everyone she grinned. “He’ll be down in a second.”
Dade shook his head. “His story must be going well for him if he risked upsetting you.”
She sat down on the couch. “I can’t wait for all of you to read this series. The first one will be in print soon.”
Kasey grinned. “Mine will be out a few weeks after his.” She bounced as she sat. “I still can’t believe it.”
Steven leaned over and pulled Rachel off the floor into his lap and smiled. “We’re going to be doing nothing but reading soon if you two keep up this pace.”
Owen walked around the corner. “Nothing wrong with reading.”
Steven smirked. “I agree, but just lately I’ve found much better things to do with my time.”
Dade put his hands in his face and sighed. “This being on my best behavior is fading people, we need to talk about plans here.”
Cora grinned. “That’s the longest you’ve ever lasted.”
He shrugged. “Must have been an effect from my recovery or something.”
Chris grinned. “Okay plans.” He looked at the women for a minute. “We males actually made some and a few decisions…”
“Yeah, and you thought we’ve been ignoring you.” Owen added frowning at Leena.
Chris grinned. “We’ve decided to wear kilts, mine will be Scottish.”
“Irish for me.”
Rachel looked at Steven. “Never would have guessed that with a name like O’Reily.”
Leena looked at Owen. “You’ve decided on a kilt as well?”
Owen nodded. “Yep, an English tartan for me.”
Kasey bounced. “That is going to look so good with our gowns.”
Cora watched her for a moment. “So how is that going? Making them?”
Leena rolled her eyes. “Would be going faster if I didn’t have to hide them all the time.” She looked at Owen.
Owen smirked. “I can’t help it, you’re a talented woman. Every time you make something it just gets better and better.”
Rachel leaned over and whispered to him. “This is a bit different, you’re not supposed to see the gowns, being as your one of the grooms.”
He smirked. “I know.”
“Who’s doing the food?” Dade asked. “Maybe Cora could break in her new double oven.”
Cora nodded. “I was going to talk to Kathy and see about some help. I should have the oven next week. I can’t wait.”
“Guess we’d better get you moved soon,” Dade said quietly.
She nodded. “Yes, I think we’d better. I’m going to invite Kathy to stay with me so we can work on the food for the handfast.”
“That’s not too much for you, is it?”
Cora looked at Leena and grinned. “No. I’m looking forward to it, with so many people I was thinking hot stews and soups and lots of finger foods, desserts…”
Steven clutched his stomach. “Stop. That’s torture, I’m starving now.”
Rachel hugged him. “You’re always starving.” She slipped off his lap and back to the notebook on the floor. “I have a number for a place where you could rent the burners and huge pans and things.”
Cora took the notebook and copied the information down.” Great, so I’ll do the food.” She looked at Dade. “You can figure out what we need for tables, chairs, and decorations right?”
He nodded. “Sure, although I may need some help with the decorations.”
Kasey patted Dade’s hand. “We’ll help where you need it, silly, it is our wedding.”
Chris ran his hand down the back of her hair. “Any bills accumulated, I want you to keep track of them.”
Kasey nodded. “Yes, I don’t want either of you to go into debt for us, Chris has too much money so we’ll cover the costs.”
Rachel laughed. “Too much money, that’s funny. Steven paid for the gown supplies already.”
Leena laughed. “We’re kept women.”
Owen hugged her. “No, we’ve been just bachelors for too long and didn’t do anything with our money.”
Dade shook his head. “Speaking of bachelors, can we go back to that food discussion we started on?” He grabbed his stomach.
Cora stood up laughing. “I brought the ingredients to make up something to fill the hole, just give me a few minutes.” She walked into the kitchen.
“I love Cora.” Owen said with a grin. “She always remembers food.”
Leena leaned back against him. “You’ve done nothing but eat since I got pregnant, you do know eating for two is meant for the woman, don’t you?”
He hugged her tight. “Uh huh, but I’m stocking up for all those all-night sessions, figure I’ll need the energy.”
Steven smirked. “You still have over five months to go, Owen. You could end up being four hundred pounds by then.”
Owen winked. “I’m hoping I’ll burn it off during that other appetite period you mentioned Lee would have.”
Dade sighed and stood up. “I’m going to the kitchen to help, you’re ruining my appetite with the sex talk right now.” He heard the laughs as he walked into the kitchen.
Cora stood with her back to him working at the counter. “Can I do something to help?”
She nodded and pointed to a cupboard. “Can you get me the baking sheets?”
He grinned and opened the cupboard. “You know where everything is in everyone’s kitchen. I don’t even know where things are in my own.”
Cora grinned at him. “It’s a thing with me, some people need to know where the bathroom is, I need to know their kitchen.”
Dade set the trays on the counter for her and watched how quickly she filled them. “You’re amazing, Coralee,” he said quietly.
She smirked. “Only because I can feed all of you, quickly.”
He leaned beside her. “No, ok, not just that but, you know you should have your own restaurant or something.”
She shrugged. “I thought of it while I was in school, maybe someday.”
Dade reached to taste one of the crackers she was placing on the tray and got his hand smacked in return. “If you ever decide, let me know, I’m pretty good at the whole building and renovating thing.”
“Yes, you are, and I may have a few things for you to do at the house.”
“Anything you need, honey.” He glanced towards the door as she placed the trays in the oven. “Coralee, I really would like to talk to you, I had wanted to when we were back at Mabon…”
Cora straightened and shook her head. “Dade, I don’t think we need to talk about… things.” She wiped her hands off then clasped them in front of her. “The other night happened, you may not have been aware but I was, and I don’t want to dwell on it.”
Dade stood in front of her searching her eyes. “I don’t want to dwell on it either. I wanted to tell you…”
Cora placed her hand lightly against his lips. “I don’t want to know.” A serious look appeared in her eyes as she looked into his for a moment. “Regardless of what we feel, Dade, it would never work, I know this now and I’ve accepted it.”
He pulled her hand down and held it gently. “I don’t agree…”
“I’ve been as patient as I could be out there.” Steven pouted as he stepped into the kitchen.
Cora pulled her hand from Dade’s and turned to the stove. “Just another minute, Steven, and your patience will be rewarded.”
Dade put his hands in his pockets and looked at Steven silently.
Steven raised his hands and grimaced.