Tessa and Lacey followed a moment later.
“Listen to the child, will ya?” Tessa pointed inside. “We have news and need everyone. Where’s Crista?”
As they gathered inside, Crista came downstairs in pajamas, her hair damp from a shower, her phone in her hand. “Nolie, I have Daddy on the phone, and he wants to talk to you.”
“I can’t talk now,” she said, her voice high with excitement. “We have an announcement! Sit down, Mommy!”
“I’ll put him on FaceTime,” Crista said, touching the phone as she joined them and gave everyone a chance to say hi to Anthony.
“Okay, okay.” Tessa clapped like a schoolteacher. “Do we have a quorum? All accounted for?”
All but Kate, Eli thought, but he just listened to the buzz of the group as they gathered in the living room.
Tessa turned to Nolie. “Would you like to do the honors, Figgie?”
Nolie gasped, looking between Tessa and Lacey. “Me? Really? I get to say it?”
Crista’s eyes softened and she whispered into the phone, “It’s a nickname. Tessa calls her Figsworth.” She waited a beat. “Yes, like the boy in her class. I honestly don’t know. But, please, just watch.”
Eli observed the exchange and wondered if Anthony might not fully appreciate what was going on down here. Eli hoped he could see that even Crista’s posture was relaxed. He knew that Anthony was opposed to them keeping this house—a subject they’d danced around these past few days. Still, Eli was glad his brother-in-law was a witness to…whatever they were about to witness.
“Go for it, kiddo,” Lacey encouraged.
“Daddy’s watching, too,” Crista told her.
Nolie beamed, standing up and dramatically tossing her hands in the air. “As you know, Tessa and Lacey’s party business got a big job.”
“Your business, too,” Tessa interjected. “You have a title, Figsworth.”
She giggled and looked right at the phone. “I’m the Junior Joy Co…co…”
“Coordinator,” Tessa supplied gently. “Play your cards right and you’ll be the Senior Joy Coordinator.”
Nolie tried to be serious, but obviously was having too much fun as they cheered her new title.
She scooped up Pittypat and held her the very same way Eli had seen Maggie hold the dog, and with the same love.
“You’re all going to be in a wedding!” she hollered, then twirled in a perfect pirouette. “And so am I!”
The whole group reacted with surprise, gasps, and questions, and poor Nolie lost control of her crowd, spiraling into giggles.
“You tell them, Tessa,” she said, smashing her face into Pittypat. “You.”
“All right, all right.” Tessa slipped into a chair and looked at them. “As you know, we’ve landed the grand opening event for Lumière, a bridal salon, and we’re doing a runway fashion show. It’s going to be held here, and that boardwalk will be the runway—and the aisle.”
Again, they reacted and Eli raised his brows. “Very cool,” he said. “Where will the guests be?”
“We’re going to set up tents and chairs on either side of the boardwalk down to the beach,” Lacey said. “And people can watch from the deck—assuming that’s okay with you guys who own it. Mom, Aunt Crista, Uncle Eli?”
The three of them exchanged a quick look, no one wanting to quash any joy.
“Of course,” he said, quickly speaking for all. “We can throw a party here.”
“Budget is somewhat tight, of course,” Tessa added. “So to save money, we’re trying to get some free models.” She waited a beat, then grinned. “Including everyone in this room.”
Jonah sat up straighter. “Wait—what?”
Eli raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly are Jonah and I supposed to wear in this spectacle? We’re not brides.”
