“Not bad. I like the view of the harbor and those mountains in the distance. It’s already beautiful,” Shianne smiled.
“It’s a magical place,” Carly chimed in.
Rory smiled happily. “I’m so glad you guys are here,” she restated, and she really was.
“There is nowhere else that I’d want to be,” Shianne returned.
"All right, time to meet the rest of the family." Rory rose to her feet, prompting the others to do the same.
After introducing her friends to the family, she made her way upstairs, leaving them to catch up with her mother.
Rory could hear James' voice coming through the door as he talked on the phone. When he'd come back over a week ago, she had been over the moon, but then his phone rang, and he had to take it. He had spent hours on the phone getting the junior associate to take over the case until he got back up to speed. She understood the implications of him passing off the case to be here, and she was happy that he was showing her his commitment, but she wouldn't lie that it didn't bother her that he'd been on the phone since she left to pick up the girls over two hours ago and here he was still on the wretched device.
She turned the lock and pushed the door open.
"Hi, babe," Rory greeted with a broad smile, holding up the pastry bag she got at Kerry's bakery.
"I got you something."
"We’ll finish this later. I gotta go," James spoke into the phone before ending the call. Walking over to her, he took the bag with one hand while using the other hand to hold her chin and tip her face upward to receive the kiss he planted on her lips.
"Beignets?" he asked when their lips separated.
Rory nodded.
“Mmmm. I can’t wait to bite into this,” James hummed in delight.
Rory smiled at his enthusiasm.
"Did you happen to see Ethan when you were at your cousin’s?" he asked after taking a sizeable bite of the airy fried dough doused in powdered sugar.
"No. Why?"
He took his time chewing the pastry before swallowing. Rory watched him, waiting for his answer.
“We were talking about his career switch from a corporate lawyer to an environmental one. It’s just amazing how easy it was for him to make that choice,” he finally responded.
“Yeah, it is, but I guess he finally found his calling plus, it doesn’t hurt that Aunt Kerry lives here and is also passionate about the environment, so…”
“Hmm.”
“So…when do your parents get here?” she asked, keeping her tone even and as casual as she could manage.
“Dad called earlier to say they’ll be here tomorrow, and the rest of the family and friends they’ve invited will arrive the day after,” James responded, watching her. They’ve already booked rooms at the hotel back in town.
She managed to muster a small smile. “That’s great. I’m glad they’ll be here for you.”
“For both of us, Rory,” he jumped in to say, closing the distance between them and pulling her into his arms. “They’ll be here for the both of us?”
She looked up at him with a raised brow. “Dad’ll be here for the both of us,” he amended.
Satisfied with his comment, Rory rested her head against his chest, listening to the rhythmic beat of his heart that did something to calm her.
“I don’t think your mom will ever like me,” she breathed out softly.
“That’s her loss,” he replied.
After the two separated, they made their way downstairs to greet her friends. His best man and groomsmen would be arriving tomorrow and staying at the inn.
