Tap. Tap. Tap. Rowan raps his finger against the microphone, and we turn our attention to the stage where he and Ashlyn are standing.
Cole rushes on the stage and holds his arms out for his daughter. Ashlyn shakes her head and backs away. His hands fist as he follows her. Uh oh, Ashlyn has awakened the gentle giant.
“Give Cole my baby!” Ellery yells.
Rowan glances over and notices the commotion. He sighs before marching to the pair. He removes Willow from Ashlyn’s arms before placing her in Cole’s. When she pouts and stomps her foot, he leans close to whisper in her ear. She practically melts at whatever he’s saying.
He places an arm around her waist and draws her to the microphone.
“Welcome to our wedding carnival!”
At Ashlyn’s announcement, the crowd cheers.
“Only my daughter would hold a wedding carnival,” Mom complains as she and dad join us.
“I believe she’s our daughter,” Dad insists. “I distinctly remember helping to make her.”
“Ew. Dad.” Aspen makes a face.
“It’s time for the cake smash!”
Mom’s brow wrinkles. “Please tell me she means the cutting of the cake.”
“I don’t think she does,” I sing as I point to the two cakes set up side by side where a crowd is already gathering.
Lilac frowns as she studies the cakes. “What’s the goal here?”
“I’m betting on making a mess.”
“You can’t bet on making a mess. Of course, they’ll make a mess,” Sage calls from her spot behind me. “The bets are as follows – Ashlyn tackles Rowan. Rowan throws the entire cake at Ashlyn—”
“Never gonna happen,” I interrupt to say.
“Ashlyn throws her entire cake at Rowan,” Sage continues. Now, that’s what I’d put my money on.
Ashlyn’s best friend, Moon, arrives with a chalkboard sign and places it behind the couple. I giggle as I read it.
On one side, it states: Rowan Hansley, Age: 31, Weight: 225, Likes: Football, Dislikes: Illegal tackles, Loves: Dream Girl.
On the other side, it states: Ashlyn Dream West-Hansley, Age: 24, Weight: None of your business, Likes: Games she can win, Dislikes: Manipulative Ex-Wives, Loves: Jeeves.
The photographer, Soleil, arrives. Soleil is a Jill of all trades. During the summer, she conducts pottery workshops for tourists. In the slow months, she works at Ellery’s bed and breakfast. She also knits vibrator covers and sells them online.
We watch as Ashlyn and Rowan pose for a bunch of pictures. Correction – Rowan poses and Ashlyn goofs off. She sticks out her tongue, makes obscene gestures with her hands, flaps her arms like a duck – you name it, my baby sister is doing it.
“Ahem.” Mom’s had it. “Can my youngest daughter pretend to be an adult for a few minutes? I want to have at least one nice picture of today.”
“A picture of me pinching Rowan’s epic ass isn’t nice?”
“Let me pinch his ass, Ashlyn, and I’ll fight in your corner,” Feather calls.
I glance over at her and notice the group of gossip gals all standing together. They’re wearing bright, prink t-shirts with the words Gossip Gal Wedding Helper on them.
“If someone’s pinching Rowan’s ass, it’s me,” Petal argues. Her husband grunts next to her but doesn’t bother arguing. He’s not a stupid man.
“I’ve babysat, Rowan. I’ve seen his naked ass.” Sage crosses her arms over her chest to indicate the argument’s over.
“It’s not the same if he was a baby,” Clove argues.