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Three Months Later
“I know this is your bachelorette party, but can we take a minute to celebrate our first successful event?” Natalie asked through a mouthful of grilled cheese sandwich.
CeCe snorted with laughter as Mona tried in vain not to get tomato soup on her sweater. Since the holidays were over, she was back to wearing colorful sweaters that didn’t have a Santa stapled to the front or twinkling lights that could blind a person. This sweater was white with “Mother of the Bride” embroidered on the front in pink lettering.
Ginny had purchased the sweater as a gift when she saw it on Main Street. Mona had been nothing but supportive. Ginny wanted to celebrate the woman who had brought love back into her father’s life, as well as her own. Ginny knew her father was going to pop the question, and she couldn’t wait to officially call Mona family.
Ginny handed Mona a napkin and smiled. “I think we can celebrate whatever we want because it’s my party.” She raised her champagne flute and cheered. “To our new business, our friendships, and falling back in love.”
Mona raised her glass and beamed. “I’ll drink to that.”
CeCe downed her glass and clapped. “I just have to say,” she said as the room fell silent. “That I have never seen my boss so happy, and it has made work even better than it was before. And let me tell you, I’ve always liked working at the diner.” Everyone chuckled and started refilling their glasses. “You and Max, you belong together. I’m so happy you came back home.”
Ginny was touched by CeCe’s words and struggled to keep from crying. For some reason, falling back in love had turned her into a faucet. “Thanks, CeCe.”
She waved away the praise. “Don’t thank me, just keep Max happy.” She winked, and they all burst out laughing.
While Mona cued up their next rom-com, Natalie returned from the kitchen with a tray of cheesy bites. “I hid these for last. It is the end of our cheesy feast,” she proclaimed, placing the tray on the coffee table.
Ginny felt her mouth water as she snagged a bite and popped it into her mouth. “CeCe, no matter what you do, never stop making these.” She covered her mouth with her hand, her ring sparkling in the firelight.
Mona asked, “So where is your other half tonight? What is the bachelor party plan?” She nibbled from a cheesy bite and rested back on the couch.
Ginny wiped her mouth and sat next to Mona. “Max picked up Dad, and they were going to pick up Evan and meet Anthony at the tavern in Elm River.”
Natalie sighed. “I still want to know how you got my husband to be human again. Did you threaten bodily harm, CeCe? Or did you threaten him with unflattering social media pics, Ginny?”
“How do you know it wasn’t me?” Mona asked, her tone even. “I can be very persuasive if I want to be.”
“Mona, I have no doubt,” Natalie teased.
Ginny was skeptical. “How did Anthony get talked into a night of fun with the boys?”
CeCe took a sip of her champagne and laughed. “I may have told him Natalie would bring me all of his suits, and that I’d take them to Green’s for extra starch.”
All four women burst into laughter, Natalie nearly falling off her chair. “It’s been months, and he still complains about that suit. I don’t have the heart to tell him I brought it back to Green’s after his outburst.”
Ginny looked at these three friends she’d made since coming home. She couldn’t imagine not having a support system like them in her life. Even though Natalie was technically her boss, she was a friend first. And she damn near fell in love with CeCe that first day at the house. Mona was thrilled with the news that she was moving back home and quickly jumped into her mother-of-the-bride duties.
Max and Ginny found a cottage off Main Street that was between Natalie’s office and the diner. It was also barely ten minutes to Harold’s house, which would soon be Mona’s house as well. Ginny felt her heart grow at all that had transpired. Love had found its way back to Buckeye Falls, and she couldn’t wait to remarry Max in the morning.
Her phone buzzed from her purse, and Ginny walked over to grab it. “Hey, we said no boys tonight,” Natalie scolded.
“I’m making sure it’s not an emergency,” she chided. “Hold your horses.”
The text was from Max. It had several heart-eyed emojis and an I love you. Then another text came through that simply said, why did I invite Anthony?
Ginny smiled and responded, because you’re a nice person?
Max replied right away, no, it has to be something else. He included a winky face this time.
After three hours, the movies were done, and the women were filled with champagne and enough dairy products to clog all their arteries. Mona helped clean up before excusing herself to drive a very tipsy CeCe and a very drunk Natalie home. “We’ll see you at the community center bright and early,” she said. “Make sure you get plenty of rest. I’ll take care of these two.”
Natalie and CeCe mumbled their congratulations as they stumbled to Mona’s car. Ginny stood on the porch long after their headlights faded over the hill. Spring was nearly here, and Buckeye Falls felt like it was coming back to life after such a cold winter. She knew the community center would be lovely tomorrow.
Agreeing to have it someplace low-key, Ginny and Max planned a simple ceremony followed by cake and cocktails—both courtesy of CeCe and Evan. The pair even agreed to go to the wedding together, but only after it was established as a non-date date. When they couldn’t decide on flowers for the centerpieces, Max suggested oranges in big glass bowls—unsquished of course. Who could argue with that?
Just as Ginny turned to go back into the house, she heard tires crunching on the driveway. Expecting to see her father, she was pleasantly surprised to see Max’s car. He held up his hands in defense when he stepped out. “I know we’re not supposed to see each other before tomorrow, but I had to see you.”
Ginny warmed at his words and jogged down the porch steps to meet him halfway. “I’m so glad because I couldn’t wait to see you too.”
Max pulled her into a bear hug and kissed the top of her head. Ginny felt so at home in his arms, she couldn’t imagine how she’d managed to walk away in the first place.
“Have I told you recently that I love you?” she asked, resting her head on his shoulder.
“Not in the last two hours,” he teased, kissing the top of her head once more for good measure. “I cannot wait until tomorrow. You’re going to be Ginny Sanchez again.”
Ginny leaned back to meet his gaze. “I think I’ve always been Ginny Sanchez, I just didn’t know it.”
She got on her tiptoes and kissed Max in the moonlight. With nothing but the sounds of crickets and the wind in the trees, Ginny felt a calmness settle around her soul. She’d fallen home. Even with stumbles and setbacks, Ginny knew she was where she needed to be—right here with Max.
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The End