A Family Kind of Wedding Read Free Page A

do.”
    â€œYou don’t have a mother who uses his picture for a dartboard.” Tiffany’s lips pulled into a tight little knot.
    â€œNope. My mom married him. Imagine that.” Katie let out a low, disbelieving whistle. The conversation had turned too heavy. Way too heavy. “So what about you and J.D.? When’re you going to tie the knot?”
    â€œLater in the fall, we think, though…well, I don’t think I’m ready for all the fuss of a big wedding.”
    â€œBut you have to!”
    â€œI’ve been married before.”
    â€œSo were Brynnie and John.”
    â€œI know. My point exactly.” Tiffany studied her glass and frowned. “We’ll see. I think we should give it a couple of months.”
    â€œWhy wait?” Katie knew she was impetuous to a fault, but when two people were so obviously in love with each other it seemed silly to put off the inevitable. Though she tried to ignore it, she was a romantic at heart.
    â€œActually,” Tiffany admitted, “there’s something I was going to discuss with you, something that has to do with me getting married.”
    â€œWhat?” Katie asked, unable to contain her enthusiasm.
    â€œWell, J.D.’s dad has finally convinced him that he and I and the kids should move out to the new farm that Santini Brothers is converting into a vineyard and winery.”
    â€œThe old Zalinski place.” Katie had already heard the news.
    â€œRight. Even though J.D. argued with him and told him there was no way he was going to be involved with the company business again, Carlo can be very persuasive when he wants to be, so…as the old saying goes, he made J.D. an offer he couldn’t refuse. Not only did Carlo give me the deed to this house free and clear, but he is offering us the farmhouse if we’ll agree to live on the grounds. J.D. will still practice law for other people, but he’ll be a consultant of sorts for Santini Brothers.” Glancing around the kitchen, Tiffany added, “It’s probably time I started fresh anyway. I moved here when Philip died, and both of the kids hated it. Stephen openly rebelled, and Christina suffered from nightmares. All that seems to have gone away, but J.D. and I and the kids need a new start. A place of our own.”
    â€œSounds great. Too good to be true.”
    â€œAlmost. But the problem is I’ll need someone to run this place—you know, manage the apartments and live on the premises. I thought it would be perfect for you and Josh. You could stay here rent free, collect a salary and still work for the Review. ”
    â€œYou’re kidding!” Kate’s head snapped up.
    â€œDead serious. You could sell your place or rent it out,” Tiffany said, before draining her glass.
    Katie didn’t know what to say. She gazed at the kitchen filled with all of Tiffany’s things—her baskets and shiny pots and hanging bundles of dried herbs. “I…I don’t know. I’d have to think about it. Talk it over with Josh.”
    â€œDo. You’ve seen the place, of course, but let me give you the grand tour, show you what you’d be in for. Let’s start at the top.” They climbed two flights of stairs to a studio apartment set under the eaves. J.D. sat at a small table with his laptop computer glowing in front of him.
    â€œMissed me?” he asked, as Tiffany approached him.
    â€œTerribly,” she replied dryly. “I just couldn’t stand it.”
    His smile stretched wide, and he leaned back in his chair to stare at his fiancée. The silent message he sent her fairly sizzled, and Tiffany’s cheeks burned red. “Well…uh, this is the smallest unit.” She pointed out the tiny kitchen and bath, then, with a sidelong look at her husband-to-be, led Katie down to the second floor. “He’s incorrigible,” she muttered.
    â€œAlong with a whole list of other