Small Town Girls Don't Marry Their Best Friends: Contemporary Christian Romance (Beaches of Trumanville Book 3)

by Carol Moncado

  She rolled her eyes at him.

  “Wait.” He wiped his mouth on his napkin. “Harrison’s parents are coming? And so are my parents?”

  “Yep.”

  He groaned. “Great. Did I tell you what happened when they went to visit San Majoria?”

  Tessa shook her head. “You told me something did but not what.”

  “Apparently, my parents invited themselves to stay at the palace. I guess his parents had extended a polite ‘someday if you come’ type invitation, but they decided to go as soon as the movie wrapped, when Harrison and Lani went. But Harrison and Lani had a super busy schedule, so my mother ran the assistant assigned to them ragged planning their own excursions and stuff.”

  Tessa wrinkled her nose. “That sounds like your mom. Get someone else to do the work for her.”

  “That wasn’t the worst of it. Mom decided that velvet ropes and closed doors didn’t mean anything was off-limits for her. She let herself into some room that only the king and two other people are allowed in unescorted. King Edward pulled her into his office like he was the principal and she’d been caught defacing school property. Told her it was a felony punishable by a bunch of years in prison. Let her know he was extending grace, but he has like ten years to press charges if he wants to, so she needs to be on her best behavior from now on. As soon as the whole thing about Harrison’s grandfather promising Harrison would marry that other woman came out, my parents were sent home.”

  “Wow.” Tessa blinked as she tried to take it in. “On one hand, I’m surprised, but on the other...”

  “Not so much? We both know how my mother can be. She was treating the assistant like her own personal concierge. Lani said Harrison told her that, in a situation like that, the assistant would normally spend maybe an hour a day helping the guests out. Two tops. In between all of their regular duties. But not with my mom there. It was a full-time job.”

  “Want me to talk to Lani and see if we can uninvite the in-laws? It’s not their fault, and I’m sure they’re lovely people, but with your parents there, too, it could get weird.”

  “This might be the first time they’re around each other after the incident, but it won’t be the last. Just leave it.”

  “You know I won’t be able to curtsy, right? Not with my back the way it is.”

  Gray chuckled. “I doubt that will even cross Edward’s mind.”

  “Edward?” She cocked an eyebrow at him. “You’re on a first name basis?”

  “He told me I could call him that in a family setting, yes.” Gray popped the last bit of his sandwich into his mouth. “You done?” he asked around the food.

  “Didn’t your mother teach you not to talk with your mouth full?” she shot back, picking up her last bite and handing the plate over.

  “Nope. Sure didn’t.”

  A few minutes later, he returned, having loaded her dishes from the last few days into the dishwasher and starting it.

  “I’m sorry about the dishes,” Tessa told him as he sat back down. “Bending over to put them in was too much.”

  “I’m glad you didn’t.” He took her hand as he sat down. “Cheesy HEA TV movie or Home Improvement Network show?”

  “I’ve done nothing but watch HEA TV for the last three days. I could handle a change. See what’s on HIN?”

  They finally settled on Hunt for Red October because it wouldn’t make her laugh like You’ve Got Mail would. It also probably wouldn’t make her cry. Much.

  Maybe Jurassic Park, where Sam Neill’s character didn’t die would be better.

  After the movie ended, Gray brought her another round of medicine then walked behind her up the stairs.

  “I think I’m going to take a shower then go to bed,” she told him. “I didn’t take one while you were gone so there was less chance of slipping. It’s not like I did anything to get sweaty and gross.” Just moving anywhere took far more exertion than normal but not that much.

  “Thanks for being cautious.” Gray squeezed her hand as she went through the door to her room. “Please don’t stop.”

  Her phone buzzed so she checked it. “Jazz said she can come hang out with me tomorrow. She’s back in town.”

  “I know. I ran into her at the gas station.”

  Realization dawned. “That’s how you knew she hadn’t been here.”

  “Yep. She didn’t even know you’d been hurt.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Sleep well.”

  Tessa hurried through the shower and bedtime routine, at least as much as she could. Once situated in the bed, her mind started to wander as the medicine started to really kick in.

  What would it be like to have Gray share the bed with her?

  The thought came unbidden, but once it was there, it wouldn’t let go.

  Willing it out of her mind, Tessa forced herself to drift off to sleep.

  This could either go very well or very poorly.

  If Gray was a betting man, he’d put his money on poorly since both the Cordovas and his parents were going to be in attendance.

  Tessa had managed to get into the SUV without as much trouble as he’d expected, but getting from there into the Beach House had worn her out. His mother would be sure to comment on her perceived laziness later on. He’d have to try to forestall that.

  It probably wouldn’t help, but he’d try.

  Tessa had a lot of experience with his mother, so it wouldn’t surprise her in the slightest, though Gray knew the barbs still struck.

  He’d texted the family group chat that Tessa had been hurt, but he didn’t think anyone understood how bad it really was. He hadn’t downplayed it, but he hadn’t gone into many details either.

  “How long before everyone gets here?” Tessa asked from the chair he’d brought over from their house. The rest of the chairs were of the folding variety. His mother would probably make a snarky remark, but he didn’t care.

  “We have about an hour before they’re supposed to show up.” He sent the sibling group chat a quick message asking them to keep Mom away from Tessa and not to let Tessa get up or do anything.

  Sean sent a single letter k back. His sisters started to bombard him with questions about how badly she was hurt. He told them he’d explain later, but that Tessa needed to stay seated basically the whole time and not to let Mom bully her into doing more than she was capable of.

  His sisters promised to look out for her.

  Gray went to the outdoor kitchen and started the smoker, so it would be hot when it was time to put the burgers, bratwurst, and hot dogs on. The grill wouldn’t take as long to heat up. He didn’t know why they needed the grill. The smoked stuff tasted better.

  He heard tires crunching in the drive then voices, though he couldn’t quite place who they were. There was a lot of them though, more than just a single couple.

  As he dropped some of the stuff off in the kitchen, he thought he heard Lani’s voice. Could she have brought her in-laws already?

  Sure enough, King Edward was motioning to Tessa to stay seated.

  “You’re injured, my dear. Please, stay where you are.” Edward held out a hand to her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Beach.”

  Tessa bowed her head his direction. “The pleasure is all mine, Your Majesty.”

  “Please, call us Edward and Miriam when we’re with family. In public is different, of course, but here, we’re just the in-laws of your in-laws who are so tangentially related that we barely deserve an invitation in the first place.”

  Tessa’s laugh turned to whimpers. “That hurts, but it’s our pleasure. I’m glad you were able to come. I missed Lani and Harrison’s wedding because I was out of town, and it was such short notice.”

  Gray took his turn saying hello to Lani and her in-laws. Edward and Harrison followed him out to the patio.

  “How is she really?” Harrison asked. “Lani read your text messages to me which is why we came early. She wanted to be here before your parents.”

  “She’s in a lot of
pain. The narcotics are helping, but it’s going to be weeks before she’s back to normal.” Gray checked his watch then turned on the grill. Might as well get it started. He’d checked the propane the day before, and there was plenty, but the grill hadn’t been used since it’s installation as far as Gray knew.

  It turned right on.

  One hurdle down.

  “I’m going to grab the cooler with the meat and get it started.” Gray went back inside to find Lani and the queen talking with Tessa. His wife seemed more subdued, but he’d noticed she got that way as the meds kicked in.

  When he made it back outside, the king was crouched down in front of the smoker. “I’ve never used one of these. I used to grill sometimes in university, but I’ve never smoked meat.”

  “This stuff isn’t hard.” Gray set the cooler on the counter. “It doesn’t take long.”

  The three of them worked together to get the food started.

  After he washed his hands, Gray leaned back against the counter top and crossed his arms across his chest. “I’m sorry about my parents, sir. I heard about what happened in San Majoria, and I wish I could tell you it would never happen again, but you’d do well to keep an eye on them when they’re around.”

  Edward smirked. “They won’t even know how closely they’re watched next time.” He put on a more serious face. “You didn’t hear that. It’s not a very monarchish thing to say.”

  Gray shared a look with Harrison and managed to control his smile at least for a minute. “We won’t say a thing, sir.”

  By then almost everyone else had arrived. Tessa’s parents were there, along with a couple of her cousins. Madi had made it, followed closely by Eli, Mia, and the baby. Sean pulled up in Tessa’s car with one of Tessa’s cousins as everyone cooed over baby Celia.

  “Where’s Mom and Dad?” Sean asked as he grabbed a pie out of his car.

  “Not here yet. Gotta make an entrance.” They’d probably show up after everyone else started eating, then complain they weren’t able to have some item that was nearly gone.

  “How’s Tessa?”

  “Somewhat better, but not great.” He explained more as they walked up the steps.

  About the time they reached the front door, more tires crunched in the gravel. Gray turned to see his parents pulling up.

  “Great,” he muttered. “There’s a reason they’re almost on time. This could be real fun.”

  Sean smacked him on the back. “We’ll get through it.”

  Right.

  They’d survive.

  But would Tessa?

  13

  Part of Tessa had hoped her in-laws wouldn’t show up. She should have known that wouldn’t happen.

  Her mother-in-law gave her a derisive look when Tessa didn’t stand up to greet them after they arrived.

  Too bad.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Lani whispered. “She would have found something wrong even if you were completely healthy and everything was perfect.”

  “I know.”

  “I get it. They still haven’t been to visit me and Harrison at our house. I think Mom’s mad about being kicked out of the country when all the stuff went down.” Lani opened her water bottle.

  “She’ll get over it.”

  “No, she won’t.”

  “You’re right.” Tessa knew their mother wasn’t known for her ability to let things go.

  Lani tilted her head toward the door. “Did you notice who Sean brought?”

  Tessa shook her head. “Is he dating again already?”

  Lani shrugged. “I have no idea. What would you think if he was?”

  That made Tessa think harder than she preferred at the moment. “Heidi broke up with him. I know he loved her, and had every intention of spending the rest of his life with her, but she chose to end the relationship. If he thinks he’s ready to move on, who am I to stop him?”

  “But with your cousin?” Lani sounded skeptical, and Tessa could understand why. Heidi and their cousin had always been close.

  “I’m a little too groggy to think about it overly much right now, but it’s not for me to say.”

  “That’s a good attitude to have.”

  “I think I’d feel the same way if I wasn’t drugged up. That’s between Sean and Heidi, if that. I’m not sure it’s any of Heidi’s business either, though it could make Christmas a little awkward.”

  Before they could continue the conversation, Lani’s mother walked into the room, accompanied by Queen Miriam.

  “We don’t have servants to do things for us,” Tessa’s mother-in-law said as they walked in. “We have to get ready for our own parties.”

  Tessa sucked in a breath. She’d done more to get ready for the party than her mother-in-law, and she was essentially chair ridden unless the narcotics were in full force.

  Before the queen could reply, a small crowd of people walked into the room. Queen Miriam looked relieved she didn’t have to provide an answer.

  At least Sean and the others were there to help with the smoker and grill. Gray had the same tendency to burn stuff on them as in the oven.

  Mia offered the baby to Tessa who shook her head. She felt a bit too weak and woozy to take a baby at the moment. Mia then pulled up a chair next to Tessa and Lani.

  “Tessa, dear, can you get the rest of the sides out of the kitchen?” Gray’s mother asked.

  Lani and Mia shared a look before Mia handed the baby to the queen, and the two of them went into the kitchen. Grateful for their wordless support, Tessa just closed her eyes and tried to convince herself to shift a little bit so the numbness in her rear end would dissipate a bit.

  It took all of her willpower, but she managed it.

  “Must be nice to just sit around. I couldn’t do that if I was hosting a party.” Gray’s mother took the seat Lani vacated.

  “My doctor has told me to take it easy,” Tessa told her. “I took a bad fall not too long ago.”

  Her mother-in-law waved her off. “Oh, please. That was weeks ago.”

  Tessa bit her tongue. No, it wasn’t quite a “new” injury, but still well within the six or eight weeks the doctor told her it would take to get back to normal.

  Before the conversation could go any further, Baby Celia started to cry.

  “Even I could do better than that calming the baby, and I’m not her grandmother. Of course, I never had nannies helping raise my children.”

  Tessa continued to bite her tongue. Yes, the king and queen likely had help raising their children. Most families where parents worked had help in the form of daycares or babysitters until the children reached school age. Gray’s parents had both worked and utilized Mothers’ Day Out programs and grandparents to watch children while they both ran the bookstore.

  Mia and Lani returned, bringing some of the others with them. Gray’s father made an obnoxious remark of some sort that distracted Gray’s mother. She stood and walked out of the living area, letting Lani and Mia retake their seats.

  Queen Miriam joined them.

  “I’m sorry about my mom,” Lani told her. “I shouldn’t expect anything better, but somehow I always manage to think this time will be different.”

  The queen smiled, though it appeared a bit rueful. “Believe me, we’ve learned to let things roll off our backs. It’s something you’ll have to learn as well, Lani. Being in the States, out of the spotlight, may help some, but there will be people who will criticize you and Harrison for not being in San Majoria. You won’t be able to please everyone. Ever.”

  Mia nodded. “Eli’s getting bad press because we’re suing his manager. His much beloved manager. His much beloved manager who stole thousands upon thousands of dollars from him. But everyone in Hollywood loves this guy.”

  “How’s that going?” Lani asked, taking a sip of her drink.

  Mia shrugged. “The wheels of justice turn slow. We’ve got full custody of Celia. That’s the most important part. We think her bio mom may sign away her parental rights rather
than drag herself through a prolonged court battle to have them terminated. If she does, I’ll adopt her the first moment I can.”

  “And the Bell’s Palsy is completely gone?” Lani asked.

  Tessa had forgotten about that.

  Mia rolled her eyes. “Mostly. That side of my face still gets tired more quickly, but generally yes. Eli says he can notice sometimes late at night, but that’s it.”

  “Good,” the three other women said in unison.

  Gray walked into the room flanked by Prince Harrison and King Edward. All three of them carried platters with meat piled high.

  “Time to eat,” Gray announced.

  With that, Tessa was the only one who remained seated. She just prayed there would be good food left when someone remembered to make her a plate.

  Guests of honor generally went first at a gathering, didn’t they? Even if they were the hosts?

  Gray wasn’t quite sure how it was supposed to work, but when his parents were first in line, it didn’t surprise him.

  Papa Beach whistled loudly. “Before we get started, let’s have a word of prayer.”

  Gray’s parents would never think that way, though they professed to be Christians. Prayer before dinner had never been a thing at his house growing up, and he supposed one could be a “real” Christian without it, but to Gray, it was more indicative of how his parents tended to be... hypocritical. It wasn’t the pre-meal prayers in and of themselves but rather their way of life.

  Papa Beach offered a heartfelt prayer, thanking God for the food, friends and family, and for the union of Gray and Tessa that brought them all together for this meal.

  Everyone else let Gray go first, but his parents were already halfway down the line. He took two plates and fixed what he knew Tessa would like. Someone, he wasn’t sure who but suspected Mama Beach, had set a tray table in front of her.

  At least until his mother commandeered it, making a loud comment about how it would be nice if there were enough for everyone. Gray looked around for another one, but there only appeared to be one. Some tables had been set up outside. He’d figured a couple of people, himself included, would stay inside with Tessa while everyone else went outside. Instead, it seemed a lot of people were staying inside.