stalking the poor boy for the last two weeks. “Henry’s

grammy and auntie Caro are making sure he’s al

handsome. And besides, as the best man he’l be busy

helping his dad get ready. Now, are there any questions or

comments or concerns before I turn you loose on

Inglenook?”

Jacob, bless his little heart, actual y raised his hand. “Do I

come get you if I see that scary man?” he asked, giving a

shudder as he shrank back into his booster seat.

“Not today, big man,” Peg said with an encouraging

smile. “This morning we need to stay focused on Mac and

Olivia’s wedding. But first thing Monday morning, you and I

are going to find the man who scolded you, and after you

bravely tel him you’re sorry for climbing on his submarine

and that you won’t ever do it again, you wil see that you

don’t have to be afraid of him.”

And then I’m going to send you away, Peg silently

added, and give the bastard hell for scaring two years off

your tender little heart.

“So okay,” she said as she stepped aside and waved

them out of their seats. “Be good this morning, and by noon

you can al turn back into the noisy, disheveled little

heathens that I know and love.”

“I’m not changing out of my party clothes until after the

reception,” six-year-old Isabel said as she jumped out of

the van and smoothed down the front of her dress. She

squinted up at Peg. “And don’t forget to take a picture of

me dancing with Henry so I can bring it to school. Rhonda

Beekman is tel ing everyone that I made up my new

boyfriend.”

“Trust me,” Peg drawled, “if you get Henry to dance with

you, I wil definitely take your picture.”

“Mom,” eight-year-old Charlotte said as she helped Peter

get his booster seat belt untangled. “Does Sophie have to

change her last name to Oceanus, too?”

“Nope. She’l remain Sophie Baldwin until she gets

married, unless she decides to keep her maiden name.”

“I’m going to change my name to Oceanus when I marry

Henry,” Isabel said as she fussed with the bow on her

dress. She held out her hand. “Come on, Peter. Let’s go sit

in the gazebo and see if we can spot any whales.”

Not about to be caught dead holding his sister’s hand,

Peter jumped from the van and bolted toward the pine-

studded peninsula that jutted out between Whisper Lake

and the new Bottomless Sea. “You can watch for whales,”

he cal ed over his shoulder. “But I’m watching for sharks!”

Peg pul ed Jacob out of his seat to look him in the eye.

“Be brave, my big man,” she whispered. “I won’t let anyone

hurt you. But you have to help me by not going near the

science equipment, okay? You can see everything the

scientists are doing from the gazebo. And if you behave for

Charlotte, I’l buy you a book about ocean creatures.”

“Of my very own?” Jacob asked. “I won’t have to share it

with Pete?”

Peg gave him a quick hug and swung him out of the van.

“It’l be al yours. Together we’l write your name on the

inside, and if Peter wants to look at it he’l have to ask your

permission. Now go on,” she said, giving him a nudge to

fol ow his siblings. “And you al stay clean!” she cal ed after

them.

“Mom, where’s Miss Olivia going with that toilet plunger?”

Charlotte asked. “Shouldn’t she be getting ready for her

wedding?”

Peg looked at where her eldest daughter was pointing.

“Oh, good Lord,” she muttered, gesturing for Charlotte to go

after her brothers and sister. “Keep an eye on everyone for

me, okay, while I go see what Olivia’s up to.”

Peg headed off knowing exactly what her friend was up

to. Why else would Olivia be micromanaging her little

kingdom of aging cabins today of al days, if not to keep her

mind off the fact that she was about to marry one of the

richest, handsomest, scariest men on the planet?

“And just what do you think you’re doing?” Peg asked,

cutting her off.

Olivia blinked in surprise, then held up the plunger. “The

toilet in cabin three is overflowing and I have to go fix it.”

Peg snatched the plunger out of her hand. “Why isn’t one

of your employees saving our mad scientists?”

Olivia brushed at nothing on the front of her old

sweatshirt, and Peg couldn’t help but notice her friend’s

hands were trembling slightly. “Um, our cook has everyone

helping him get ready for the reception.” Olivia grabbed her

arm. “My God, Peg, I swear a smal army of guests crawled

out of the woodwork. How in hel can everyone drop

whatever they’re doing to come to a wedding on only a

week’s notice?” She leaned closer. “I think several of the

people Mac’s father invited are royalty,” she whispered.

“And I heard one of them address Titus as ‘Your Royal

Highness.’” Her hand on Peg’s arm tightened. “Wil you

please tel me what in hel I’m doing?”

Peg wrapped an arm around Olivia and started toward

the smal cottage nestled in the woods a short distance

from the main lodge. “What you’re doing is marrying Mac,

who I happen to know loves you to pieces.” She gave her

friend a squeeze. “This wil al be over tonight, Olivia. Your

smal army of guests wil crawl back into the woodwork, and

tomorrow morning you’re going to wake up the happiest

woman on the planet. Al you need to remember is that

you’re not marrying Mac’s father or his royal friends; you’re

marrying the man of your dreams.”

Olivia stopped walking. “But you know everyone in town

is going to think I’m only marrying Mac because he’s rich,

especial y when word gets out that he purchased most of

the timberland surrounding Bottomless. And when they find

out we’re building a huge resort that wil turn Spel bound

Fal s into a world-class tourist destination, al hel ’s going to

break loose.”

“Which is exactly what this forgotten town needs,” Peg

said, starting them walking again. “Not only is Mac a genius

but his timing’s not bad, either, since that freaky earthquake

turned Bottomless into an inland sea. Hel , I actual y own

oceanfront property now because those shifting mountains

cut an honest to God fiord right past my house and flooded

my gravel pit.”

“Ohmigod,” Olivia gasped, stopping to grab Peg’s arm

again. “Why didn’t you tel me? Was your house

damaged?”

“I did tel you. But you’ve been a tad preoccupied lately,

what with helping your ex-in-laws pack, dealing with a

bunch of mad scientists trying to figure out exactly what

went on here last week, and planning a wedding that’s

taking place in three hours.” Peg started her moving again.

“So you go take a hot bubble bath while I go fix that toilet,

and I’l be back in time to help you dress and put up your

hair.”

“But—”

“No but s! You’re getting married today if I have to drag

you down the aisle myself. And then you’re going to smile

and nod your way through the reception, and tonight you’re

going to begin living happily ever after in the arms of your

sexy husband.” Peg started walking backward, only to stop

and point the plunger at Olivia. “And you stay away from the

groom! He can’t see the bride until you’re walking down the

aisle looking al radiant and beautiful, so he’l realize he’s

the luckiest man on the planet.”

Olivia took a deep breath, threw back her shoulders, and

broke into a radiant smile. “Thank you for reminding me that

he’s the lucky one.” She canted her head. “Can you tel