Two Ends of the Pen: #Excerpt: BABIES AT COCONUTS by Beth Carter

Babies at Coconuts
Beth Carter
(Coconuts Series, #3)
Publication date: May 15th 2019
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Romance

TOP TWENTY REASONS TO VISIT COCONUTS

1. To overhear the juicy gossip of long-time best friends Suzy, Alex, and Hope, who go to Coconuts weekly (or more if there’s an emergency, which is often!)

2. Getting a glimpse of the gorgeous, wealthy New York socialite, Cheri Van Buren, and ask if you can borrow her incredible designer clothes or shoes.

3. Having the cute flip-flp wearing server, Gus, who always knows what cocktail everyone wants for Happy Hour, serve your favorite drink—or possibly serve him!

4. Hoping to be handcuffed by sexy, bad-boy cop Lt. Tony Montgomery. He may be a rascal at times, but he sure is sexy. Those arctic blue eyes…

5. Adding your initials (or painting something tropical) on the floor-to-ceiling beach mural.

6. To ask hunky, dark-sunglass-wearing Gage for a ride in his limo and hoping he remembers the chilled champagne!

7. Showing Alex she isn’t alone with her OCD tendencies by tying a paper straw holder into a knot in solidarity—and handing her some anti-bacterial gel after you touch her hand.

8. Hugging Suzy for all she has been through.

9. Ditto for Alex.

10. Double ditto for Hope.

11. Giving Alex advice on whether she should ditch the cop once and for all and pursue Gage, Cheri’s limo driver.

12. Giving Suzy advice on how to handle her surly teen stepdaughter, Izzy.

13. To discuss wedding themes with Suzy and hire her company, Weddings by Suzanne, for a wedding.

14. To share (or gather) Italian recipes with Fernando’s mom, Mama Gia, but scooting away before you offend her and she thumps you on the head!

15. Commiserating with Hope for everything she’s gone through with her hippie parents and telling her that her frizzy hair is beautiful and to stop worrying about her weight!

16. To see newlyweds Jon and Fernando and hope Fernando teaches you to dance the salsa.

17. Requesting the infamous zebra print menu and scouring it to order every item on the menu—or at least the crab cakes or truffle popcorn.

18. Hoping to catch a glimpse of either Nikki, Tony’s hateful, spiteful ex, OR Hannah, Alex’s bank marketing intern who is gunning for her job, and possibly trip them or spit in their drink. Trust me, they deserve it!

19. To find out about the unique, hilarious cocktail the New York socialite insists the women drink.

20. To tell the women you admire their unbreakable bonds of friendship and wish you had friends like them. Who knows? Maybe they’ll invite you to join them at their high-top table at Coconuts!

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

My son’s wedding will be perfect. It has to be perfect. I’m his wedding planner. Oh, God. What was I thinking? Rubbing her throbbing temples, Suzy stared out the kitchen window and noticed the first sign of daffodils sprouting against the half-brown, half-green ground. The perky, yellow flowers usually made her smile.
Taking deep yoga breaths to quell her butterflies, Suzy continually gave herself non-stop, much-needed pep talks prior to the rehearsal dinner.
Tonight’s dinner will set the tone. Both families will either enjoy one another’s company—or everyone will count the hours until the whole blessed thing is over. I love weddings. That’s why I plan them but I never expected this much pressure. I want Jon to be thrilled with the results. Her mind swirled with possible worst-case scenarios.
Filling up her favorite “Best Mom” coffee mug for good luck, she drummed her fingers on the kitchen counter. Happily, the boys—they would always be boys to her even though they were young men—had agreed to pick up Fernando’s three brothers and mom at the airport.
She’d only spoken to Fernando’s mother once by phone and couldn’t get a word in. Not. One. Word. She hoped it was due to wedding jitters and not an everyday diarrhea-of-the-mouth occurrence. Overly chatty people got on her last nerve.
Before they arrived, she decided to check her wedding notes yet again. Suzy placed notes in a file for every bride and groom—or in this case, two grooms. Normally, she drew the wedding theme on the outside of the folder for quick reference since she occasionally had more than one wedding going at once.
Shuffling to the breakfast table where she often worked, she spotted the manila sleeve. Starfish, waves, and palm trees were drawn on the exterior. She smiled when she noticed Izzy had added a heart with Jon + Fernando scrawled in the middle. This is a good sign. Even my surly teen stepdaughter is excited about the wedding. She shook her head in wonder. My son’s getting married. He’s going to be a husband. And a dad. A dad! I can hardly believe both events are happening so close together.
Her mind skittered to Fernando’s family. She had tried to encourage them into flying in a day earlier from Italy, fearing they’d have airplane issues and miss the rehearsal dinner. But Gia Russo had texted from New York City hours earlier saying they were on schedule. Still, timing was tight.
Suzy glanced back at her list. Food. Wine. Engraved champagne flutes. Check. Scanning her notes for the hundredth time, she smiled when she noted a star beside Fernando’s favorite color—orange. Suzy had asked the florist to tie orange ribbons on the chairs at the wedding for a pop of color. She chuckled. Her son, Jon, couldn’t care less about colors but had requested simple white rose petals to cover the aisle during the ceremony.
Sipping coffee, Suzy’s mouth watered as she studied Cheri Van Buren’s fabulous rehearsal dinner menu. Her New York caterer friend had come through from afar. The grooms had requested Indian food placing Suzy in unfamiliar territory. Cheri had recommended Indian Summer, the best Indian restaurant in Crystal City, and assured Suzy she had spoken directly with Chef Raj.
We’re in good shape. The rehearsal dinner will be an intimate gathering as Jon requested with Fernando’s family; Vanessa, Jon’s former high school sweetheart before he came out; her best friends Alex and Hope; husband, Ken; and stepdaughter Izzy. This should be easy. No drama before the big day.
Suzy took another quick peek at her watch. Nothing like cutting it close. Alex must be rubbing off on me; she was born late. Rubbing her arms from nervousness, her mind wandered. I hope there aren’t any airline issues. Jon is probably beside himself and pacing the length of the airport about now.
Izzy was still at school and Ken was at work. Unusually anxious, Suzy wondered if she should drink a glass of wine before the dinner. She picked up her cell to call her husband, but his voicemail indicated he was in a meeting for another thirty minutes. Why is everyone busy until the last minute? I hope this means the ceremony will be flawless.
Deciding to take a quick shower, Suzy heard her phone vibrate as she turned off the water. Dripping all over the counter, she reached for her phone full of texts. One was from Alex who was running late. No surprise. Hope wondered if her school attire would be dressy enough. Jon mentioned he was nervous, excited, and leaving the airport. Ken said he would meet her at the restaurant.
I don’t have time to reply to all of these messages. Suzy quickly responded to Hope that her clothes would be fine and retreated to her walk-in closet. With a plush, gray towel wrapped around her wet body, she studied her wardrobe.
Originally, she had planned to wear a sundress, but immediately changed her mind and donned a more formal dress. Glancing in the mirror, Suzy frowned. This doesn’t look tropical. They want a luau for a wedding. My clothes should fit the theme.
Shedding her lacy dress and flinging it on the bed, Suzy studied her closet. Wearing only a bra and panties, the doorbell rang. She froze when she heard the door creak open.
“Mom, we’re here,” Jon said. “Er, everyone’s here. We’re coming in, ready or not.”

Author Bio:
At a certain mid-life crisis, er, age, multi-award-winning author Beth Carter shed her corporate bank suits and heels to pen novels and children's books. She much prefers afternoon writing at Starbucks to 8 o'clock board meetings.

Carter's novels include: THURSDAYS AT COCONUTS (Book 1), CHAOS AT COCONUTS (Book 2), BABIES AT COCONUTS (Book 3), SLEEPING WITH ELVIS, MIRACLE ON AISLE TWO, and SANTA BABY, a novelette. There will be six books in the Coconuts series, and all may be read as a standalone.

Voted Favorite Contemporary Runner-up in the 2018 & 2017 Raven Awards, winner of a 2015 RONE Award, and named Best Debut Author in 2015, the author pens romantic women's fiction contemporary romance, and romantic comedy in what she calls rollercoaster romance. The author infuses plenty of humor, suspense, heartwarming romance, and page-turning plot twists.

Also a children's picture book author, Carter has four children's books published: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE?, SOUR POWER, SANTA'S SECRET, and THE MISSING KEY. All have been well received by kids, parents, teachers, and counselors.