Page 95 of Finding Forever

Julie came to Beth’s rescue. “Let Beth enjoy her thoughts. Tonight we’re wrapping table favors for Kayla.”

Maria grinned as she reached for another cracker. “That’s fine, but only because you’ve given me something better to work with.”

Beth caught Julie’s eye and mouthed, “Thank you.”

Julie gave her a conspiratorial smile before reaching for another box.

They settled into an easy rhythm after that. Fold, fill, close, ribbon, card.

Maria continued stealing pieces of fudge whenever she thought Beth wasn’t watching. Laurel repaired everyone else’s crooked bows, and Julie talked about an August wedding that existed, so far, only as a date circled on a calendar.

By seven-thirty, Beth placed the final favor beside the others and counted the rows twice. “That’s it. We have more than enough for the guests, and extras for Paris and her team at the Flower Cottage, all the staff at Sweet Treats, the bridal boutique staff, and everyone else who’s making the day special.”

Maria stretched her arms above her head. “That didn’t take as long as I thought it would. Thank goodness for small weddings.”

Julie looked at the boxes covering the table. “Kayla will love these.”

Beth sighed. Eleven days from now, the fudge would be sitting in a room filled with flowers, music, laughter, and people who loved her daughter. The realization brought a familiar ache to her chest, except this time Beth didn’t try to push it away.

Kayla was happy and that was what mattered. And after the last piece of fudge was eaten, the flowers faded, and Kayla’s wedding dress was carefully packed away, life would keep moving.

Kayla would begin her marriage.

Julie would prepare for hers.

And Beth… She glanced around her dining room.

Lengths of discarded ribbon covered one end of the table. Maria was trying to persuade Laurel that one final piece of huckleberry fudge couldn’t possibly be considered too much. Julie was stacking the empty trays, still wearing the radiant smile she’d had since announcing her news.

Beth smiled, too. For years, she’d believed she knew exactly what the rest of her life would look like. She’d been wrong. And she was beginning to think that might be a good thing.

She didn’t need to know precisely what came next. For now, it was enough to know she was looking forward to finding out.

Chapter 44

By six o’clock on the night before Kayla was getting married, Beth had run out of things to check. That hadn’t stopped her from trying to find more. She stood at the kitchen counter with her phone in one hand and tomorrow’s schedule in the other, mentally working her way through it for what had to be the twentieth time.

The Lakeside Grill was ready. Beth had gone there herself that morning and walked through the private dining room with Paul. The tables were arranged exactly as they’d discussed, the veranda had been swept, and the restaurant had the final guest count.

Afterward, she’d stopped at The Flower Cottage, where Paris had shown her the finished arrangements. Pink and cream roses, pale pink ranunculus, white lisianthus, and soft greenery filled the workroom with color and fragrance. Kayla’s bouquet had been waiting in the cooler, and Beth had nearly cried when Paris showed it to her.

The photographer had confirmed his arrival time. The cake was finished. Tyler had collected his suit. Ryan knew when and where he was supposed to be tomorrow. And according to every weather forecast Beth could find, May twenty-third was going to be beautiful.

Seventy-two degrees. Sunshine. A light breeze. Beth refreshed the weather app. Still seventy-two degrees.

“Mom.”

She glanced up. Kayla stood on the other side of the kitchen island, staring at her.

“Put down the phone.”

“I was checking something, Kayla.”

“You were checking the weather again. It wouldn’t have changed in twenty minutes.”

Beth reluctantly put her phone on the counter. “There. Are you happy?”

“Very.”