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In an instant, Cate knew that her life-changing crisis was far from being over. If her own parents thought she might have sabotaged her relationship with Jason, what was everyone else in her social circle thinking?
The pain was intense. She wanted badly to stand up and walk out. Harry had thought she needed to come home because her family was worried about her. This wasn’t exactly what Cate had expected.
But family was family, and she couldn’t afford to pitch a big hissy fit or burn any bridges. She didn’t want to... So she swallowed her hurt pride and her heartache. “May we change the subject?” she asked politely.
Her mother nodded. “Of course, dear. But before we abandon the wedding entirely, I should tell you that Prescott Harrington sent your father a huge check that covers all our financial losses.”
“It wasn’t necessary,” her father said, smiling. “But it was much appreciated. I gather that Jason is just about the only family he has.”
“The two men are close,” she said. “But no one actually calls him Prescott. He goes by Harry.”
Becca snickered. “And tell us again why you’re shacking up with some old, rich dude?”
“He’s not old,” Cate snapped. “And he’s been very nice to me.”
It was one of the more uncomfortable meals of Cate’s life. And that included the ones with Harry.
Finally, everyone was done.
Cate laid her napkin on the table. “Well, as you can see, I’m fine. I’ll let you know my plans when I figure out something. For now, I’ll be staying at Harry’s place. He works all the time, so I have privacy and time to think.” She stood up. “I’ll drop by again in a couple of weeks.”
Becca shot to her feet also. “Not so fast. Mom and I have worked our butts off packing and returning wedding gifts ever since Saturday. It’s time for you to pitch in.”
“Gifts?” Cate put her hands to her face. “Oh, damn. I didn’t even think about that.”
Gillian’s expression was wry. “We’ve done about half of them. A few dozen people called and suggested we donate their gifts to charity or simply keep them. It’s a difficult task, but Becca and I are happy to help, aren’t we?”
Becca gave a sullen nod. “Oh, sure. The golden girl is suffering. So we have to carry the load.”
Cate stared at her sister. “I’m really sorry, Becca. Thank you for everything you’ve been helping with. And you, too, Mama. Can we go look at what’s left? I’ll work on it for several hours while you relax. You’ve done enough.”
“Nonsense,” her mother said. “Besides, Becca and I have worked out a system. I pack the boxes and write the name on the front. She seals and addresses them. Then we load up the Suburban and make a trek to the UPS store.”
Cate was mortified. While she had been sleeping and moping, her family had been cleaning up the carnage. For the first time, she wondered what had happened in that church. But she didn’t really want to know.
Gillian had always been good at reading minds. “Once you ran out, Jason said something sweet to the guests. Everyone got up and left. We had already hired a cleaning service for the sanctuary. Your father called ahead to the country club and instructed them to take all the reception goodies to a local food bank. Not the booze, of course. We got a credit for that. So really, the gifts were the only hurdle. Some of my friends told me not to worry about it, but your grandmother was horrified at the idea. Of course, we had to do the right thing.”
“Of course.” Cate parroted her response, incredulous that she hadn’t given a thought to what had happened in her absence. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
For once, Becca gave her a genuine smile. “It’s really okay. I’m just giving you a hard time. You got dumped in front of twelve hundred people. No one expected you to be rational.”
“Gee, thanks,” Cate muttered.
Reggie finished his tea, stood, and kissed his older daughter on the forehead. “I’m sorry this happened to you, Cate. But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, or so I’ve heard.” His pedantic advice might have been funny in other circumstances. “If you ladies are going to deal with gifts, I think I’ll head back to the office.”
In his absence, Cate followed her mother and sister down the hall to the den. Half a dozen card tables and one entire sofa were covered with boxes and tissue paper and everything from blenders and Instant Pots and bed linens to china and silver. Cate hadn’t wanted to register for those last two. She and Jason preferred casual entertaining. But her mother had insisted.
Now this abundance of gifts seemed like an obscene reminder of the life that was never going to be.
Cate opened the flaps of one very large box, refusing to give in to the emotion clogging her throat. “What the heck is this thing?” It was so ugly it was almost beautiful.
Becca snitched the tag from the corner of the carton and read aloud in a singsong voice. “A hand-hammered stainless-steel ice tub anchored by two pewter elk heads. Retail price, eight hundred bucks.”
“It doesnothave the price on there, does it?” Cate said, aghast.
Her sister grinned. “Of course not, but I looked it up online.”
Their mother frowned. “Talking about prices is in very poor taste.”
