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Celeste beamed at Mason. “That’s a beautiful engagement ring, Mason.”
“Thanks,” Mason said. “Picking it out was tougher than my organic chemistry and quantum mechanics classes put together.”
“Just thinking about classes like that makes my head hurt,” Sarah said, her tone light though she gazed at Molly with concern.
Celeste pulled a packet of tissues from beneath one of her display tables. She offered it to Molly. “So, dear, these are tears of happiness?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” Molly wiped the tears from her cheeks and blew her nose. “It’s complicated.”
Celeste clicked her tongue and glanced from Molly to Mason and back to Molly again. “I don’t want to intrude, but is there anything we can do to help?”
“I wish you could help. It’s the wedding. It’s my parents.” Molly met Sarah’s gaze and added, “It’s the weddingandmy parents.”
“They don’t approve of your choice?” Nic asked.
“No, that’s not it. They love Mason.”
“Your mom loves me,” Mason corrected. “Your dad tolerates me. He doesn’t think any guy is good enough for you.”
Sarah nodded. “Typical attitude from a father. So, what’s the problem?”
Molly tugged a second tissue from the pack, then swiped new tears off her cheeks. “My parents don’t speak to each other. They haven’t seen each other in over three years.”
“Oh, no,” Celeste said.
Sarah frowned. “I know your mother is a renowned concert pianist who travels the world, but I didn’t realize your parents were divorced.”
“They’re not divorced,” Mason clarified.
“They just hate each other,” Molly added. “And I hate even thinking about it.”
That pretty much stopped the questions, and they worked the next few minutes in silence. Lori’s mom loaded the last of her leftover baked goods into her nearby truck, then pitched in the help Lori wrap glass Christmas ornaments.
Mason slipped a knitted angel puppet onto his hand and used it to “kiss” Molly’s cheek. “You okay?”
“Yes.” Molly gave him a watery smile. “I’m so happy, Mason. Just feeling a little overwhelmed. Thinking about our marriage makes me think about my parents’ marriage, and that blues my mood. Which is stupid. I should be able to just be happy.”
“I don’t think it’s stupid at all.” Celeste reached over and patted Molly’s hand. “Nothing gives us quite as much joy or causes quite as much pain as family.”
“Is your mother’s career the problem?” Sarah asked. “Your father is a rancher, right?”
Molly fingered a glass ornament shaped like an angel’s wings. “Commercial farmer and rancher, yes. He’s tied to the land, but Mom’s career was something they seemed to manage okay. Then four years ago . . .”
She closed her eyes and shuddered. Mason gave her shoulders a comforting squeeze. “Her uncle committed suicide.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Celeste said.
“He was Mom’s brother and my dad’s best friend and business partner.”
Sarah shook her head, her violet-blue eyes soft with sympathy. “What a tragedy for your family, Molly.”
Molly’s throat worked. “Nothing has been the same since.”
Mason took her hand and brought it to his mouth for a comforting kiss.
She gave him a grateful smile, then added, “My parents are masterful when it comes to avoiding one another. I’ve tried everything to get them together. Conference calls, ‘accidental’ meetings—nothing works. It takes a miracle to get him to leave the ranch, and she won’t even take a flight that crosses West Texas airspace. They’ve already figured out a way for them to attend graduation in December without interaction.”
“Oh, Molly.” Celeste clicked her tongue. “Are you afraid that they won’t attend the wedding? Or maybe attend and cause a scene?”
