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Now her teary eyes overflowed, and she reached for the handkerchief she had ready in the hidden pocket of her gown.Dang it, my mascara will run. I’ll be a raccoon in all the photographs.
Then, like always, just when she needed it, Helen slipped her arm through Genevieve’s and gave it a squeeze, offering silent comfort and support. Genevieve made it through the rest of the service with dry eyes, taking dozens of mental photographs.
“Wasn’t it a beautiful ceremony?” she observed as she and Helen settled back into the car taking them to Raindrop Lodge for the reception.
“Just lovely,” Helen agreed. “Tess and Jake make a gorgeous couple. I’ll tell you who else makes a gorgeous couple—Willow and Noah Tannehill.”
“He’s a fine-looking man. I’ll admit this date caught me by surprise. The first I heard about it was this morning when she told me she and the kids wouldn’t be sharing this car with us out to the lodge. She was so busy I didn’t have a chance to quiz her about it.”
“Oh, I have the scoop on that.”
“You do?” Genevieve whipped her head around to stare at her sister. A ribbon of hurt fluttered through her.I’ve babysat Willow’s children darn near daily for the past three months. Helen has been on the opposite side of the world for over a month, and she knows more about what’s going on in Willow’s life than I do?
Genevieve had thought she and Willow had made significant progress over the past year. Guess she’d been wrong. “What do you know?”
Helen explained about running into Willow, Noah, and the children at the bowling alley. “Drew told me he’d invited Noah to the wedding, but he didn’t think he’d come. I, of course, encouraged it. I like to think I may have helped a little bit in facilitating his presence here this evening.”
“Hmm.” Genevieve had heard about the sleepover at Auntie’s house, of course. The children mentioned it at the rehearsal last night. They hadn’t mentioned Noah Tannehill. Neither had Willow breathed a word about the man until she’d mentioned he’d be driving her to the reception.
“Willow and Brooke both look lovely in pastel green. Tess couldn’t have chosen a more flattering color for her attendants. It was nice of her to include Jake’s sisters in the wedding party, don’t you think?”
“I do.”Tess is thrilled to have sisters. She told me so. She tellsme things. Even living a thousand miles away in Austin.“I’m thrilled to have Tess join our family. I love her.”
“Me, too.” Helen nodded. “It’s nice that the Eldridges can join us, though it must be a difficult, bittersweet moment for them. The last Prentice-family wedding they attended was when Willow married Andy. I’m sure they always miss him, but it must be worse at times like these.”
“Have you spoken to Maggie and Tom this week?” Genevieve asked.
“No. Maggie stepped out of their cabin as I drove by one day, but I was late to a meeting and didn’t have time to stop and talk to her. We exchanged waves.”
“Hmm. That’s about all I’ve managed, too. It’s been such a crazy-busy week, and I know Willow was grateful to have the extra help with the children because your week was jam-packed, as well. I hope to get the chance to visit with them tonight. They’re still family, as far as I’m concerned.”
“Speaking of family, I don’t want to be Debbie Downer at a happy event, but you need to know this because she’s working tonight. Our manager gave notice this afternoon.”
“Lana did? No! Why?”
“Her husband has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She’s going to devote all her time to his care.”
“Oh no. I hate to hear that. I knew she was worried about the possibility.” Genevieve clicked her tongue. “I saw him at the store earlier this week, and I could see a significant decline from the last time we met. Alzheimer’s is such a horrible disease.”
“It is. And scary. It’s one of those great ‘what-if ’ diseases. I swear, Genevieve. I’m praying for pneumonia. Dr. Theimer always said pneumonia was God’s gift to old people. A heart attack wouldn’t be bad, either, as long as it was thewidow-maker type. Do they call it a widower-maker when a female has one?”
“I don’t know. Can we change the subject, please? This wedding is a happy event.”
“Fine.” Helen paused a few beats, then added, “I worry about strokes, too.”
“Helen!”
Her sister laughed and patted Genevieve’s lap. “I’m done. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for the cocktail hour and the appetizers. That truffle mac and cheese is calling to me.”
Traffic slowed down unexpectedly at that point. Genevieve noticed but didn’t overthink the delay until their car came to a complete stop. Helen leaned forward and spoke to the hired driver. “What’s up?”
“Don’t know, ma’am. Traffic has come to a standstill.”
Genevieve frowned. Willow was still back at the church, her presence required for after-ceremony photographs. Genevieve knew she had hired off-duty policemen to facilitate traffic at the entrance to the Raindrop resort. Maybe Willow should make a call.
She slipped her phone from her evening bag and dialed her daughter. The first call went to voice mail, so she tried again. This time, Willow picked up. “Mom?”
“Just thought you should know traffic is shut down on 16.”
