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“They’re a beautiful couple,” came a familiar voice from behind her.
Genevieve smiled genuinely as she turned toward GageThrockmorton, who stood beside his son Zach. “Hello, you two. Aren’t they, though?”
Zach said, “Your whole family is looking mighty fine tonight.”
“Why, thank you, Zach.” Genevieve leaned over and gave his cheek a kiss. “By the way, you did a fabulous job with the dance floor. Jake and I took a practice spin on it last night. It’s smooth as can be.”
“I’m glad. I think a temporary dance floor is a wise investment for Raindrop. I’ll bet y’all develop quite a destination-wedding business after this. I know the folks in town are hoping to see that happen.”
Gage nodded his agreement. “They want Willow to stay around and manage that part of your enterprise. She’s been a rock star throughout these arrangements.”
“I heard that,” Willow said as she and Helen came up beside them. “The last thing I feel like right now is a rock star. Gage, I’ve been looking for you to thank you. I’m afraid we’d all still be lined up on the highway if you hadn’t been available to bail me out.”
“No thanks necessary,” Gage replied.
“Nelson Camarata and his nonsense needs to be stopped,” Helen snapped. “He gets my goat. You should do something about him, Gage.”
“Nah. I have my hands full with ranch business. Except for special circumstances like today, I let the town take care of itself.” Gage winked at Genevieve’s sister and added, “Why don’t you take him on? You could do it. It would be fun to watch. Oh, and by the way, welcome home, traveler. How was your trip?”
With that, Helen was off and running. By now, Genevieve also could describe the over-the-water bungalow where hersister had stayed in Bora-Bora. She could converse about the dozens—maybe hundreds—of types of fish Helen had seen while snorkeling. Genevieve knew all about the kayak trip and the booze cruise and scented lotion at the Tahitian resort. So when Willow, God bless her, interrupted to suggest they take their seats for dinner, Genevieve spontaneously reached out and hugged her.
Willow laughed. “Hungry, Mom?”
“Just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done.”
“Hold that thought until the end of the night. Knowing my luck, Mayor Camarata will decide to send the fire marshal out to check our sprinkler systems and shut down the kitchen during dinner service.”
“Don’t even go there.” Genevieve slipped her arm around her daughter’s waist and gave her a squeeze. “Now, I’m going to go have that steak I’ve been thinking about all week.”
Dinner proved to be as fabulous as billed and the company as pleasant. Since Genevieve’s children and grandchildren all participated in the wedding party, they were seated at the head table. At Genevieve’s table for eight, Willow had placed a lovely mix of Texas friends and new friends from Colorado. And Helen, of course.
So, Genevieve got to hear all about the snorkel trip yet again.
When Helen finally quit holding court, Gage turned to Genevieve and asked, “So, is Willow remaining in Lake in the Clouds after this, or is she returning to… where was it? Kentucky?”
“Tennessee. Nashville.” Genevieve took a sip of water. “I believe she plans to stay through the traditional end of the school year, even though she’s homeschooling Drew—successfully, I’ll add, which boggles my mind. What a lotof work that is! Anyway, what she has planned beyond Memorial Day, I’m not certain.”
“Man, it would be tough on you for her to take those grands and go after you’ve had them around for six months, wouldn’t it?”
“Definitely,” Genevieve replied honestly.
“When Zach’s brother got divorced and his ex took our little guy down to Durango, it liked to have killed me.” Gage lifted his water glass and took a sip. “Now I build my calendar around my opportunities to visit with him. Luckily, I only have to drive a couple of hours to see him. I would hate to be an airplane ride away from my grandson.”
Genevieve offered him a sympathetic smile. “It was awful, especially when the children were babies. They change so quickly.”
Gage’s gaze shifted toward Willow, who stood speaking to a server near the cake table. He said, “Well, maybe Willow will decide to stay in Lake in the Clouds and build a business as an event planner here. Hey, I have a great idea!” Gage lit up with a smile that was so filled with delight that Genevieve smiled back at him before he even shared his great idea. “Why don’t we hire her to plan our grand-opening shebang for The Emily?”
“Oh.” Genevieve’s smile froze as the old Yogi Berra quote flittered through her mind.It’s déjà vu all over again.
A little over a year ago, in what her family had come to call her great getaway, Genevieve had fled her life in Texas to make a new one in Colorado. She had thrown herself into the renovation of the Raindrop Lodge project—and then her son had shown up to “help.”
Now, her partner in the only other truly interesting thing she had going in her life—the theater renovation—wantedto, in effect, turn that over to Genevieve’s daughter. And she couldn’t refuse without looking like a bad mother!
“That would be fabulous,” she replied, keeping her smile on her face—barely—as her steak turned into an anvil in her stomach.
“Yeah, wouldn’t it?”
He was so proud of himself. Genevieve was suddenly reminded of David. Men could be so clueless sometimes.
