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Well, hell. Noah stood frozen in indecision. He needed to make amends to Willow’s daughter for his yellow-bellied retreat back there, or it would plague him like a chigger bite for weeks. He glanced back toward Willow. She and Emma obviously weren’t devastated by his action. But Genevieve.Something must be really wrong for Genevieve to dash off from her son’s wedding reception.
Noah watched to see if she recovered and returned. While doing so, he remembered his own mother at Daniel’s wedding. She hadn’t wanted to miss a minute of it. A smile touched his lips at the memory. She’d whined about having to go to the bathroom because it took her too long to shimmy in and out of her spandex shapewear, or as she called it, her “suck-it-ins.”
Noah waited for the length of one whole song and debated going to tell Willow what he’d seen. Knowing his luck, she’d hand the kid off to him, check on her mother, and then be gone for the rest of the night. Noah gave it another minute, then wandered in the direction that Genevieve had taken.
He saw her standing on one of the small fishing docks staring out at the water. He stopped, pursed his lips in thought for a moment, then made a quick detour before advancing to approach her. “Did the music get too loud for you, Genevieve?”
She jumped. “Oh, Noah. I didn’t see you.”
“I’m sorry if I startled you. I saw you standing alone out here, and I thought you might be getting away from the noise for a few minutes. Thought you might be thirsty.” He handed her the fresh cocktail he’d snagged from the waiter. “My compliments to your bartenders. These are excellent.”
“It’s all Willow’s doing. I had nothing to do with it.”
Well, that was definitely a bitter note he heard in her voice. Moonlight reflected off her face and illuminated the tear streaks on her cheeks.
Okay, now what do I do?
Turning around and leaving would probably be the kindest thing. However, Noah kept thinking about his ownmother and how in her last days, she relived the favorite memories of her life, including Daniel’s wedding day. So he said, “I may be way off base here, and I’m probably out of line, but I know what it’s like to want to hide and nurse your wounds. Sometimes it’s easier to talk to strangers than friends. If you’d like to talk, I’m happy to listen. I give you my word it will all stay right here.”
She appeared startled and a little embarrassed. “Oh, Noah. Thank you, but I’m fine. It’s nothing. Just a little mother-ofthe-groom moment.”
“Okay.”
“And I did need a break from the music.”
“I understand. Me, too.”
Genevieve sipped her drink. “I hope you’re enjoying the evening.”
“I am. That rib eye was the best I’ve had in ages.” And he wasn’t going to talk about himself or how he’d become Willow’s plus-one. Or was he Drew’s plus-one? He still wasn’t exactly sure how that fell out.
“Good. My steak was excellent, too. Willow was a little worried about the catering, but they’ve done a fine job. Everything’s been great. She’s done an excellent job.”
“That she has.”
“Gage Throckmorton wants to ask her to plan the grand-opening event for The Emily. It’s the old movie theater downtown that Gage and I have been working together to renovate. It’s named for his late wife—he lost her to cancer not too long ago—and we’re having a big gala when it opens.”
“That’s nice.” Wasn’t it? He thought he might have detected that bitter note again. Was she angry at Willow over something? All righty, then. He was gonna beat feet. He had zero interest in getting into the middle of family drama.
Now to ease his way out.
Then Genevieve sighed heavily. “Actually, Noah, I’m feeling a little put out about it, and that makes me feel like a queen B. Throw in the fact that my sister just announced that she’s decided to run for mayor… well, I’ll be honest. I’m jealous of them.”
Yes. Well. Crap. Apparently, Genevieve was taking him up on his offer to listen. What the hell had he been thinking? “Um…”
He didn’t know what to say, so he took a sip of his drink.
Genevieve didn’t appear to mind, because now that she’d gotten started, she kept on going. “I’m right back where I started sixteen months ago. Sixteen months is a long time when your sands are free-falling, I’m telling you. I’ve wasted sixteen months, and I don’t have sixteen months to waste!”
“I’m sorry. You’ve lost me, Genevieve.”
“I have nothing to do! I decided to move to Colorado sixteen months ago, ready to make a fresh start and a new life and be someone who is more than Mom. Now Raindrop is finished, and The Emily might as well be, and all I am is my gravestone!”
“Okay, I was with you for a bit, but I’m gone again.”
“She made a great meat loaf!”
Meat loaf!He really should go find Willow. No, maybe the groom or the other brother or both of them. Or maybe this called for the entire Prentice family. Well, everyone except that precious little girl who brought to mind another little angel. A little fatherless angel.
