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I laugh. “Don’t worry, no one heard you.” There are ninety-two guests at this bridal shower, and their collective chatter creates a steady buzz that can drown out any one voice from more than five feet away.
“Do you knowallthese people?”
“Pretty much, yeah.” Most are churchgoers, and many were at Daddy’s homecoming party. “Those are my cousins over there, who weresupposedto be my bridesmaids.” I jut my chin toward Joy, Diana, and Angela, huddled by the punch bowl. Angela’s greeting was sour, but I let it roll off my shoulders. If she’s offended, that’s on Mama. Besides, they all should have known better than to accept an invitation to be in a bridal party from anyone but the bride herself.
“What happened?”
“Mama happened. Long story. I’ll tell you on the way to Pittsburgh after this.”
“Deal. Whereareyour bridesmaids, anyway? Aren’t they supposed to come to these things?”
“Margo is literally strutting down a runway right now.” She couldn’t get out of that contract, and I would never ask her to. I had no idea the brat ordered two hundred bars of Farm Girl soap as shower favors until half an hour ago when I saw them stacked on a table. She swore Annie to secrecy. “Autumn had to cancel last minute because of a funeral, and there was no way I was subjecting Ronan to this. Plus, Mama has no idea that he’s in my party, and she likely won’t approve.” She still doesn’t understand why I’d choose friends over family.
Violet mouths “Oh” as she peers at Mama, standing among a group of ten women. She’s wearing a new outfit—a green gingham dress crafted from the “fine fabric” I refused to use for my bridesmaids, she informed me. “She might not like Henry, but she seems to be having a good time.”
“That’s because she’s the center of attention.” After all, it’s her daughter who’s marrying the handsome billionaire hotel owner whom everyone is fascinated with—whether they’ll admit to it or not.
Violet grins.
“Why do you two look like you’re conspiring?” Aunt May sneaks up behind us, making us both jump.
“Violet was just saying how much she likes your sandwiches,” I say.
Violet holds up a pinwheel. “These are delicious.”
“You should try the feta and olive ones, then. They’re over on that table.” Aunt May points to a corner. “They’re a new recipe, but they seem to be a hit. They’re going fast.”
“On it.” Violet trots off toward the table.
Aunt May laughs after her. “She’s a sweet girl.”
“She is.”
“Henry’s cousin, you said?”
“Yes. Distant.” I hate lying to Aunt May, but this might be a secret too heavy for her to keep from my mother. It’s best I not put her in that position.
“I see a resemblance there. It’s nice she could make it.” She gestures around the church hall. “Quite the turnout. I don’t think I’ve been to a shower this big in a while.”
“Yeah, I really didn’t need all this.” It was so kind of Celeste, especially given she pulled me aside to tell me that I’ll always be a daughter to her, even if I’m not marrying her son.
“But you deserveall this.” Aunt May smooths a loving hand over my cheek. She was fourteen when I was born, and I’ve always felt closer to her than to Mama. Maybe because she wasn’t constantly trying to mold, scold, and judge me. “And Bernadette is enjoying the spotlight, which makes everything to do with the wedding easier on all of us.”
I watch Mama a moment now, her her hands flapping dramatically. “What do you think they’re talking about?”
“Oh, Janice McClellan probably brought up that gossip article because she can’t help herself, and Bern’s telling them about her fearless campaign to convince all of Greenbank’s store owners to boycott them on account of them making up lies that only sinful fools believe.”
I gape. “She isnotdoing that.”
“Oh, you bet she is! Bernadette is on a mission, and you know what she can be like. I don’t think she’ll rest until she succeeds.” Aunt May chuckles. “Peggy Sue said she saw Bern empty a rack of magazines at the supermarket and toss them into the trash.”
“She’s going to get herself arrested.”
Aunt May snorts. “You kidding? Ten minutes in holding and she’d have Stewart convinced God will smite him if he doesn’t let her out for doing the Lord’s work.”
“Oh, Mama.” But my heart warms. No one can ever accuse her of not loving me enough. “She looks good.”
“She’s growing out her hair for Alaska, and that new dress fits her well. Wouldn’t want that material to go to waste, would we?” Her crooked smile tells me she heard two earfuls worth about the good gingham I “refused” as well. “What colors are you going with for the wedding?”
