“Give peace to my daughter-in-law,” Maggie said. “Tell her Ryan, Travis, and Shane are doing wonderfully.”
Liz swallowed hard. The list of Maggie’s losses was difficult to hear, but the older woman seemed at peace, joyful with the life she had.
Madame Clarity rocked back and forth, fondling the crystal, then straightened suddenly. “She is at peace.”
“Woo!” Maggie exclaimed, looking around the room at her friends. “Enough of the past, let’s hear some predictions of the future. You do palm reading, right?”
“Right-o,” Madame Clarity said.
“Come on over here, ladies.” Maggie gestured them closer. “Liz, you go first. I want to hear what she says about you.”
Liz stayed where she was. The last thing she wanted to hear was some pie-in-the-sky version of her future. She knew her future—raising Bryce. Case closed. There wasn’t any point in getting her hopes up for a psychic’s silly prediction.
Rachel pushed her forward. “Don’t disappoint the bride.”
She crossed the room and sat in front of Madame Clarity, who was busy dabbing the sweat off her face with a folded tissue she’d produced from under the shoulder strap of her bra. The psychic chugged some water and set the glass down with a flourish. “Ah, quenched my thirst. Now I’m ready to go into the psychic unknown. Let me see your hand.”
Liz opened her hand, palm up. Madame Clarity traced some of the lines, muttering to herself, “Life line, mmm-hmmm, heart line, ooh—very interesting, head, fate…” She looked up, eyes wide. “It has never been so clear for me. Your soulmate is nearby, waiting for you to take your rightful place at his side.” Her eyes bored into Liz’s. “Do you know this man?”
“No, I don’t think I do.” Liz pulled her hand away and stood on shaky legs. “I’m done here, next person!” She slipped away and back to the dining room to dip into the chocolate fountain. Four raspberries, two strawberries, and a marshmallow later, Rachel and Daisy joined her.
“What’d she tell you?” Daisy asked Rachel.
“She said my”—Rachel finger quoted—“soulmate was waiting for me. I hope he signed up for JDate ’cuz that’s where I’m looking first.”
“She told me the same thing!” Daisy said.
Liz felt giddy with relief. “Me too!”
She didn’t have to worry that she’d done the wrong thing breaking up with Ryan. Her first instinct was right. Bryce came first.
Daisy dipped a strawberry and chomped it down. “Guess you were right, Rachel. They just say what they think you want to hear. Who says we even want a soulmate? I just want my baby to sleep through the night and be happy. I don’t need a man who needs me to make him happy too.”
Liz studied her sister. Daisy wasn’t the cheerful free spirit she used to be. Motherhood had changed her. It wasn’t a good or bad change, just different.
“It’s just a parlor game,” Liz said. “Come on. Let’s go see if Maggie likes her fortune.”
“It’d better be good,” Rachel said. “The woman’s getting married tomorrow.”
They found Maggie in the living room, chatting with her friends.
“Did you like your fortune?” Liz asked.
“Sure! She said I’d be marvelously happy, and I am.” She put an arm around Liz and squeezed her close.
A little while later, Liz handed Madame Clarity her check. “You made Maggie very happy, thank you.”
“Yous guys were excellent clients,” Madame Clarity said. Her Queens accent had gotten stronger as the night wore on. “Enjoy ya night!”
After the psychic left, the ladies gathered their purses and began their goodbyes.
“Just a moment,” Maggie called. “Liz, don’t let them leave.”
Liz grabbed sweet Pam before she could head out the door.
Maggie approached with a pink bag tied with a ribbon. “Party favors, enjoy!”
Liz helped her hand out the party favor bags to all the departing guests. Finally, there was only one left. “Who’s that one for?”
“I had to keep one for myself,” Maggie said. “Could come in useful on the honeymoon.”
Liz, Rachel, and Daisy opened theirs at the same time. Daisy and Rachel burst into laughter. Liz stared at the cherry massage oil, edible underwear, and vibrator.
This was what she’d been handing out to the church-going folks of Clover Park? To the women old enough to be her grandmother? To her own mother? She shuddered and put the bag back on the table.
Maggie pressed it back into her hands. “Keep it, my dear. You never know.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“Oh, Maggie, you look beautiful!” Liz dabbed at her eyes as she viewed Maggie for the first time in her full bridal glory.
Maggie wore the bright orange full-length dress with shiny sequins, and she’d added a jaunty orange beret with a single feather on one side.
“Thank you!” Maggie pointed a finger at her. “Don’t cry; you’ll get me started.”
“I’m just so happy for you.” She hugged her friend.
“I like the dress you picked too,” Maggie said.
“Thanks.” Liz smiled. She’d worn a pale lavender cocktail dress with cap sleeves and a modest V-neck. Maggie had told the bridesmaids—Liz, Daisy, and Jorge’s daughters, Faith and Grace—to wear whatever they wanted. In an attempt to mute the color palette next to Maggie’s tangerine orange, Liz had gone with the pale lavender. She’d asked the other bridesmaids to stick with pastels too.
A car honked outside.
Liz pulled the lace curtain aside to peek out the bedroom window and nearly did a double take. “Omigod. Daisy bought a station wagon!” The two together were so incongruous that she had to laugh.
Maggie joined her at the window. “It’s a nice safe car for my only great-grandbaby.”
“I’ll go tell her you’ll be down in a few. Take your time on the stairs,” she ordered.
Maggie rolled her eyes.
She headed outside. It was a gorgeous fall day, seventies with a cool breeze. Daisy waved, her usual sunny smile back in place. She wore a pale pink cocktail dress with a plunging neckline to show off her nursing-mom cleavage.
“Awesome, right?” Daisy indicated the tomato-red car. “Trav surprised me with it this morning. It’s one of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s top picks. Look, even Bryce likes it.” The baby was conked out in his car seat in the back.
“We should drive him around every day,” Liz said.
“I won’t mind that at all. I’ve never had a new car before.”
“That was really sweet of Trav,” Liz said.
“Yeah.” She turned and admired the car.
“So how are things between you two?” Liz asked.
Daisy looked in the side mirror, checking her teeth and rubbing some lipstick off a front tooth. “Don’t get any ideas. He’s just being a good dad.”
“Nice car!” Maggie called from the porch.
Daisy gave a wolf whistle. “Lookin’ good! Love that dress!”
“Thank you,” Maggie said. Liz helped her into the front seat and climbed into the back seat next to a sleeping Bryce. He looked so angelic when he slept, it made her forget how difficult he was when he was awake.
“I’ll roll the windows up so it doesn’t mess up your hair,” Daisy said, reaching for the button.
“Keep ’em down. Jorge likes me on the wild side.” Maggie took off her hat and shook out her white hair, which was so short it barely moved.
Liz choked back a laugh.
“Down it is,” Daisy agreed. She pulled slowly away from the curb and took a series of back streets through town to St. Joseph’s.
Daisy pulled up to the church parking lot. Maggie checked the passenger-side mirror and pinned her hat back in place. She grinned. “Ready, girls?”
“Ready,” Daisy and Liz replied in unison.
Daisy got Bryce out of the back seat in his carrier while Liz escorted Maggie up the front walk. The minute she steppe
d foot in the church, she spotted Ryan. Her heart kicked up a rapid tattoo. He stood at the front of the church with Trav and Shane—all three of them in black tuxedos—only one of them making her legs feel like rubber.
Liz walked down the aisle with Maggie toward the three men, holding onto the older woman’s arm to keep herself steady. Ryan’s eyes took in his grandmother and then lingered on Liz. She risked a close-up look at him. No one should look that hot in a tuxedo, his broad shoulders emphasized by the material, tapering down to his trim waist. Her body heated, and she was sure her face was flaming red. For a fleeting moment, it felt like he was the groom waiting for her to walk down the aisle to him.
“Daisy,” Trav said under his breath, hurrying down the aisle and past Liz to where Daisy had just walked in with Bryce. He took the carrier from her and grinned at his sleeping son. They talked for a minute, and then Trav handed the baby off to Liz’s mother. They walked down the aisle together, Daisy looking uncomfortable, Trav serious.
“Okay, we’re just waiting for Jorge, Faith, and Grace,” Maggie said. “I need to get to the waiting room with Father Munson and you girls before the groom sees me in my gown. Bad luck, you know.”
Liz and Daisy disappeared with Maggie in a back room off the side of the altar. The priest joined them a moment later.
“Father Munson, how nice to see you!” Maggie exclaimed.
The dour priest didn’t answer right away as he took in Maggie’s orange hat and equally orange wedding gown. Finally, he offered a strained smile. “Lovely day for a wedding. Would you like to have a seat while you wait, Maggie?”
“I’m too excited to sit,” Maggie said. “Will you check and see if Jorge is here?”
“Of course.” The priest left them alone.
They heard the moment Bryce woke up with his usual wail. Daisy grabbed her breasts. “Ah! My milk let down. I’ve got to go feed him before the ceremony.” She took off.
“I hope she makes it back in time,” Liz said.
“No worries,” Maggie said. “Feeding the baby comes first.”
Father Munson returned. “The groom is here. I’ve told your guests to have a seat.” He rubbed his hands together with anticipation. “Liz, why don’t you take Maggie through the back hallway where she can wait by the entrance to walk down the aisle.”
Liz offered her arm and walked Maggie toward the back of the church. “Are you nervous, Maggie?”
“Just excited. When it’s right, there’s nothing to be nervous about. It’s another adventure.” She winked.
Liz blinked. With the new baby, her life seemed full, but certainly not adventurous. She missed the fun single life she’d begun to enjoy with Maggie and Rachel.
And Ryan. Speaking of…
Ryan appeared by Maggie’s side to walk her down the aisle. Liz felt the weight of his stare, but merely gave him a quick nod and stared straight ahead. This day was about Maggie, not her and Ryan. She took a slow deep breath. Faith and Grace joined them. A moment later, the music started.
“Wait, stop the—” Maggie trailed off as Daisy came rushing toward them, adjusting her bra under her gown. “You made it!”
“Oh, I left the flowers behind.” Daisy grabbed a tulip out of Liz’s bouquet and started down the aisle, followed by Faith, then Grace. Liz rearranged her bouquet to adjust for the empty space and started down the aisle. She reached the front of the church, and the music changed to the wedding march.
She watched Maggie make her way down the aisle on Ryan’s arm. Maggie beamed at everyone, waving at a few people in the aisles, positively glowing with happiness. Ryan looked serious and…well, protective. The man of the family.
She’d missed him, but she hadn’t realized how much until she saw him again. She turned away and caught a look at the groom, who was matching Maggie’s happiness with a loving smile. Liz’s heart ached.
As Father Munson began the ceremony, Liz couldn’t help peeking at Ryan, who stood just on the other side of the groom. He caught her looking, and she snapped her attention back to Maggie and Jorge.
Tears sprang to Liz’s eyes as they were pronounced man and wife. She heard a sniffle and glanced back at Daisy, who was openly crying, wiping the tears away with the back of her hand. Family and friends broke into applause as the new Mr. and Mrs. Chavez were announced to the congregation.
Liz followed quickly after them down the aisle, ignoring the fact that she was supposed to walk down with Ryan. Relief washed over her as she put some serious distance between them. It was too painful to be close to him. She just had to get through the reception.
~ ~ ~
Ryan slipped into the rented limo with his brothers, Jorge, and a glowing Gran. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you!” Maggie said, passing the champagne. Everyone filled a plastic wineglass.
“To us,” Jorge said happily.
“And good times!” Maggie cheered. Everyone clinked glasses with each other. The happy couple sipped champagne from each other’s glasses, and then Jorge kissed Maggie on the mouth.
Ryan turned away from the sight, his champagne glass untouched. He could barely stomach the fact they were doing the nasty at their age; he didn’t need to witness it. He’d still kill Jorge if he hurt Gran, but he couldn’t deny that, so far, Jorge made Gran happy.
It had hit him hard seeing Liz again. She looked fantastic in the dress, her hair up with a few loose pieces curling around her neck. He couldn’t believe how much he’d missed her. But he’d made plans. He hoped they were enough. He glanced at Trav, so uncharacteristically quiet next to him. His brother held an empty champagne glass and stared out the window, deep in thought.
“What’s up with you guys?” Shane whispered from his other side. “You’re so quiet. Aren’t you happy for Gran?”
Trav smiled, looking at the couple sitting across from them. “Yeah, I am.”
“Me too,” Ryan said.
“And what about your talk with Jorge?” Maggie demanded, looking right at him. “The grand romantic gesture?”
That was supposed to be between men. He shot Jorge a lethal look. Jorge just shrugged and raised his palms.
Trav chortled. “Ryan’s got it bad.”
Ryan socked him one. Trav just grinned. Shane looked on expectantly.
“I thought of something,” Ryan admitted. “But I don’t know if it’ll work.”
“What?” Shane asked.
Ryan’s lips formed a straight line. “You’ll know soon enough.”
Maggie clapped her hands. “You wow her, Ryan!”
The car pulled up to Garner’s Sports Bar & Grill for the reception. Ryan felt queasy thinking of what he was about to do next. If it didn’t work, if he couldn’t get through to her, he was out of options.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Garner’s Sports Bar & Grill was busting at the seams. Her parents had set up a nice buffet for the wedding guests, and some tables and chairs had been removed for dancing. Streamers, balloons, and paper wedding bells ran along the ceiling. Shane was acting as DJ at a table set up with a mike and sound system. Liz had been happy to see Ryan greeting his father and his girlfriend, Gina, a serious woman in a modest blue dress, in a nice way—not warm, but polite. It was progress, and she was glad for him and for Maggie. It promised to be a drama-free event.
Her parents directed the bride and groom to the buffet; then the rest of the party guests followed. After everyone had been seated and were well into the meal, Ryan stood up and took the mike from Shane. He clinked his glass for the best man toast.
“Hi, everyone,” Ryan said. “Let’s toast to my grandmother, a spunky woman—”
“Here, here!” Maggie cheered.
“—who showed me that when it’s right, it’s right. Gran, I am happy that you’re happy. And we welcome Jorge to the family.”
Jorge came up and hugged Ryan, whose eyes widened as the older man finished the hug with a kiss on both cheeks. He then did the same to Shane and Trav sitting nearby. Maggie ran
up, tears in her eyes, and took her turn hugging and kissing her new husband.
Everyone applauded.
Liz joined them by the mike. “While your attention is up here, I also want to give a toast.” She paused, looking at Maggie with a smile. “I got to know Maggie this summer, and she’s become a close friend. She has taught me so much about life and how to enjoy the moment. She changed me for the better, and I thank her for that. Good luck with her, Jorge. She’s a firecracker!” Everyone clapped and laughed.
Maggie grabbed the mike. “Can I just say…” She paused and pitched her voice above the laughter. “I want to thank Liz for her friendship and her steady composure, which helped me feel comfortable in trying new things. Liz, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have reached so high. I used to be like you, tied to routine and responsibilities. You reminded me it was time to stretch and fly beyond that. So thank you.”
Liz smiled tightly, feeling vaguely insulted that she was the dreary reason Maggie tried so hard to have a new life. Maggie folded her into a hug, pulled away, and smiled with a twinkle in her eye.
“Go back to your tables for a wonderful dessert, everyone!” Maggie said.
After the dessert—tiramisu and wedding cake with a layer of tropical fruit—Shane started some dance music, beginning with a lively cha-cha for the newlywed couple.
Maggie and Jorge hit the dance floor, showing off their cha-cha skills, and then, as the music changed, segued into a slow waltz. After a few moments, Shane announced, “Bridal party, join in.”
Liz and Daisy looked at each other. There were three men in the bridal party, one of them occupied as a DJ. Trav and Ryan didn’t hesitate. Trav took Daisy’s hand and tugged her onto the dance floor. Ryan placed a hand on the small of Liz’s back and guided her in place next to Trav and Daisy. Reluctantly, she placed her hands on his broad shoulders, feeling his heat through his dress shirt. He’d removed his jacket and bow tie, and unbuttoned the shirt enough to reveal golden skin. She left enough space between them to prevent any accidental touching.
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