A full-length mirror and wooden box had been set up in front of the picture windows in the kitchen. Afternoon light flooded the space, making it the perfect place to ensure the details of Maggie’s dress were perfect. Wine bottles were open on the kitchen island. Several platters of appetizers lined the counter.
Honor had just grabbed a glass of wine when Maggie came into the kitchen. They all turned to look at her and let out a collective gasp. Maggie’s red hair was in a messy ponytail and she wore almost no makeup, but neither of those things diminished the stunning effect of this ethereal dress. Intricate lace covered layers of tulle in a classic A-line skirt and three-foot train. The fitted, sleeveless bodice showed off her slim waist, and her muscular arms and shoulders from years of dancing.
“You look like a princess,” Kara said.
“A ballerina princess,” Violet said.
“It fits well, yes?” Helga had an accent—Russian maybe? Probably sixty, her white hair was fixed into a tight bun. She wore a black dress and bright red lipstick.
“What about my freckles? Are they awful?” Maggie grimaced as she stepped onto the block of wood in front of the mirrors. “The light’s so bright in here I can see every single one.” Her fair skin was dotted with freckles, but Honor thought they were beautiful.
Helga knelt on the floor, examining the hemline. “I have done it perfect.”
Honor stepped closer to get a better look at the complex pattern stitched into the lace. Hours and hours of work had gone into this dress. “Freckles mean you’re special,” Honor said. “Just like you.”
“My mom used to say that.” Maggie’s eyes glistened. “I wish she could be here.”
Kara moved to stand next to the bride, talking to Maggie’s reflection in the mirror. “I wished for my mom on my wedding day too.”
Honor turned away, not wanting the ladies to see her tears. All these missing mothers. Motherless daughters. They should form a club.
“Jackson might faint when he sees you,” Violet said.
“The preacher might faint,” Kara said.
“I’m getting married to Jackson Waller. Can you believe it?” Maggie wriggled until Helga tapped her on the behind. “No moving,” she said with a mouth full of pins.
“Sorry.” Maggie made a face of mock horror.
“Totally,” Honor said.
They moved into a discussion about the wedding party. Lisa and Pepper were the maids-of-honor because Maggie couldn’t hurt one by choosing the other. Kara and Honor were bridesmaids. Violet would do a reading. Dakota would act as ring bearer. Doc Waller would walk her down the aisle.
“I had a thought. I know it’s last minute and we’d have to find a dress, but what do you think about making Jubie the flower girl?” Maggie asked.
Jubie in a princess dress? She’d be in heaven. Honor swallowed a lump in her throat. “You’d do that? You hardly know her.”
“She’s going to be the daughter of Zane and Honor. That’s all I need to know,” Maggie said.
“What a whirlwind these past few months have been for you guys,” Kara said. “I know, stating the obvious, but still.”
“When do you think you’ll get married?” Violet asked.
Honor hadn’t thought about it at all. She confessed as such to the ladies.
“You should get married in December. A Christmas wedding,” Violet said with a dreamy expression. “I always love December weddings.”
A Christmas wedding? Silver and sparkles. White flowers.
“We do want to do it sooner than later for Jubie’s sake,” Honor said. “Could we get it pulled together that fast?”
“We’ll hire the lady who did ours,” Kara said. “Maren took care of everything without a hitch.”
“Other than she scares the living daylights out of me, she’s great,” Maggie said.
“She’s no nonsense,” Kara said.
“That’s one way to say it.” Honor laughed, remembering the woman’s unflappable temperament at Kara’s wedding. She’d reminded Honor of a strict school teacher in a stripper’s body.
“You guys should have it here at the house,” Kara said.
“Zane wants to get married at the church,” Honor said. “But we could have the reception here.”
“We’ll go big,” Kara said. “I’ll hire someone to deck the halls, so to speak.”
“How can we get a dress that quick, though?” Maggie asked. “I never knew it took so long.”
“If we can’t find the right one, we’ll have it made,” Kara said. “Whatever you want, Honor. Brody will want to pay for the wedding. You know how he is.”
“I’m not sure Zane would go for that,” Honor said. “You know how he is.”
“We’ll let them duke it out,” Kara said. “All I know is you’re getting the wedding of your dreams.”
“But for now, we need to concentrate on our ballerina bride,” Honor said.
Maggie smiled and clasped her hands together. “I can’t believe this is all really happening.”
The seamstress was finished, declaring everything satisfactory. “No overeating, Miss Maggie, or you will not fit.”
“Don’t worry, Helga. I’ll be good.”
“We need champagne,” Kara said.
“I’m on it,” Honor said.
Later, they all sat in the living room. They’d chatted about various wedding details and dates for the bridesmaid dress fittings. No one had mentioned Jackson’s discovery, but Honor figured it was only a matter of time. Nothing was a secret in this group. Kara broached the subject first, in her usual upfront manner.
“Honor, tell us how you’re doing,” Kara said. “You must be in shock.”
“I walked around like a zombie for two days.” Honor kept her voice light. This was a day for Maggie, not the darkness of the past.
“I get it. I wish I didn’t, but I do,” Kara said.
“Me too.” Maggie sat cross-legged in the armchair.
“Me three.” Violet sat on the floor with her back to the sofa. “We’re all here to help however we can.”
“Every one of us has had our world turned upside down. Some of us more than once,” Maggie said.
“I’ve found the pain lessens in time,” Kara said. “It won’t ever totally go away, but one day you’ll wake up and it won’t be the first thing you think about.”
“I’m fine, other than being consumed with rage,” Honor said with a smile.
“You should be angry,” Violet said. “I sometimes think women should be angrier than we allow ourselves to be.”
“I’m going to be okay.” Her voice broke. She waved her hand in the air. “Truly.”
“You don’t have to be,” Maggie said.
“Not with us, anyway,” Kara said.
“The important thing is to stay angry, otherwise sadness sneaks in when you least expect it,” Violet said.
“An angry woman can get a lot done,” Kara said.
“Amen to that,” Violet said.
“I don’t know if that’s true.” Maggie sat forward to pour herself more wine. “I believed if I knew what happened to my mom and baby sister, I could rest easy. It didn’t work that way. I still wake up in the middle of the night so mad I could melt steel bars with my teeth. The anger doesn’t seem like it’s getting me anywhere. There comes a point when carrying around all that venom makes us suffer, not the person responsible. I don’t need to forgive my dad, and I won’t ever forget. But I won’t give him the power to poison my life. Even though the bastard took away twelve years of my time with Jackson.”
“I’ll never forgive my father for what he did or how he ruined my life,” Kara said. “But on the other hand, I would never have come here if it weren’t for him. I wouldn’t have found Brody or all of you. Honor, there might be a silver lining. Maybe there won’t be. All I know is that one amazing man loves you. The Dogs love you. And we love you. Actually, we need you. Not just Brody who basically would be completely lost without you, but all of us. Yo
u’re like sunshine.”
“I am?” Honor asked.
“Totally,” Maggie said. “You and your hair are like a shampoo commercial, which is basically kind of like sunshine.”
“You two are drunk,” Honor said, laughing.
“We are, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true,” Maggie said.
“I never thought in a million years I’d have the life I do. It hurts to know I wasn’t even sick. If it hadn’t been for Gorham, I could have Zane’s baby.” She swiped tears from the corners of her eyes. “All that said, for a girl that no one wanted to be surrounded by so much love is unthinkable. So, yes, the silver lining has already come. There’s nothing for me in the past and everything in the future. Zane Shaw loves me. Think about that.” She smiled back at Maggie who grinned as wide as her delicate face would allow. “He’s everything I ever wanted and nothing I ever thought I could have. You ladies and Brody…my life is full. And now, Jubie. I’m terrified I’m going to be an awful mother, but I’ve never given up trying at anything in my life.”
“You’ll make Hugh proud,” Maggie said. “I know it.”
“Zane Shaw loves you,” Kara said. “That’s indeed as good as it gets. I love that man so much. He’s the first person I ever met here. He’s the whole reason I met Brody.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “You know that. It’s the wine making me emotional.”
Sniffles coming from Violet’s direction startled Honor. Violet was crying with one hand covering her mouth and the other plucking at her skirt.
“Violet, what is it?” Honor scooted from the couch to sit next to her.
“It’s nothing,” Violet said.
“It’s obviously something,” Kara said gently.
“You can tell us anything,” Maggie said.
“I wish a man loved me,” Violet said.
“One will,” Kara said. “He just hasn’t arrived in your life yet. He’s out there looking for you right now.”
“I don’t think so. I’m bitter and skinny and sharp-tongued. I used to be pretty, you know. I used to laugh and flirt and swim in the ocean. Now, I’m hanging on for dear life only for my son. Some days I wonder if I might shrivel up and float away like a dead leaf.”
“Honey, no. That’s not you,” Kara said. “You’re all Zen, lean, yoga-girl, not a dead leaf.”
That made them all laugh, even Violet.
“Sweetie, I can lend you money,” Honor said. “We’ll help you close up shop and find you a job somewhere. Kyle’s hiring. You could run one of the boutiques in his resort.”
Maggie gasped. Kara looked horrified. What did I do? Kyle? Kyle was Violet’s enemy. Damn the wine. It made her forget their epic feud for a moment.
“I’m sorry, I forgot…about you two,” Honor said.
“It’s fine. I know he hates me. The feeling’s mutual. However, it’s the perfect example of how screwed I am. That jerk’s going to own this entire town eventually. I’m going to have to move.”
“Zane’s opening a brewery. You could work there,” Honor said.
“Night shifts, right? I’d never see Dakota.” Violet face crumpled. Sobs shook her slender shoulders.
They’d never seen her like this. Honor could tell by the expressions on the others faces that they were as unnerved as she.
“Where’s Dakota’s dad anyway?” Kara asked. “We should sue that deadbeat for child support.”
Violet cried harder, a mess of tears and snot. Maggie had the sense to hand her a tissue. They all stared at one another until Violet took in a deep breath and composed herself. “Dakota’s dad…he’s not just some deadbeat boyfriend I had for a while that meant nothing. I know I’ve portrayed it like that. But the truth is, he’s not a deadbeat. Well, he is when it comes to me, but that’s not the way the world sees him. Dakota’s father is Cole Lund.”
They all stared at her. Maggie’s mouth actually dropped open like a character in a cartoon.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Honor said.
“America’s pastor?” Kara asked. “That Cole Lund?”
“The guy CNN is always interviewing to weigh in with the Christian viewpoint?” Maggie asked, a split second after Kara’s question.
Cole Lund? He was the pious pastor of one of America’s mega churches back east. Honor couldn’t stand the guy. He was a blow-hard pontificator, always talking about morality. He was also very married with a billion kids, if she remembered correctly. Clearly, he wasn’t quite as moral as he was portrayed on television.
“I worked for the church,” Violet said. “My parents knew some of the higher up members and they got me a job there in the offices after I graduated from college. I didn’t even meet him until I’d been there a couple years. We started chatting one night after everyone left and he picked up on my doubts about the Christian faith. He started coming by my apartment, trying to save my soul, and we’d talk and have wine. Usually I’d end up making him a meal. It got cozy and comfortable, I guess. One night, I slept with him. It was a terrible mistake. I regretted it immediately. But then I found out I was pregnant. He tried to buy me off, but I’d rather eat steel bars with my teeth than take his money.”
“How old is that guy?” Honor asked.
“In his forties,” Kara said. “Right?”
“Forty-eight,” Violet said.
“Holy crap,” Honor said. “Violet.”
“I know. You can’t believe it,” Violet said.
“We’re not judging, though,” Maggie said.
“No, of course not,” Kara said.
“I am. I’m judging him,” Honor said. “He took advantage of a young woman. Classic sexual harassment.”
“He used his power to seduce you,” Kara said.
“I don’t know. All I know is that I felt confused and so lonely. And he just kept showing up. I just kind of gave in.”
“See. That’s what I’m talking about,” Honor said. “Rat bastard.”
“The choice to keep Dakota cost me a lot. My parents are old-fashioned—very strict in their religious beliefs. When I had a baby without a husband they threatened to never speak to me again. My dad’s stuck with it. He hasn’t said a word to me since I told them I was pregnant. My mother only tolerates me, so she can see Dakota. I’ve never told them who the father is. I don’t know what they would do if they knew the truth. I’m staying in their house, but only because my dad doesn’t know we’re there. My mom sent me an email yesterday. They’re coming back from South America. I have to be out of the house by next month. My shop’s about to go under. I have no skills and a little boy who needs food and shelter. I have no place to go, no job, no prospects.” She’d stopped crying, but her stony expression frightened Honor more than the tears.
“Don’t worry,” Honor said. “We’ll help. Something will work out.”
“It always does,” Maggie said. “Look at me. I was dead broke when I came here. Okay, maybe dead is the wrong word to use.”
Kara almost spit out her wine. Honor suppressed a giggle, worried to hurt Violet’s feelings by laughing, but she needn’t have worried. Violet laughed even as tears sprang to her eyes. “But you’re both talented.” She wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “I’ve got nothing.”
Kara shook her head. “No, that isn’t right. You have a lot. You have us. We’re a tribe. If one of us is down, the others pick them up. You and Dakota can move in with Brody and me. We have plenty of room. Just until you get back on your feet.”
“I appreciate it, but I can’t do that,” Violet said. “Dakota’s my responsibility. I have to figure out how to take care of him on my own.”
“The offer stands,” Kara said. “You can decide later.”
“And we’ll help you close up the shop,” Honor said. “I can help you figure out the best way to do it.”
“What would I do without you guys?” Violet asked.
“I don’t even want to think about any scenario where you ladies aren’t right by my side,” Kara said.
> “Amen to that,” Maggie said.
Honor just smiled, grateful. Thank you, Hugh.
The next day, with her bodyguard accompanying her, Honor parked on the street in front of the grocery store. The guard got out of the car and scanned the street and sidewalk. Once he gave her permission, she headed toward the store. She had shopping to do for an afternoon beach picnic. Zane had taken Jubie over to the bar to check on Sophie. They’d agreed to meet at the beach in an hour.
She stopped on the way inside to choose a bouquet of flowers from the bins displayed on the sidewalk. Clayton, Cliffside Bay’s flower merchant, snipped the thorns from roses with a pair of pruning shears. “Morning, Miss Honor.”
“Good morning, Clayton. I’m in the mood to buy some flowers.”
“Roses are blooming pretty this time a year. I filled the truck with them this morning.” Clayton was up before the sun every summer morning to buy flowers from the local farmers. In Cliffside Bay, locals bought local, whether it was produce or flowers or meat.
Roses in all colors stuck their heads up from the bins arranged on the sidewalk. Their sweet scent filled the summer morning. “What’s this one called?” She brought an orange rose to her nose and sniffed.
“That there is a Busy Bee, according to the farmer. Pretty as a Cliffside Bay sunset, don’t you think?”
“I do think. I’ll take a dozen, please.”
“You got it.” He told her they’d be waiting for her when she finished shopping and gave her a slip of paper to give the checkout clerk.
Inside, she quickly found delights to purchase for their picnic: fresh blueberries, a loaf of freshly baked bread, locally sourced ham, and a small jar of French Dijon mustard. A display of bottled mineral water caught her eye. The delicate bottle was too much to resist. She grabbed one, a small package of the local cheese, a bottle of white wine and walked down the aisle to the checkout stand.
After she paid and thanked the clerk, she went back outside to the flower section. Clayton had wrapped her roses in his trademark brown paper with a pink ribbon. “Sorry, Miss Honor, the ribbon doesn’t match today. Can’t say I make a habit of keeping this particular orange in my basket of goodies.”
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