Chancey Jobs (Chancey Books Book 4)

by Kay Shostak

  Rubbing in a dab of hand lotion, I watch the two of them walk through the front door. It’s hard to believe, but the baby Anna is carrying will one day tower over me like Savannah does her meemaw.

  Isn’t life a bit startling?

  Chapter 50

  I’ve never been to a double wedding before. It’s hard to focus. The act of shifting my eyes and thoughts between the two couples competes with the act of staring, open-mouthed, at Will. How can my son be this grown up? I have the same feeling which engulfed me when we were leaving the hospital with him as a newborn—shouldn’t somebody stop this?

  Anna doesn’t look happy; Will doesn’t look happy. Then I look over at Patty and Andy, and they are practically delirious. Savannah serves as Anna’s maid of honor, and Jackson is Will’s best man. Gertie and Andy’s older brother serve in the same duties for Patty and Andy. Bryan is the usher, and him leading me to my seat has so far been my favorite part of the day. The whole day. Our morning was rough. But, I shouldn’t be surprised after last night.

  Rehearsal was chaotic, as most wedding rehearsals are. Between nerves, weariness, anticipation and that first mix of all the family—times two for this double wedding—it’s a recipe for chaos. I hoped the drive to Canton, to the Italian Bistro, would calm everyone down.

  The venue was perfect for a warm summer night. A balcony right outside our private room gave us a place to spread out to, and watching the setting sun over the mountains was magical. Wine flowed, and although Anna and Will didn’t seem to be speaking, no one focused on it. Anna’s friend, Miss Linda, from the UGA cafeteria, turned out to be a delightful older woman who had taken Anna under her wing. But even Miss Linda’s best attempts left Anna more removed and Will drinking more wine. Missus spoke loudly, then even louder still as she tried to salvage the party. Peter spent more of the evening downstairs than up—avoiding me, I assumed, since we didn’t exchange a word all night.

  No one thing stood out as bad; it was just one of those nights where everyone is awkward and uncomfortable. Jackson kept close to Will’s side as a best man should, but Will didn’t want to talk. Finally, we were able to leave. I don’t think Will and Anna even said “good bye” to each other.

  Miss Linda was sitting out on the deck in the half-light of dawn when I finally gave up trying to sleep this morning and came downstairs.

  “This wedding is a mistake. Not the marriage, this wedding,” she said when I sat down. Before I even had a sip of coffee. Thanks, Linda. “Anna has never sought attention, and here she is in the center of it all.”

  “Well, it’ll all be over soon.” See? Before coffee I’m no help at all.

  She pats her hand on the table. “As soon as it’s light, I’m going down to her grandmother’s house to tell her to just let the other couple get married. Will and Anna can head out of town for the night, move into their place with Missus, and start over on Monday.”

  “No wedding?” I asked. “But we have family coming, and well, it’s already today. Just a couple more hours. Plus, we’ve already had the rehearsal dinner.”

  “And that went well, don’t you think?” she said, looking at me from over her glasses.

  She had a point there. “But won’t it be an even bigger mess with cancelling?”

  “Maybe,” she said. “But we don’t know just how big a mess the wedding will be, right? But them leaving and then Patty and Andrew having their wedding, well, we know what that would look like. Right? Those are the odds I’d go with. Cut and run.”

  “But what if they regret it?”

  She turned to look at me. “Carolina, there is no good solution. We only have two bad situations to choose from.”

  “I think they’ve already chosen.”

  She threw up her hands and laughed. “They’ve chosen? I’ve only met Anna’s grandmother once, but she doesn’t seem entirely reasonable.”

  “You’re right there.”

  “And, honestly, Carolina, you and your family have not pushed back on anything. Anna has a tyrannical streak, maybe from her grandmother, and you and your husband, along with Will, let her get away with it. She ran your poor son around tonight, and he let her.”

  “But that’s not the Anna we got to know last fall. You don’t think it’s just the emotions from the wedding and her being pregnant?”

  Miss Linda sighed. “I’m sure that’s some of it. But, honey, her mother was a mess. Clean by the time I met her, but depressed and sick. Anna has to have a backbone of steel to have come out of that as well as she did.” The older lady with the red hair streaked with silver pulled herself out of the chair. “I’m going to get dressed and go down to see her. I’m supposed to be having breakfast with her this morning anyway. We’re going to Ruby’s. Didn’t I see a place named Ruby’s on the square?”

  “Right. And thanks. We’ll talk to Will, and we’ll back whatever they want to do.”

  And we did talk to Will. And Will talked to Anna. And Missus talked to all of us. We talked and talked some more. All the while getting ready for the wedding. And now here we are.

  It hurts too much to watch Will and Anna, so I’m focusing on Patty and Andy.

  Gertie and Bill are actually a cute couple. They remind me of Patty and Andy: big and country, settled. Not a lot of mystery or sophistication to get in the way. Andy’s parents are also happy, and watching Andy’s tiny mama treat Patty like a princess, can’t help but make me smile.

  Everything turned out pretty. Gardenias are the main flower, so the sanctuary smells amazing. Sunshine illuminates the stained glass windows along the sides of the sanctuary and infuses the light inside with depth and color. Savannah is wearing a light blue dress she wore to homecoming last year, but she actually looked better at homecoming. Her smile was more genuine then. She spent the morning relaying messages between her brother and Anna.

  Savannah is the first in the procession to walk back down the aisle, with the rest of both wedding parties behind her. She smiles at me and her daddy. Only we would notice the weary lift of her eyebrows and crookedness of her smile. Behind her, Will and Anna look like one of those old-fashioned pictures where people don’t smile. Or maybe they look like snarky models, who refuse to even pretend they’re happy. Patty and Andy bound down the aisle, arms tightly intertwined and pressed into each other.

  Okay, that’s over.

  Bring on the party.

  Chapter 51

  Hugs are not always my favorite. Especially those people who hug you and don’t even know you. They just hug everybody, including their bug exterminator.

  And excuse my French, but these hugs today suck.

  It’s an absolutely perfect day at the lake park. Perfect. Light breeze, low humidity. Trees draped with white lights, which become more pronounced with every inch the sun sinks in the sky. Tables draped with ivory clothes and twines of ivy. Gardenias float in shallow bowls of water, and the string quartet sends lovely music to ride throughout on the breeze. Susan has brought in tables and chairs to fill the pavilion and even scattered some along the lake. There’s a picture station next to the water with an old wagon to climb up in or just lean against. Southern Living could do a country wedding shoot here.

  But about those hugs. My friends hug me lightly, and then pat my back. They speak softly and smile weakly. More like hugs at a funeral than a wedding. The head table has seating for only the newlyweds and two of their attendants with their dates. Gertie and Jackson both begged off sitting at the head table. Left it for the young people. Savannah is back toying around with Ashton now that Ricky has left for college, so he’s her date, and on the other end are Andy’s brother Luke and his wife. Speaking of Southern Living magazine, the two newlywed couples look like Before & After. You know, those stories of couples before they lost weight, or went through marriage counseling. Where before they look bad, like they want to run far, far away, and then after, where they look as happy and loving as Patty and Andy... Who’d believe both couples just got married?

  Laney h
ugs me, again, and this time I push her away. “Stop hugging me. They’re fighting, not dead.”

  “Okay, grouchy. I’ve got to say, my sister did a really great job with this.”

  “It’s beautiful. Hard to enjoy, but beautiful. But tell me, why have you seemed to have such trouble with her lately?”

  She dismisses the question. “Just stuff going on. Look at the girls. Can you believe they’ll all be going off to college next year?”

  Savannah and Ashton are in their seats at the head table surrounded by some of their friends. “I like that Angie is going softer on the black eye-liner,” I say.

  Laney laughs. “Yeah, me too. Figured it was just a phase—no, I prayed it was just a phase. She’s still in love with the black hair dye, but then so am I.” She pats her dark hair. “So, the rest of us can sit wherever we want? Guess I’d better go stake out a seat. You’ve got all of Jackson’s family to sit with, right?”

  “Yep, Etta is ecstatic to have all three boys together. You met his brothers, right?”

  She nods and then grins, “That younger one, the football coach…”

  “Colt?”

  “Yes, he’s one good-looking young man. And he’s not married?”

  “No, he eats, lives, and breathes football. He’s quite a bit younger than Jackson and Emerson. He’s not forty yet.”

  “You and Emerson’s wife get along?”

  “Okay, I guess. She’s just so into the girls.”

  Laney smirks. “As are the boys here. They are beautiful girls.”

  “Yeah, they are. We don’t see them much. I think the only reason they’re here today is they were going right through here on their way to Destin. But it’s made Etta so happy.”

  “Well, I’m going to go find a seat. Talk to you later.”

  Looking over the crowd, I notice Jordan. Wonder what she’s doing here? When she sees me, she starts my direction. “Hey, Carolina. Everything looks great.”

  “Thanks,” I say with a questioning look.

  “Yeah, what am I doing here?” She shifts from one hip to the other. She’s wearing a sleeveless dress, soft pink with a black belt tightened to show off her tiny waist. Her hair is in a low bun, and she has on high heels. “I told Diego I’d be here. He’s, ah, he’s coming to see me.”

  “About the video?” I ask.

  She shrugs. “Maybe. I just wanted him to see I’ve made friends here. That I’ve really tried.”

  “Okay. Fine with me if you stay.” Then I turn and see an unmistakable head of blue-black hair. “Oh, look, there he is.”

  She whips around and dashes off to meet him. How does she walk in high heels on these pine needles?

  I follow her, until I see that Diego looks mad. Really mad. Then I see him looking past her to the rest of the crowd, most of whom are now watching him. He’s not been loud, but his presence really made an entrance. Then he sees who he’s looking for. “With him?” he says, loud enough to carry to those of us nearby, and then he pushes past his wife, headed straight for Peter.

  Peter holds up his hands. “It’s all going to be fine, Diego. You know its better this way.”

  Diego struggles to hold his voice down. “You think you know what’s better for my wife?”

  “I didn’t say that…”

  “And behind my back.” Then he turns behind him and points at Jordan. “Together you planned all of this.” He catches sight of me and steps in my direction. “Dear Carolina, you have been a good friend. I do not know what there was between you and this Bedwell person, but he is not to be trusted.”

  “Nothing! There is nothing. Was nothing.” I practically shout as I step to Diego, then remember where I am and lower my voice. “This is a wedding reception. Maybe you should leave.”

  Jackson has met me at Diego. “That’s a good idea, Mr. Moon.”

  “He’s taking everything from me. Do you know this?”

  Peter apparently has had enough. “Are you serious? I didn’t take anything away from you! You threw it all away. We’re just trying to help you out now.”

  Throughout the crowd, I see cringes and skepticism. I must admit, probably the same looks appear on my face. “Peter, she’s his wife. They have children.”

  “Exactly. Now she can go home.”

  Okay, scratch that. Replace skepticism with confusion. “What? You and Jordan aren’t, I don’t know, like, together?”

  “Yes, but only as business partners. The rest, well, the rest was for this idea, this plan. You honestly believed she and I were a thing?” He shakes his head and rolls his eyes to the heavens. “Everyone, everyone knows a MoonShots can’t make it in Chancey. It’s a joke. It’s losing money hand over fist. Right, Jordan? Right, Diego?”

  Jordan nods enthusiastically; Diego only manages a tiny lift of his head. He grabs hold of Jordan’s arm and pulls his wife to his side and tips his head close to hers. Then, in a quiet voice, says, “Please explain.”

  She bends her head to his and talks softly. Peter takes a deep breath and says, just as softly, to me and Jackson, “It was all about his ego. A place he could punish Jordan, but that’s done now. Jordan and I figured out a solution. A place like the market of the Italian Bistro, a few tables, some homemade foods and treats, picnic staples, gourmet food. We worked it all out, but Diego wouldn’t give us the time of day. He let his anger get in the way of a good business decision. So, well, we made sure he’d come down here by setting up that video. You showing up was never part of the plan.”

  “How could it have been? I only decided to run up there that morning.”

  Jordan lifts her head and puts a hand on Diego’s shoulder. She speaks a little louder, so those of us surrounding them can hear. “It was only business with me and Mr. Bedwell, I promise. The video was just to get you down here, and well, to get some free publicity for Peter and his new shop. Diego, I will never hurt you like that again. Our marriage has to work, but it can’t when we are so far apart. Let me come home.”

  Diego spends a few moments looking at his wife, then around at the crowd. He takes her hand and says to me and Jackson, “My apology for intruding like this. I do let my temper get away with me sometimes. We will go now, but as it looks like we are going to be doing business here in Chancey, we will see you soon.” He drops Jordan’s hand and steps toward Peter with his hand outstretched. “My apologies to you, Mr. Bedwell. Excuse me, I meant partner.” The men shake hands, and then Diego walks back through the pavilion with his wife.

  Susan steps up and welcomes everyone, then she explains how the buffet lines will work. The service people begin taking off chafing dishes lids, and the smells waft to us. It’s been a long, exhausting day, and no one has to be begged to get a plate and get in line.

  Even Anna and Will seem to enjoy the rest of the reception. They aren’t really talking to each other much, but fighting gets old eventually. Besides, once you’re married you know you can pick the fight back up any old time.

  A small dance floor in the center of the pavilion becomes a fairytale. The white lights in the rafters glow down on a scene of two brides dancing with their husbands. The soft lights of the sky skim across the lake, and we all take a deep breath or two, full of good food, cake, and wine.

  “Susan, come sit down for a minute. You’ve worked yourself to a frazzle and done an amazing job,” I say as I push out the chair beside me.

  “Yes, you did, my dear sister. Sit down. No one will fire you,” Laney adds.

  Susan grins and sinks into the white wooden chair across from her sister and next to me. Her bottom no sooner hits the seat than Missus barks, “Susan Lyles.”

  She starts to jump up, but Missus lays a hand on her shoulder. “Stay there, I believe I’ll join you.” Missus lifts a white cloth napkin from the chair next to Susan. “Did I hear correctly that you are moving up to Laurel Cove?”

  “Yes, ma’am, that’s correct.”

  “Hmm. I’m not sure how I feel about that.”

  Laney leans up. “It doesn
’t really matter. My sister and her husband have worked very hard for everything they have. They deserve the biggest, best house in the whole world.”

  Susan not only blushes, her eyes get shiny. “Why, Laney! Thank you. I wasn’t sure you were happy for us, for me.”

  Laney shrugs. “I wasn’t. But no surprise. I like being the center of attention. But I guess if I have to share it, might as well be with you.”

  “Lots of changes,” I say watching the dance floor, where Anna has her head resting on Will’s shoulder as they sway. “This time next year, Missus, you and I will have a baby to play with.”

  “Me too,” Laney says.

  Susan frowns, “You talking about their grandbaby?”

  “Nope, getting one of my own.”

  All of us can’t help the reflex of looking at the bundle of high school kids, with Angie and Jenna at the center. Susan goes pale, and I lean up. Missus swallows and lifts her hand to her throat.

  Susan finally asks, “Jenna? Angie?”

  Laney smiles and answers, “Nope. Me. I’m due in August.”

  And I don’t really remember much after that.

  The End

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  Don’t miss first the 3 books in the series…

  Book One in the Chancey Series

  Looking in your teenage daughter’s purse is never a good idea.

  After all, it ended up with Carolina opening a B&B for railroad buff s in a tiny Georgia mountain town. Carolina knows all about, and hates, small towns. How did she end up leaving her wonderful Atlanta suburbs behind while making her husband’s dreams come true?

  Unlike back home in the suburbs with privacy fences and automatic garage doors, everybody in Chancey thinks your business is their business and they all love the newest Chancey business. The B&B hosts a senate candidate, a tea for the County Fair beauty contestants, and railroad nuts who sit out by the tracks and record the sound of a train going by. Yet, nobody believes Carolina prefers the ‘burbs.