by Nicole Ellis
She called every eating establishment in town, but they all had the same predicament—not enough to share.
Then she called Jake to ask if he’d take Alex to the B&B with him when he went back to get dressed for the wedding.
“Sure, I can do that. But, I thought you were coming back to finish getting dressed.”
“I can’t. I had my dress here and I have a mini crisis on my hands.” Her stress levels were increasing.
“What’s going on?”
She sighed. “There was an error in my order of silverware and we didn’t notice it until now. Totally my fault. I should have checked the box to confirm we’d received them all. The end result is that I’m short one hundred sets of silverware. Do you think Dahlia will notice if we use plastic forks?” She laughed, but it didn’t break her bad feeling.
“Uh...” Jake paused. “I’m pretty sure she’d notice.”
“Yeah, I figured so. I’m hoping I can find some regular silverware before the ceremony, but it’s not looking good.”
At an hour to go, she was about to admit defeat and use white plastic picnicware. She grimaced. It would look so bad to use plastic utensils for her first real event. But it would be better than having the guests eat with their fingers.
She saw Jake and Alex enter the tent area and waved at them. They were still dressed in their regular clothes. “What are you guys doing here?”
“I found something for you.” Jake opened a shoebox and showed her the contents. “Will these work?”
Her eyes widened. The cardboard box contained about twenty sets of silverware. “Yeah, those are great, but I’m going to need a lot more.” Still, it gave her hope they could find more before the reception dinner.
“I’ve got them. I have three more boxes just like this in my car. Probably about eighty total place settings.”
She threw her arms around him and then looked into his eyes. “You’re kidding!”
He grinned at her and shook his head.
“Where did you get these?”
“Well, you know the B&B I’m staying at?” He closed the box lid.
“Uh-huh.” Where was he going with this? Why would a B&B have eighty sets of nice tableware?
“The owner, Maude, used to own an Italian restaurant in Haven Shores. When she sold the business, the new owner didn’t want her supplies, so she has a whole closet full of plates, linen napkins, tablecloths and silverware. She thought she might want to open another restaurant someday, so she didn’t sell them.”
Maggie’s mouth gaped open. “How did you know about all the restaurant supplies?”
He shrugged. “She has arthritis and can’t climb ladders very well. She needed me to get something down from the top of the closet one time.” He looked at her. “So will they work?”
“Yes, yes, thank you. You’re a lifesaver.” She hugged him again, a warmth passing between them. “I can get twenty sets from the café. They’ll just have to wash silverware quickly tonight.”
She called Lindsay over and instructed her to have the crew get the other utensils out of Jake’s car and take them to be washed at the café.
“I’ll see you at the ceremony, okay?” Maggie said to Jake and Alex. They nodded.
“Hey, Mom, you look really pretty.” Alex smiled at her.
She kissed his head. “Thanks, honey.”
The two of them walked off hand in hand. She watched them for a minute, happy to see how well they were getting along, and then sprung into action on last-minute reception details.
13
Maggie walked down the aisle with one of Garrett’s groomsmen and joined Gretchen on one side of the stage. Garrett stood in the center of the raised platform, his face a mixture of anxiety and excitement. She smiled at him, but he was too focused on the closed tent flaps to notice.
Then the wedding march sounded and Dahlia came through the tent door. All eyes turned to her and the guests stood as she walked by. Dahlia’s knuckles were white as she gripped her bouquet, but her eyes held nothing but love. The groom seemed mesmerized by his bride, not taking his eyes off of her until she had joined him on the small stage.
They said their vows and the love and warmth they shared for each other was obvious. Many of the guests dabbed at their eyes as they watched the ceremony, Maggie included. She shot a glance at Jake sitting in the audience with Alex. Would she ever marry again? A few weeks ago, she would have said it was unlikely, but now she didn’t know.
The officiant declared them husband and wife, and Garrett pulled Dahlia in for a long kiss. The audience cheered and the newly married couple parted and punched the air while beaming a matching pair of thousand-watt grins. They bounced down the aisle toward the tent door and the bridal party followed at a more sedate pace. Outside, Maggie had to chuckle when she spotted Dahlia and Garrett kissing behind the ceremony tent as she entered the other tent to check on the buffet preparations.
The inside of the dining tent was gorgeous. Her staff had hung twinkly white lights from the rafters and jazz music played softly in the background.
They’d filled chafing dishes with salmon, chicken cordon bleu and tender filets of beef. Her stomach grumbled to remind her she’d skipped lunch to take care of wedding preparations. Further down the line, chive-topped mashed potatoes, a green salad, and miscellaneous other side dishes awaited the wedding guests.
“What do you think?” Lindsay wore a proud smile.
“You guys have done a great job.” Gretchen had been right. She could count on her staff to take care of things when she wasn’t available.
“Hey, I think the reception line is forming. You’d better get out there.”
“Thanks.” Maggie smiled at her and exited the tent.
Sure enough, Dahlia and Garrett had lined up against one side of the tent and were greeting guests. Maggie squeezed into the line between Gretchen and one of the groomsmen.
“Sorry I’m late, I was checking on things,” she whispered to Gretchen.
“I figured that,” Gretchen whispered back. “Don’t worry, you haven’t missed much.”
Maggie shook hands and made small talk with each guest as they waited to give their regards to the wedding couple.
When the last guest had cycled through, she joined Alex and Jake at the table Dahlia had assigned to the bridal party. She and Garrett sat at a small table at the front by themselves.
Jake stood as she approached the table and held out her chair for her. Gretchen and Parker sat down across from them, along with the groomsmen and their significant others.
“Everything looks wonderful. Your event is a success.”
“I hope so.” She smiled at him and held up a spoon. “Thanks to you, we’re not eating off white plastic.”
“No problem.” He gave her an easy grin. “Now let’s go eat. It’s time for you to be a party guest.” He motioned to their tablemates who had already risen and entered the buffet line. Alex tugged at her arm.
“C’mon, Mom, I’m so hungry.”
Maggie allowed him to drag her over to the buffet line, although she found herself gazing longingly at the staff area, wanting to know how everything was going. In the line, she overheard people commenting on how good the food looked and smelled and her chest puffed out a little.
After they ate, she and others regaled the crowd with tales about Dahlia and Garrett. She found herself tearing up at the way they looked at each other as their friends spoke of the love between them. The guests toasted the newly married couple then everyone moved to the other tent. The staff had decorated it much like the first, with white and violet lights hanging from the rafters and doorways. The overall effect was magical.
Alex ran off as soon as they arrived to play with a friend who had attended the wedding with his parents. Then Dahlia and Garrett danced the first dance. She watched her friend swirl effortlessly across the floor in her new husband’s arms and wished for the same happiness for herself. The band changed to a faster song and the couple left th
e floor, laughing as they held hands.
Jake rested his hand on her shoulder, breaking her out of her reverie. “Do you want to dance?”
She checked on Alex, who was playing happily on the other side of the huge tent. “Sure, I’d love to.” Back in the day, she’d loved to dance, but now, other than dancing in front of her bathroom mirror, she didn’t have much opportunity to do so.
They danced about a foot apart and she felt herself relax as they moved to the beat. Then the fast song ended and a slow number came over the speakers.
He held his hand out to her and she took it. He drew her close to his chest and she felt herself relax against him. Somehow, being with him made her feel safe and sure that everything was right in the world.
“I didn’t have a chance to tell you earlier how beautiful you look in that dress.” Jake lifted his hand from her waist and brushed a lock of hair away from her face. His touch felt fantastic and she closed her eyes to savor the feeling.
“Thank you. You clean up nice too.”
He wore a gray suit with a dark navy-blue button-down shirt and gray patterned tie. Normally, he wore jeans and a T-shirt, which she didn’t object to, but dressed for the occasion, he looked amazingly handsome.
They danced together with her cheek pressed into his chest until the band played a faster song again. She stayed there for a moment longer than necessary, reluctant to have their connection broken. Heat rose to her cheeks.
“I’d better check on how the cleanup is going.”
He nodded and released her hands. “I’ll check on Alex.”
Her staff had things under control and she was on her way back to Jake when Gretchen stopped her outside the dance tent.
“Hey, I’m glad I found you.”
“What’s going on?” Maggie’s eyes darted to the dance tent. She badly wanted to get back to Jake. Between the party going well, the wine and after dinner drinks she’d had, and the slow dancing with Jake, she was flushed and feeling good about things.
Gretchen however, didn’t look so happy.
Maggie narrowed her eyes. “What?”
Her friend sighed. “I’m sorry, but I just got a phone call from my real estate agent friend who has the listing for the Sorensen farm.”
“He called you on the weekend?”
“Yeah. Apparently there’s been some interest in the property.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry Maggie, but they’ve got an offer.”
Maggie’s stomach dropped. “What does that mean? Will they take it? How much is it for?”
“I don’t know any of the details. My friend said the owner is willing to wait for twenty-four hours before he accepts the existing offer if you’d like to put in one of your own.”
“So should I do it?” Maggie asked slowly. She wasn’t used to feeling so indecisive. Buying the café had been an easy decision since she had worked there for a few years first. But this was an idea that had come to her in the last week and meant taking a huge risk. Uncertainty swirled around her.
“Look, you don’t have to decide now.” Gretchen patted her arm. “Think about it overnight and get back to me by noon tomorrow. If you decide to put in an offer, we can develop a competitive plan.”
Maggie pursed her lips. “Thanks, Gretchen. I appreciate your help with this.”
“No problem. What good is it to have a real estate agent for a friend if you can’t count on them for big purchases like this?” Gretchen grinned. “Now get in there. I saw you dancing with Jake earlier, pressed up against him like he was a second skin.”
Maggie blushed. “It wasn’t like that,” she protested.
“Uh-huh. You were having the time of your life. Go, have fun. And if something happens between you and him, let it happen! You’ve got to get out in the dating world.”
“Gretchen!” Maggie said, but her friend just waved and walked away.
She had enjoyed Jake’s touch, but what did that mean? He’d always been a ladies’ man in the past and she was more of a serious relationship kind of girl. Would it even work between them? She pictured them slow dancing together again and entered the tent with rosy cheeks.
“Hey.” He stood when he saw her. “Is everything okay? You look a little flushed.”
“Yes. No.” She paused. “Everything is okay with the catering job, but not so much with the farm property we looked at.” She remembered what he thought about the Sorensen property. “Not that you care.”
“Maggie. You know that’s not true.”
She felt him search her face.
“I care about you, and I care about things that are important to you.” He pulled her against his chest.
She felt tears come to her eyes as she relaxed and snuggled close to him. It was nice to have someone else taking care of her for a change. She turned her face upward to look at him. “But you don’t think I should buy the farm property?”
He sighed. “I don’t know what to tell you. It’s risky and will take a lot of work. Only you can make that decision.”
She closed her eyes and buried her face in his chest. “I know,” she murmured.
They stood like that for a minute. A slow song came on and they swayed together gently in place. She felt safe and loved, something she hadn’t experienced since Brian’s death. She looked up and scanned his face. He wore a dreamy expression and his eyes locked with hers. Her heart beat faster. Was this it? Was something going to happen between them? She hadn’t finished weighing the pros and cons of a relationship with her brother-in-law. Before she could spiral deeper into doubt, he bent his head and brushed his lips against hers.
She leaned in closer and deepened the kiss. Everything around them seemed to disappear and it was as though it was only the two of them, swaying to the music in their own winter wonderland.
Then the music changed to a fast song and they broke apart reluctantly. Slowly, the rest of the people in the tent came into focus.
Had people seen them kissing? A jolt hit her. Alex. Had Alex seen them together? She didn’t know how he would react to seeing his mom and uncle kissing. Still holding Jake’s hand, she spun around to where she’d last seen her son. He was in the corner with his friend, engrossed in playing on a tablet.
“Are you okay?” Jake asked.
“Yeah, I was checking on Alex. I don’t think he saw us.”
He pulled her close again, sending her pulse racing.
“Are you worried about what he’ll think if we’re together?”
“Yes.” She looked at him closer. “Is that what’s happening? Are we together?”
He brushed the side of her cheek with the pad of his thumb, sending a tingling sensation throughout her body. “I’d like to be. How do you feel about it?”
She smiled. She hadn’t felt this happy in ages. “Good. I’d like to see where this goes.” She frowned. “But I don’t know how Alex will react.”
“Well, I think you’re about to find out.” He pointed behind her.
“What?” She whipped around and found Alex standing two feet away, looking between her and his uncle.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Jake cleared his throat. “I’d like to ask your mother out on a date. Would that be okay with you?”
A smile spread across Alex’s face. “Uh-huh.” He tugged on Maggie’s hand. “Mom, say yes!”
She bent down and hugged him tightly. “Thanks, buddy.”
“Can I go back and play with Andy some more?”
“Yes.” She patted him on the back. “Have fun, honey.”
When he left she looked at Jake, raising her eyebrows. “Well, that was easy.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t sure how he’d feel, but I hoped he’d be happy to have us together. He mentioned a few times that you were lonely and didn’t go out much.”
Her face burned. “I am not lonely.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. “I didn’t say you were.”
At the front of the room, on
e of Garrett’s groomsmen tapped on the microphone. “Alright, ladies and gentleman, Dahlia and Garrett are about to toss the bouquet and garter.”
Dahlia beamed and held the flowers high in the air above her. The crowd cheered.
“Alright, all the single ladies—gather over here.” She pointed to a space in front of her.
Maggie hung back next to Jake.
“Mags! Get over here!” Gretchen grabbed her hand and pulled her into the teeming mass of women.
“Oh, fine.” Maggie positioned herself at the edge of the crowd, not intending to try for the bouquet. They watched as Dahlia said, “Ready?” She winked at Maggie and tossed the bouquet.
Maggie kept her arms down as the other women around her, including Gretchen, clamored to catch the flowers. The beautiful bouquet flew high up over the crowd and sailed straight into Maggie’s forehead. She instinctively held out her hands to catch it before it could hit the floor. She stared at it, unsure of how she felt.
“Congrats, Maggie.” Gretchen clapped her on the back, smiling.
Maggie looked up at Dahlia, who grinned at her and gave her a thumbs-up. Maggie’s jaw dropped. Dahlia had thrown it her way on purpose!
“And now for the garter toss.” The DJ who’d taken over from the band later in the evening began playing a catchy tune. Dahlia sat on a chair and pulled the skirt of her wedding dress up to her knee. Garrett leaned down and winked at the men gathered near them and then removed the beaded garter from his wife’s leg. He twirled it around on one finger and then flung it into the crowd. The crowd cheered and the victor held it in the air.
Next to Maggie, Gretchen blushed. Her boyfriend, Parker, was smiling at her from across the room, showing her the garter he’d caught.
Maggie slugged her in the arm. “Looks like I’m not the only one in the hot seat.”
Gretchen mock glared at her, but a smile slipped between the cracks. “I’m going to go find Parker. If I don’t see you later tonight, I’ll see you when we get together later this week, okay?”