“Hey, guys,” she said. “Did you have a fun day?”
Marissa stuck out her hands and rippled her fingers. “Look, Mommy.”
“Beautiful!”
“And we got you something,” Sean said, handing her two bags bearing the names of shops on the square.
“What’s all this?” Loretta asked, turning to Susan in surprise, tears beginning to prick the back of her eyes. “You shouldn’t have done this.”
“We had so much fun today, we didn’t think it was fair,” Susan said. “They picked everything out themselves. Go on. Open them.”
Loretta pulled the tissue out of the first bag and withdrew an ivory fisherman’s knit cardigan, long and belted. “It was on sale,” Sean said proudly. “And it’s just like the one you lost.”
“It’s much nicer than the one I lost,” Loretta replied.
“Look at this,” Marissa urged.
Loretta unwrapped a pair of sheepskin slippers. “Exactly what I’ve been wanting.” She slipped off a shoe and inserted her foot. “They’re the right size, too.” She gathered her two older children into her arms and looked up at Susan. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. I thought you deserved something nice. All of this can’t be easy. How’s it going in there?” she asked, gesturing to the closed door of the procedure room.
“Much better this time,” Loretta replied. “They had to discontinue dialysis before they were done last time. I was so afraid it would happen again.”
“I could tell that you were really worried,” Susan replied.
“We’ve got stuff for Nicole, too,” Sophie interjected.
“She’s all done, and they’re observing her for a little while. Let’s go in, and you can give them to her yourselves.”
Nicole lay in her bed, propped on a mountain of pillows, watching cartoons on television. She smiled and leaned forward as the group approached. Sean placed the first of two large gift bags on the bed. Nicole squealed with delight as Sean helped her take the doll out of its wrappings. She cradled the doll in her arms, placing the doll’s long curly hair behind its shoulders and straightening the skirt of its dress. Nicole looked up and beamed.
Susan laughed and caught Loretta’s eye. “Marissa and Sean knew what their sister wanted, didn’t they? They’re great kids. You should be very proud of them.”
Loretta quickly turned away and swallowed hard.
“There’s more,” Sarah said. Marissa placed the other bag on the bed, next to her sister. Nicole kept her new doll clamped to her side with one hand and reached into the bag with the other. She withdrew the dress that was identical to the one her doll was wearing and held it out to her mother. “On,” she said.
“I’m not sure we can get you out of that hospital gown, yet,” Loretta replied, folding the dress. Storm clouds gathered on Nicole’s face, and she was about to let out a wail when the nurse, who had been watching the happy scene unfold, rose from her chair.
“I think it’s time we got you out of here,” she said to Nicole. “Are you ready to go home, sweetheart?”
Nicole nodded vigorously.
“What have you got there?” the nurse asked. Nicole turned the doll in her arms so that the nurse could see her. “She’s beautiful, isn’t she? Looks just like you. And what’s this here?” she said, reaching for the dress in Loretta’s arms. “A matching dress? Isn’t that pretty. I’ll bet people will think you’re twins when you wear this. Would you like to put it on? I want to see the two of you.”
Nicole continued to nod. “Will you let me hold your doll while your mommy helps you with your dress? I’ll stand right here, and I’ll take real good care of her.”
Nicole shook her head, turned, and handed her precious new doll to Susan, and then stuck her arms in the air. Her mother slipped the new garment over Nicole’s head and got the hospital gown off of her and the new dress neatly in place with a speed resembling that of a practiced Broadway dresser. Susan returned the doll to Nicole’s outstretched arms.
“Can we take pictures for Facebook?” Sophie asked Susan.
“Let me take one of all of you,” Susan said. “Loretta—you get in the picture, too.”
Chapter 52
The rain predicted for the middle of the week was stuck in the Dakotas, and perfect weather graced all of the preparations. Anita Archer had the alterations ready by Tuesday, and Joe Appleby and his crew finished the landscaping Wednesday. Amy, Mike, and Aaron arrived on Thursday night as planned, and Pete orchestrated the setup on Friday morning.
Three hundred chairs now sat in rows along the bottom of the lawn for tomorrow’s ceremony and thirty-eight round tables waited to be dressed for the luncheon reception at the top of the lawn. “We’ll have the food set up buffet-style on the covered patio, and we’ll have three bars around the perimeter,” he told Maggie. “The flowers will be here first thing in the morning, and we’ll have all the tables ready by nine o’clock. An eleven o’clock ceremony on a Saturday is perfect. Don’t worry about a thing. Nothing can go wrong now.”
Maggie smiled and squeezed his shoulder. “You said you’d take care of everything and you have.”
“All you have to do is practice the ceremony then come over to the Bistro for the rehearsal dinner.”
Maggie nodded, surveying the scene when a familiar furry shape escaped through the kitchen door and sped across the lawn skidding to a halt at her feet. Pete reached down to pat Eve, who was now nipping at his heels.
“Which reminds me of one more thing I need to do—” she said, scooping Eve up in her arms. “Get this one and those three cats, Bubbles, Blossom, and Buttercup, corralled and off to Westbury Animal Hospital for boarding while we’re gone. I think it’s high time we got them out of our hair.” She nuzzled Eve’s neck and started up the lawn. “See you after the rehearsal.”
***
The pastor arrived fifteen minutes late, but otherwise the rehearsal went off without a hitch. The sound system worked well in the outdoor space, and the twins took their instruction seriously, walking at the pace their mother instructed. “It’ll be a beautiful day for a wedding, and I promise not to be late tomorrow,” the pastor said after they finished as the wedding party was heading around the side of the house.
Aaron and Susan, inseparable since he’d arrived, were strolling hand in hand down the driveway. “We’re going to walk over to Pete’s,” she called over her shoulder.
“There’s room with us,” Maggie began, then stopped. How long had it been since she and John had any time to themselves? A few minutes alone with him was exactly what she needed.
Maggie took John’s hand as they slowly climbed the stone steps to the massive front door of Rosemont. “My life has been so blessed since I moved to Westbury. And I wouldn’t have moved if it hadn’t been for this grand old house.” John put his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. “I’m marrying the best man I’ve ever met here. And I might never have met you if Eve hadn’t found her way to Rosemont on that first, fateful night when I got snowed in.” She kissed her fingertip and pressed it to the inside of the doorframe.
John laughed. “I have to admit, I’m looking forward to moving in with you after the wedding. We’ve barely had a chance to talk, much less spend time together, for weeks.”
“Are you ready for this wedding to be over with?”
“Would you be mad if I said I was?”
“No. I’d say I’m feeling the same way. Shall we ditch them all and just stay here?”
“Be a no-show at our own rehearsal dinner? Mayor Martin, I’m surprised at you. Certainly not. They’d all think I’d put you up to it. I’m not taking the blame.”
“Okay, spoil sport. Let me run upstairs and get a sweater. The breeze has really picked up. It’s got a bite in it, don’t you think?”
***
The sun rose in a brilliant blue sky that Saturday morning, scattering light like diamonds across a two-inch blanket of snow that fell overnight, covering Westbury and the surrounding counties in
the latest snowfall of the season since the 1930s.
Maggie realized something was amiss as soon as she awoke. The light peeking through her heavy bedroom drapes was far too bright for the hour displayed on her bedside clock. She padded to her window and drew the curtain aside. An unbroken layer of snow rose and fell between every chair, table, and trellis on the lawn below. It was a beautiful sight, to be sure, but definitely not one she wanted to see on the day of her outdoor wedding in June.
Maggie stood, rooted to the spot, staring at the scene below and blinking. She was about to drop the drape back into place and call John when two men came around the side of the house. Sam Torres and Tim Knudsen. And they were carrying brooms and shovels. She watched as they set to work brushing the light snow from the chairs.
Maggie tugged at the crank on the casement window, finally succeeding in getting it open. “Good morning,” she yelled, leaning out the window.
Sam looked up, searching for the source of the sound. She waved and he saluted in return. “Don’t worry,” he called, cupping his mouth with his hands. “Joe Appleby and his crew are on their way. We’ve got it covered.”
Maggie made an exaggerated thumbs-up and cranked the window shut. She was halfway to her nightstand to retrieve her phone when it rang. Maggie answered and Judy Young jumped right in. “Maggie. Don’t worry about a thing. We’re on it. You just get ready. Leave the rest to us.”
Maggie laughed. “You are the most incredible people in the entire world. Tim and Sam are out on the back lawn, dealing with the snow right now. I guess we’ll have to pull something out of the closet to wear. We’ll freeze, otherwise.”
“No,” Judy said sternly. “Wear the dresses you bought. Anita says they’re gorgeous. Joan Torres and I have something planned for that, too.”
“You do, do you?” Maggie said, bemused by her friend’s take-charge attitude.
“Yes. And I’m too busy to talk about it right now. The wedding’s at eleven. Joan and I will be over there at ten. Your job is to enjoy getting ready for your wedding!”
***
Judy Young and Joan Torres arrived at nine forty-five with two vintage white mink stoles and two pink faux fur capes in hand. One stole had belonged to Judy’s mother, and Sam had given the other to Joan on their tenth wedding anniversary.
“The capes were in my grandchildren’s dress-up box,” Joan said. “It’s been years since anybody’s been in that box. I’ve been tempted to get rid of it many times.”
“These are beyond perfect,” Susan gushed. “Look at them, Mom. Just stunning.”
“It’s actually getting warm out. You may not need them,” Judy said.
“No way. We’re wearing them,” Susan turned to her mother, “Don’t you think, Mom? It’s your wedding. You should have the say.”
“I agree. They’re lovely, and it means the world to me that you’re letting us borrow them.” She turned to Susan and pointed to Judy’s stole. “That one will look beautiful with your dress.” Susan draped the silvery mink around her shoulders over the long, slim column of blush-colored silk that drifted gracefully to the floor.
“I love it,” Susan replied. “Are you sure?”
Maggie nodded. “Why don’t you and Judy take the capes to the girls?” When they were alone, Maggie turned to Joan. “You and Sam have been my oldest and dearest friends in Westbury. You’ve been there for me every step of the way. I didn’t have anything borrowed to wear. I’d be so honored to borrow your stole. The fact that Sam gave it to you for your anniversary makes it even more special.”
Joan hugged Maggie hard. “I love the thought of that.” She leaned back and looked into Maggie’s eyes. “Can I tell you something? You can’t ever tell Sam.” Maggie nodded. “I’ve never liked that stole. I thought it was incredibly sweet of Sam, and I’ve worn it to make him happy. But I always felt it was a little too old-fashioned for me. After this wedding, I think I’ll have a whole new appreciation for it.”
Maggie laughed. “I hope so. And your secret is safe with me.”
Joan placed the creamy mink around Maggie’s shoulders and secured the clasp. She stepped back and brought her hands to her heart. “I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride. You’re glowing.”
Maggie turned to one side and then the other, studying her reflection in the full-length mirror. Her eyes moved over the creamy organza gown adorned with champagne-colored lace and seed pearls, the off-the-shoulder top hugged her body all the way to the dropped waistline, where it flared into a full skirt with a modest train. “You don’t think I look ridiculous in this gown? At my age?”
“Absolutely not! Why would you say such a thing? You’re going to knock John Allen’s socks off, and every woman in town will be talking about it for weeks. It’s perfect.”
Maggie closed her eyes and drew a deep breath, savoring the moment.
Both women turned at the light knock on the door. “Mom,” Mike called softly. “Are you ready? Can I come in?”
“She certainly is,” Joan called. “Don’t you look handsome?” she said as Mike stepped into the room. “I’m going to collect my husband and make sure we get a seat in the front row.” She took Maggie’s face in her hands. “Many blessings, my dear. You’re marrying the second-best man I know.”
Joan closed the door quietly behind her. Maggie and Mike stood at arm’s length, smiling at each other. “Gosh, Mom, you look beautiful.”
“Thank you, sweetheart. And Joan’s right. You look like you stepped out of a magazine. You should wear a tuxedo more often.”
Mike approached the full-length mirror. “I do feel pretty dapper.” Maggie laughed. “But you look positively radiant.” He turned to her. “You’re very happy here, aren’t you?”
Maggie nodded. “I’ve never felt so at home, so connected, or so vibrant in my whole life. Meeting John Allen and marrying him today is the best thing that’s ever happened to me—except for you and your sister. And the girls.”
Mike paused. “John is a very fine man. Susan and I both think the world of him. I’m relieved to know that you’re marrying someone who’ll take care of you. I was concerned, having you so far away from us.” He held her gaze. “You and Dad weren’t very happy at the end, were you?”
“No, we weren’t. But today’s not the day to think about all that,” she said. “And don’t worry about me. With or without John, I can take care of myself.” A piano prelude emanated from the floor below. “Is that coming from the conservatory?”
“Yes,” Mike replied. “I was supposed to tell you. The grass is too wet for Marc to play his keyboard outside. They tried to dry things off and make it work, but couldn’t manage it. They’ve opened the doors of the conservatory, and Marc will play the piano for the service. He says it’ll be plenty loud enough to be heard.”
Maggie smiled. “Why didn’t we think of that in the first place? Much better.”
Mike stepped to the window and pulled the drape back an inch. “Most of the snow has melted and Sam and Tim have dried off every chair. Sam also borrowed a carpet runner from the high school for the aisle. You get to walk down an actual red carpet. Once you get to that point, you won’t have to worry about slipping,” he turned to Maggie. “It’s a full house.” He motioned to the window with his head. “Take a look.”
Maggie ducked under his arm to survey the scene below and drew a deep breath. “I feel like I’m living a dream,” she whispered.
Mike checked his watch. “Susan and the girls are waiting downstairs. It’s time we joined them and got this wedding started.”
The sun shone brightly over the happy scene on Rosemont’s back lawn as Marc struck the first chords of the processional. The girls held hands to steady each other on the slippery grass until they found solid footing on the carpeted aisle. They floated along in a sea of pink organza until they reached the rose-draped trellis. Susan followed, stately and tall, looking like a runway model in her gown and mink.
Mike squeezed Maggie’s hand. “This is it, Mo
m.”
Maggie swallowed the lump in her throat as the piano surged with Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major. The wedding guests rose and turned to follow Maggie as she and Mike walked slowly down the aisle. George Holmes towered over the crowd and caught Maggie’s eye. He winked and made a thumbs-up gesture. She smiled and swept her eyes back to the center aisle, passing over Frank Haynes along the way. He stood with the others, but his attention was not on the bride. Frank Haynes was staring up at Rosemont. An involuntary chill ran down Maggie’s spine. Her gaze then fell on the beaming face of John Allen and all else melted away.
Mike shook John’s hand, then kissed his mother on the cheek and stepped to the side. Maggie put her hand on John’s arm. His eyes sparkled and he leaned toward her and whispered, “You look stunning.”
The pastor raised his hands and motioned for the crowd to be seated as the piano fell silent. “Dearly beloved,” he intoned the familiar words of the traditional ceremony, and the couple embarked on this most profound of human commitments. Both of them repeated their vows in strong, sure voices. When the pastor turned them to the crowd and proclaimed them husband and wife, everyone leapt to their feet and clapped as John and Maggie made their way back down the aisle.
The wedding party followed closely on their heels. Maggie clutched John’s arm as they approached the slippery uphill climb to the area designated for the receiving line. She turned as Amy called her name.
“Here.” Amy thrust a pair of plastic rain boots at Maggie. “Aaron and I went out and bought these this morning. We got them for Susan and the girls, too,” she said proudly as Aaron produced the other sets of boots. “Slip your shoes off, and put these on. You can’t navigate this lawn in rain-soaked satin shoes.” Her tone indicated that she would brook no opposition.
“I can’t,” Maggie began and turned to Susan, who had already slipped off her shoes and donned one boot.
“Come on, Mom,” Susan said. “They’re right. You don’t want to spend your honeymoon in a cast.”
Maggie looked between Amy and Susan, and slipped off her shoes. With John’s help, she tugged on the practical footwear and concealed them under the layers of hem.
Uncovering Secrets: The Third Novel in the Rosemont Series Page 22