Kelly simply nodded, as she relaxed into the Colorado summer afternoon. She caught a movement from the corner of her eye and turned to see Steve walk up to the little group.
“Hey there,” she greeted as Steve leaned down to give her a kiss. “We’re all relaxing and enjoying Cassie and Eric’s perfect day.”
“Oh yeah,” Steve said as he grabbed a loose lawn chair and placed it next to Kelly. “It may be July, but somehow this feels like a wrap-up of the summer.”
“Don’t even say that,” Greg said as he placed his empty cake plate on the grass below his chair. “I’ve still got rides scheduled with my cycling team. Summer can’t end until the last day of August on my calendar.”
“Well, look who’s coming over to join us,” Megan called out as Jennifer and Pete approached. “The Aunt and Uncle of the Bride.”
“Oh, I like that,” Jennifer said with a smile as Pete swiped a nearby chair and added it to the circle, then gestured for Jennifer to sit.
“I do, too,” Kelly said with a grin. “Auntie Jen and Uncle Pete.”
“Love it.” Pete grabbed another chair for himself as the semicircle expanded. “I tell you, guys. If I was any happier, I’d burst something.”
“Well, if you feel something starting to go, give us a heads-up,” Marty said. “I wouldn’t want to get any on my last bite of cake.”
“Oh, please make that the last piece, Marty,” Megan implored. “I’ve noticed Eduardo and Larry looking your way several times.”
“Yeah, they may block your cake access,” Steve teased as he relaxed back into his lawn chair and took a sip from his Fat Tire ale.
“All dressed up like this, you can see how beautiful Cassie is,” Pete said, a slightly wistful tone in his voice. “It makes me remember how young she looked when she moved in with Jen and me years ago.”
“Boy, those years have flown by,” Lisa remarked, looking toward Cassie and Eric.
“I don’t even want to think about it,” Megan said. “Time is passing way too fast to suit me.”
“That’s for sure,” Jennifer said.
“Okay, it sounds like we’re starting to get philosophical now, and that will upset my stomach,” Marty commented as he slouched back into his lawn chair.
“Well, we sure don’t want to risk that,” Steve said with a laugh. “I suggest we change the subject. Kelly, this sounds like a good time to bring out the card. What do you think?”
“I think you’re right,” Kelly said, turning to him. “This is a perfect time.”
Steve reached into the inside pocket of his summer sports coat and withdrew a white envelope then handed it to Kelly.
“Is that what I think it is?” Greg asked with a smile.
“It sure is,” Kelly said as she stood up. Then, she surveyed the varied gathering of friends and relatives, Cassie and Eric, and all their college friends. “Everyone! I have an announcement,” she said. Not surprisingly, only three or four heads turned her way.
“We need to get their attention,” Steve suggested, then glanced toward Marty. “Marty, time to do your thing.”
At that, Marty set his glass of beer on the grass beside his chair, placed two fingers in his mouth, and let out his signature earsplitting whistle. At the sharp, piercing sound, all the wedding celebrants jerked around and turned toward Marty, Kelly, and the circle of friends.
“Hoooooweeee!” Jayleen declared. “I think you got our attention.”
“Damn straight,” Curt said.
“Thank you, Marty,” Kelly said with a big smile. “I have a short announcement, then everyone can go back to enjoying this wonderful celebration.” She waved the white envelope in her hand. “The Gang wanted to give Cassie and Eric an extra wedding gift, because we all feel these two hardworking students surely deserve an extra treat.” She held out the envelope.
Both Cassie and Eric stared at Kelly for a second, clearly surprised. Then they walked over. “You didn’t have to do that, Kelly,” Cassie said, accepting the envelope.
“You guys have done so much already,” Eric added.
“Well, we just wanted to add this little treat,” Kelly said as she returned to her seat. She wanted to make sure Cassie and Eric held center stage.
Cassie slowly opened the white flap of the envelope and slid out the beautiful Happy Wedding card, showing it to Eric. Then she opened it, and her eyes popped wide. Eric stared at the inside of the card, too, his reaction matching Cassie’s.
“Is this . . . is this what we think it is?” Eric stared at Kelly and the Gang as they sat in their widened circle.
“You bet,” Steve assured the shocked pair. “It’s a reservation for two tickets on a one-week Caribbean cruise, leaving from Florida the week right before your university classes start at the end of August.”
An excited gasp sounded amongst the wedding guests as they all reacted to the gift.
“But . . . but the kids,” Cassie said, clearly concerned.
Megan gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “Don’t worry about them. Kelly, Lisa, and I will handle preschool for that crew. They’ll be fine.”
“Absolutely,” Lisa said with a grin. “We may even bring Greg and Steve in a couple of times, for variety.”
At that, Cassie and Eric started to laugh. Kelly and the Gang joined in as well as all of the wedding guests. Everyone started sharing hugs as the laughter and jubilant good humor rippled around the yard.
Kelly glanced around her for a minute and let all that jubilation and celebration fill every cell of her body—drinking it in. Good friends, love, and family. It was all good. Very, very good.
Travel Shawl
Perfect for traveling.
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS IN INCHES:
Approximately 26” wide x 60” long
MATERIALS:
100% Alpaca with 100% Superwash Fine Merino for borders (Color A—70 yards and Color B—70 yards)
NEEDLES:
Use #8–9 circular needles, 32” length
ABBREVIATIONS:
K = Knit; P = Purl; sts = stitches; Sl = slip one stitch; TW = twist yarns
Note: Twist yarn when you change colors on the wrong side of the shawl.
INSTRUCTIONS:
With color A cast on 7 sts, with double strands of alpaca cast on 80 sts, with color B cast on 7 sts.
Total 94 sts.
Row 1 (RS): with color B, Slip one stitch 11 times, K3, P2, K1, TW and with double strands of alpaca K80, TW, and with color A K1, P2, K4.
Row 2 (WS): with color A, Slip one stitch 11 times, P3, K2, P1, TW and with double strands of alpaca K80, TW, and with color B P1, K2, P4.
Repeat these 2 rows until piece measures desired length. Bind off loosely.
Pattern courtesy of Lambspun of Colorado, Fort Collins, Colorado. Pattern designed by Larissa Breloff.
Easy Crab (or Lobster) Bisque
1 pound crab meat (or 1 pound fresh lobster) in chunks
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon flour
½ cup light cream
½ cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
Dash of sherry
Paprika
Sauté crab meat (or lobster meat) in butter. Stir or whisk in white flour. Stir or whisk in light cream, heavy cream, salt and pepper, and sherry. Sprinkle with paprika. Enjoy!
About the Author
Maggie Sefton is the author of the New York Times bestselling Knitting Mysteries, including Only Skein Deep, Knit to Be Tied, Purl Up and Die, and Yarn Over Murder. She has worked in several careers over the years, from a CPA to a real estate broker in the Rocky Mountain West.
What’s next on
your reading list?
Discover your next
great read!
* * *
Get pers
onalized book picks and up-to-date news about this author.
Sign up now.
Dyeing Up Loose Ends Page 20