by Lynne Hinton
“Well, that’s the hard part. She’s past the cancellation deadline for the hotel rooms and the reception area so she loses all the deposit money and has to pay a ridiculous fee for the band and the wedding planner.” Beatrice shook her head. “She’s called all of her guests but she hasn’t even called the hotel yet. She dreads having to hear what they’re going to tell her.” She took a sip of champagne. “I knew this whole destination wedding thing was a bad idea.” She turned to Louise. “You want to go to Mexico?” she asked, sounding facetious.
Louise shrugged. “Maybe,” she answered. “I can afford it, you know.”
The two women laughed and tapped their glasses together and enjoyed sips from their champagne. They both watched as Jessie and James danced, and Louise and Beatrice were both smiling, apparently enjoying the reception, when Louise saw Charlotte and Donovan coming out of the house and walking down the back steps. She elbowed Beatrice in the side. “You better get ready,” she said, knowing that Beatrice had called Donovan without Charlotte’s knowledge. Neither of them was sure how Charlotte was dealing with her ex-boyfriend’s appearance in her hometown.
Beatrice cleared her throat. She steadied herself, not knowing how Charlotte was going to react.
The young couple walked up. Charlotte was smiling, and Beatrice sighed, taking the smile as a positive sign.
“Louise Fisher, this is Donovan Sanchez, from New Mexico,” Charlotte introduced them.
“Nice to meet you, Donovan.” Louise stuck out her hand, and he shook it.
“Nice to finally meet you too, Ms. Fisher.”
“It’s Louise,” she said with a smile.
He nodded. “Louise,” he responded.
“And you, Bea, I think have already met Donovan,” Charlotte said, her voice sounding a bit stern.
“Well, yes, and it’s so lovely to make your acquaintance in person, Donovan,” Beatrice said with a smile.
“Donovan was telling me about your frantic phone call yesterday afternoon. Something about me being distraught and planning to go to a cemetery to drink.” Charlotte looked at Beatrice. “You want to tell me about that?” she asked.
Beatrice shrugged and grinned. “I just, well, I just remember you asking us about going to see Margaret again and I was, well, I was worried that maybe you were having a breakdown of some kind.”
“Right,” Charlotte said.
“In her defense,” Donovan said, taking Charlotte by the hand, “she was very worried about you.” He smiled at Beatrice and then turned to Charlotte. “And I’m very glad she did call,” he added.
Charlotte blushed and rolled her eyes at Beatrice.
The music ended, and everyone applauded as Jessie and James left the dance floor and walked over to where Charlotte and Donovan and their friends were standing. Charlotte introduced the couple to Donovan, and they greeted him with hugs and a slap on the back from James.
“It’s fine to meet you, Donovan,” James said to the young man he had only recently heard about.
“It’s wonderful meeting all of you too,” Donovan replied. “The two of you seem very happy together,” he added, speaking to Jessie and James.
“We are that,” Jessie noted. “Beatrice, you outdid yourself today,” she added. “The food is terrific. The music is perfect. What a wonderful, wonderful thing you did here.”
“It was certainly all my pleasure,” Beatrice said, enjoying the praise.
“It was a lovely ceremony,” Donovan said to Jessie.
“It was, and that is, as I said, because of Beatrice’s planning, and of course Charlotte’s officiating,” she noted. “We’re so glad you came to do this, Charlotte,” Jessie said with a smile. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome,” Charlotte responded. “I can’t think of anything I have ever had more fun doing.” She reached over and hugged Jessie.
“Well, I hope our wedding is just as lovely,” Donovan said with a smile, taking Charlotte by the hand.
The group turned their gaze from Donovan to Charlotte, who leaned back from her hug with Jessie and was grinning from ear to ear. She held out her left hand to display a newly placed turquoise and diamond ring.
“He asked and I said yes!” she exclaimed.
“Well, I’ll be!” Louise pulled Charlotte into a huge hug while the others clapped and shouted.
Beatrice was so stunned she couldn’t say a word, and finally Charlotte wrapped her arms around her and whispered a thank-you into her ear. “For once in my life, I am very glad you meddled!” she said, and kissed her friend on the cheek.
“Have you set a date?” Jessie wanted to know.
“Will you get married here or back in New Mexico?” Louise asked.
“We both want to have a ceremony in Gallup,” Charlotte replied. “Donovan is Navajo and he has an uncle who is a shaman and we’d both really like him to do the blessing. And I’d like it if the women at St. Mary’s could join us.” She glanced around, noticing how the group seemed a bit disappointed in the news that the wedding wouldn’t occur in Hope Springs. “But we decided that we’d like to do something with all of you too. So, since we’re both here, we thought we’d have our honeymoon with my friends now and then go back and have a ceremony and party in Gallup later in the year.”
Jessie smiled and touched Charlotte on the arm. “I think that’s a beautiful idea,” she said. “It will give us some time to get to know Donovan, and maybe we can have another party here. Beatrice is pretty good at this kind of thing, you know.”
“Jessie, I was worried that you and James would be heading out of town for a trip yourself. Are you planning a honeymoon of some kind?” Charlotte asked.
“We decided that we would rather spend our money on a nice vacation later in the year. We’d like to take the whole family on a trip but just not right now. And maybe since there’s going to be a wedding, that will be a trip out west!” Jessie said with a smile. “Anyway, we will be right here for the next few days while the two of you have your pre-honeymoon honeymoon.”
The two women hugged.
“Wait a minute!” Louise called out. “How about we all take a trip now?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” Bea was the one to ask.
“Well, what if I pay Robin back for all of her expenses incurred at her wedding resort, and the group of us, whoever would like to come along, go and enjoy what she planned?”
Charlotte appeared confused. “What are you talking about?” she asked.
“Robin is planning to cancel her wedding but she has to pay for everything because it was supposed to be next weekend.”
Bea turned to Louise. “You’d really do that?” she asked. “You’d give Robin the refund?”
“Yes, and I will pay for us all to enjoy a weekend in Mexico. We’ll have the engagement party, if Charlotte and Donovan want, and we’ll have a honeymoon with both the soon-to-be newlywed and renewed couples.” Louise grinned.
“Well, sounds like we need a toast for that,” James said.
Dick came over, and after hearing the call for a toast, retrieved champagne for the young couple and for himself. When they were all ready, they raised their glasses.
“James, if I may,” Louise spoke up. “Let us toast friendship and the surprise of good fortune.”
“And let us honor long love, tested and true,” Jessie added, smiling at her husband.
“And new love,” James noted. “The opening of a heart.”
“To James and Jessie and Charlotte and Donovan,” Louise added.
“To us all,” Beatrice said with a smile.
And everyone took a sip of champagne.
“It’s time for the newly remarried couple to cut the cake,” the DJ announced, and Jessie and James walked over to the table with the lovely wedding cake Beatrice had catered. They cut a slice for themselves, fed each other as pictures were snapped, and then everyone was served.
Donovan took a bite of his slice of cake and turned to the group of friends still
standing near him. “This is wonderful cake,” he commented. “Does anyone know the recipe?” he asked.
There was a moment of silence and then they all laughed as Beatrice gave a very satisfied grin. “I’ll go and make that call to Robin,” she said. “And get that lovely man a cookbook!”
A+
AUTHOR
INSIGHTS,
EXTRAS &
MORE…
FROM
LYNNE
HINTON
AND
AVON A
Reading Group Guide
1. Were you surprised by the marriages and proposals in this book? Which one surprised you the most, and why?
2. What was your reaction to George’s proposal to Louise, and to her answer? What are some of the reasons, besides love, that people marry?
3. Do you think Jessie overreacted when she discovered James had been involved with another woman while they were separated? How would you define betrayal in a marriage? Does it involve just a sexual relationship?
4. Bea’s daughter leaves her mother out of the engagement and wedding plans. What do you think was the main reason for this? Do you like her idea of a “destination wedding”?
5. Are Charlotte and Donovan a good match for each other? Do you think Donovan should still feel any responsibility for his ex-wife? Why or why not?
6. Does the title of the book make you think of all the wedding cakes you’ve eaten? What was the best-tasting cake you’ve ever had at a wedding? Which was the most beautiful?
7. If you’re married, talk a bit about your wedding. What do you remember most about the event? If you’re not married, what are your ideas about your wedding if you intend to have one?
8. If you’re married, do you remember your vows? Did you write them, or were they traditional from your religion or culture?
9. Have you ever helped plan a wedding? What was that experience like?
10. What’s the most unusual wedding you’ve ever attended?
An Interview with Lynne Hinton
How many weddings have you officiated since becoming an ordained minister? and which ones have been your favorites?
I couldn’t count the weddings I’ve done as a pastor and as a chaplain. But I suppose in my twenty years of being ordained I’ve probably been a part of seventy or eighty. Most of them have occurred in the churches where I served as the pastor, but I have to say that I prefer the outdoor weddings. Everyone always just seems more relaxed when we’re outside. The weddings are usually less formal and more fun!
What kind of advice do you give the husband- and wife-to-be?
It’s usually personalized to the couple and their needs or concerns but there are always common bits of advice that I share: Communicate often and well. Let the other person know when you are worried or unhappy about something. Don’t let things fester! Be willing to forgive each other, and don’t hold on to each other’s mistakes. I also like to encourage couples to remember how they feel on their wedding day and to hold on to that magic, to remember how they feel right then so when the years pass, they can recall why they made the commitment that they made. Finally, I stress having fun with each other and making sure that “play” is a part of the marriage.
Any good cakes?
Ah, the cakes! I usually prefer the simple ones since I’m not a fan of rich frosting. The last wedding I attended, the bride made angel food cakes with a raspberry sauce. It was perfect!
Any funny wedding stories?
At a family member’s wedding the best man pinned about fifty fake gold rings on the inside of his jacket. When the minister asked for the ring, he opened his jacket and asked, “Which one you like?” The look on the minister’s face was priceless!
At one wedding at which I officiated, the groom, best man, and I were waiting behind the church and were supposed to enter through a side door. When I knew it was time to come in, I reached for the doorknob and discovered it was locked. I had to run around the church and get someone to walk to the front and unlock it. And then I had to run back. Let’s just say that it was the fastest I’ve ever moved in a robe and heels!
What would be your advice to a couple planning a wedding?
Keep it simple. Make it fun. Weddings shouldn’t be stressful and folks shouldn’t be uptight. Make it a great party because, remember, it is a celebration!
My Most Meaningful Wedding Experience By Lynne Hinton
Ronny and Peggy were in their early twenties when I met them. They dropped by the church where I served to ask about having their wedding there. I explained to them that we had certain requirements for nonmembers, which included having the couple attend the church a couple of Sundays, and they would need to meet with me for a few sessions. They agreed to the requirements. After attending worship at Mount Hope UCC, in Whitsett, North Carolina, they discovered that they liked the community and soon became active members. It wasn’t long after I first met the two that Ronny was diagnosed with melanoma that had spread to his liver and lungs. He began aggressive treatments and the wedding was postponed. Soon it became clear that his prognosis was not good, and there were many conversations about whether marriage was the best option for them. After Ronny became terminal, the cancer having spread to his brain, they both came to me with the desire to have a wedding.
We decided to have the ceremony during a regular Sunday worship service. It was easier on them, and it seemed important to me that this young couple know that we, as their new church home, were their family and that we supported them and would care for them as they married and as they faced whatever the future held.
The entire service was about love and the commitment required in marriage and from community. The choir sang love songs, and the congregation sang hymns celebrating the family of God. The children’s sermon was about marriage and my sermon was based on a Psalm that begins, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble,” and goes on to say, “I will trust in God’s stead-fast love.” And I spoke about choosing to walk together even if the path is laden with trouble and difficulty. I charged the congregation to walk with them and said that we would go this way together and in love. I spoke openly about Ronny’s condition and about the love the two of them shared, as well as the love we had for them. There were tears of joy and sorrow, and I will never forget the intimate and deep connection I felt with the couple, with the gathered community. I felt like the church was really being church. Later, we enjoyed a lovely time of fellowship and, of course, cake.
It wasn’t too many months later that Ronny died, his wife at his side. It is my only experience of baptizing, marrying, and burying a person. And this all occurred in the span of one year.
Almost every wedding I officiate, I think of that Sunday morning wedding and the love I witnessed between these two young people and the love we shared in the gathered community. We stood together and made a commitment to care for one another and to walk forward no matter what we knew and didn’t know that was ahead. It was my most meaningful wedding and one of my most meaningful worship experiences.
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Wendy Lee, fabulous editor, and Sally McMillan, trusted agent and friend.
I am thankful for the gift of being able to share this story and to everyone willing to read it. I am truly blessed.
About the Author
LYNNE HINTON is an international interim minister in the United Church of Christ. The author of numerous novels, including Friendship Cake, Hope Springs, Forever Friends, and Christmas Cake, she lives in northeastern Washington.
www.lynnehinton.com
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Also by Lynne Hinton
Fiction
FRIENDSHIP CAKE
HOPE SPRINGS
FOREVER FRIENDS
CHRISTMAS CAKE
THE THINGS I KNOW BEST
THE LAST ODD DAY
THE ARMS OF GOD
Nonfiction
MEDITATION
S FOR WALKING
Writing under the name Jackie Lynn
DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE
JACOB’S LADDER
SWING LOW, SWEET CHARIOT
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
WEDDING CAKE. Copyright © 2010 by Lynne Hinton.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
FIRST AVON PAPERBACK EDITION PUBLISHED 2010.
EPub Edition © 2010 ISBN: 978-0-061-99479-1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hinton, J. Lynne.
Wedding cake / Lynne Hinton.
p. cm.
1. Female friendship — Fiction 2. Church membership — Fiction
3. North Carolina — Fiction. I. Title.
PS3558.I457W43 2010
813′.54 — dc22
2009030361
10 11 12 13 14 OV/RRD 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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