"It's because I'm just a kid, isn't it?"
"Yes. Kind of."
"Okay. That makes sense."
Polly turned to see if someone else had taken over Rebecca's body. She never gave in that easily. "What's going on in your little pink head?"
"I'm calling Kayla. Maybe Stephanie will help. She knows Mary, and Kayla has been friends with Libby as long as I have."
"Whew. I thought you'd given up on me there."
"Nope, just changing my plan of attack. If Stephanie drives us down, will you let me go?"
Polly laughed. "And this is why I love you. Never give up being you, my wonderful girl. Never. Let's see how things play out when we get home."
"But it's okay if I call Kayla?"
"Sure. You can call Kayla."
"Awesome."
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Opening gifts as Rebecca, Kayla, and Cilla ferried them to her, Cat kept things moving along. So far, the shower was exactly what she’d wished for, a relaxing time spent celebrating with friends and family. Brunch was fantastic, and though she'd begged for there to be no silly shower games, Nan Stallings had assigned a hashtag to the shower and asked everyone to upload photos of the morning, the sillier the better. Lydia purchased a large box of diapers and gave each woman a marker to write a silly or inspirational message on the back of a diaper. Cat figured she'd be laughing for a while as she put fun diapers on her baby.
Last night when they got home, Henry put his foot down. He insisted that Rebecca was too young to take care of a frightened mother, even if Rebecca was probably more put-together than Mary Francis. Though what happened to Libby was awful, Mary needed to handle it on her own. Judy Greene was already involved, and Rebecca needed to stay out of it.
Polly was so grateful for her husband some days.
While Rebecca had done her best to present a solid case, Henry refused to back down. Rebecca finally agreed it might be too much, especially since she'd had little or nothing to do with Libby since school started this fall. He forced her to acknowledge that she felt guilty because she hadn't taken more responsibility for repairing their relationship. When she finally heard what he had to say, Rebecca agreed that there was nothing she could have done to change this. Libby's actions were her own responsibility and no one else's, especially Rebecca's.
Judy called this morning to tell Polly she wouldn't make it to the shower. Jeff and Adam were settled in at the bed and breakfast, and she'd spent most of the night with Mary at the hospital. Once Libby was out of surgery and in a room, Judy had taken the kids back to their own apartment, where everyone slept for a few hours. She was waiting for them to wake up so she could take them out to her sister, Sandy's, farm. Then she would take fresh clothes down to Mary and spend the day there.
She was worried about being ready for tomorrow's open house at the bed and breakfast. Jeff was no help because he was strung out worrying over his own building. Polly had told Judy to do what she needed to do. People were more important than events. Besides, they were ready. They’d been preparing for this all week and there was nothing more to be done until the event began.
Lexi had slept through the night and when Polly knocked on her door this morning, she'd opened it and invited her in. When Polly told her the house would essentially be empty this morning, Lexi relaxed. Rebecca took breakfast up to her and made sure Lexi had everything she might need before they left for the day.
Chloe had been a bright spot in an otherwise stressful morning, excited and thrilled about her engagement and ready to meet more of Polly's friends. Now that she was officially Jon Renaldi's fiancée, she, too, was more relaxed. It made Polly chuckle to think that she was a threat to such a beautiful, young, accomplished, and talented woman. Jon might have had a crush on her once upon a time, but he'd never done anything about it and she certainly didn't see him as more than a friend. She never had. It had never mattered at all to her that Ray was gay, the crush she'd developed on him the first time they met would never fade.
Joss took a seat next to Chloe and whispered to her and Polly. "I just got a text from Nate. He's in heaven with everyone in his shop. JaRon and most of my kids are inside with Traci, but Elijah and Caleb are interested in the cars."
Polly leaned forward. "They're just interested in hanging out with the adults."
Joss pointed at Cat. "Cutest thing I've ever seen."
Chloe elbowed Polly. "Did you tell her she could sit up there?"
Cassidy had taken a seat directly in front of Cat. Holding her own baby doll, she snuggled it close every time Cat opened a present and talked about the baby to come. Every once in a while, she got up and went over to sit beside Agnes, who kept her occupied with a plate of fruit and a glass of punch. Then, she would wander over to Polly to make sure that nothing exciting had happened on that front. She generally got a hug and a place in Polly's lap for a few minutes until she wandered to her next mark. Lydia and Andy were easy targets. Marie Sturtz and her sister-in-law, Betty Mercer, were more than happy to hold on to the little girl for a few minutes.
"I can't believe you don't worry about her," Chloe said. "I'd be watching her every move."
Polly grinned. "I'm thankful that she's social. She wasn't for a very long time. There are at least thirty women in this room who love her more than she knows. She will never be safer than this and Agnes watches her like a hawk. As long as she's around, I’m not required to worry."
"What a great place for a child to grow up."
Joss smiled. "It's pretty nice. Isn't it, Sal?"
Polly turned to look behind her. "Chloe, you know Sal Ogden, right?" Chloe turned and put out her hand. "I just met you once, but I've heard about you."
"And this is Marnie Evans," Polly said, reaching back to touch Marnie's knee. "She works with Sal's husband at the veterinarian's office. Her daughter, Ella, is dating Heath."
Chloe nodded toward Cat. "Her husband's brother?"
"We're all related around here," Sal said with a laugh.
"We had a nice time with Cat and Hayden last night," Marnie said. "It was good to see the boys together. Heath talks about his brother all the time. There's a little hero worship there."
Polly frowned. She didn't see that at home. Not that it wasn't true. Heath had always loved his older brother, but she thought he'd lost that awe regarding Hayden. "That's wonderful. I don't think Hayden has any idea."
"Oh, he doesn't," Marnie said. She leaned forward and whispered, but loud enough the others around them could hear her. "Not long until you and I are hosting these together."
Polly snapped her head around. "Do you know something I don't know? How come I'm the last to ever hear about anything?"
Marnie cackled and grinned at Sal. "You were right."
Sal pushed at Polly's shoulder. "You are so easy."
"So, there's nothing going on yet?'
"Oh, there's plenty going on," Marnie said. She shook her head. "When Dave and I were dating, we weren't nearly as careful as Heath and Ella are. I try to accept that they're intelligent and old enough to make their own decisions …"
Polly interrupted, "But we remember when we were right on the edge of making bad decisions and we want to stop them from taking the same path we did."
"Yes," Marnie said. "Then Dave reminds me that we were worse. Much worse. He doesn't help the situation. All I can think of is what we were doing and how my parents should have locked me in my room until I was twenty-five."
"It's thirty-five for that one," Polly said, pointing at Rebecca.
Chloe frowned. "Isn't she dating someone?"
Joss turned Chloe to see Sylvie, who was sitting beside Lydia. "Her son, Andrew. That's Sylvie Donovan, who runs the bakery at Sweet Beans."
"How is that relationship going?" Chloe asked, watching Rebecca and her friends.
"I'm scared to death," Polly said. "But Henry is worse than me. I'm pretty sure he scared the chastity belts right back on those two kids."
The other four burst out laug
hing, loud enough that people in the room turned to look their way.
Cat's mother, Helena Mendez, helped her daughter up and out of the chair where she'd been sitting, and Rebecca pointed toward the bathrooms at the back of the room. Then Rebecca came over to Polly. "You've been whispering over here. You missed most of the gifts."
"Really," Polly said flatly. "Onesies, diaper pails, breast pumps, and highchairs, oh my."
Joss snorted. "You really are not a baby mommy, are you?"
Polly shook her head and laughed. "I'm so not and I'm happy to be in the minority." She glanced around the room where women were picking up baby stuff while cooing and oohing over how adorable it was. "Go ahead, you guys. You know you want to look and make googly noises at the adorable clothes."
"Don't tell me those little outfits don't make you all gooey inside," Marnie said.
"They are cute," Polly agreed. "I can't wait to buy the cute clothes. It will be easier when we know if it's a girl or a boy."
"I’m surprised they aren't going to find out," Joss said. "Everything is organized and planned before the baby even arrives."
"It gives you a false sense of security," Sal said with a laugh. "Just when you think you've got it all together, the actual baby shows up and your life is turned upside down and inside out. You need friends who will come over, clean your kitchen and put you to bed." She patted Polly's shoulder. "I have never been so grateful to see a friendly face as I was that day you showed up at my front door."
Polly frowned. "I did?"
"Mother had left me in a mess, remember?"
"Oh yeah," Polly said with a grin.
"My boss's wife knows your father, Sal." Chloe said. "She works at Mass General."
"Yeah? Tell me they don't socialize with my parents. If so, I'll apologize for Mother right now."
"They might, but she speaks highly of your father. We don't spend much time together, but I mentioned your name when I explained where Jon was last summer. He keeps using your maiden name, so that's all I could come up with at the time."
"It's all I can come up with sometimes, too," Sal said. "I keep promising myself that this year will be the year I finally remember that I'm Sal Ogden and not Kahane. And then, something rushes past me and I sign Kahane before I realize that's no longer my legal identity."
"Are you glad you kept your last name?" Chloe asked Polly.
"I guess. It didn't matter to either me or Henry. By the time we got married, I had established so much of my business as Polly Giller, it made sense to hold on to it. The kids all have Sturtz as their last name. It's funny. Everyone is so used to me being Polly Giller now, I don't even think about it. What are you going to do?"
Chloe lifted her eyebrows. "I don't know. Jon doesn't care. And you're right. My entire professional life is as Chloe Alberts."
"What about Jon's mother?" Sal asked with a grin. "What will she think?"
"That the Renaldi name was good enough for her and her family. Do I think I'm better than them?" Chloe did a great impression of Mrs. Renaldi. "We'll see. It's a long way off right now. The wedding planning is going to come together long before I have to make that decision."
"Wait," Sal said. "You're planning a wedding?" She leaned forward and pulled at Chloe's left hand. "Whooee, look at the beautiful ring. When did this happen?"
"Last night at Polly's house," Chloe said. "It was the sweetest thing. The little boys gave me roses, Elijah played the piano, and Cassidy carried the ring in on a pillow. Jon and Ray planned the entire event. They had my parents on one live-stream and Jon's mother and sister on the other."
"Did you know about it?" Joss asked Polly.
"Not a thing. The boys surprised us."
"When are you planning to have the wedding?" Sal asked. "Will it be a big event?"
"I want a fall wedding," Chloe said. "Can I pull it together in a year?"
"It depends on how crazy you get."
"Jon wants something simple, but I don't know if we'll get away with that."
Cat stepped into the center of the room. She waited a minute for the noise to quiet down. "Thank you for this beautiful shower. I have appreciated getting to know you all these last couple of years." She reached down and took Cassidy's hand when the little girl tugged on her long skirt. "There is still plenty of food, so please don't think I'm sending anyone away, but I'm told the organized part of the shower is finished and you're free to do what you like. Thank you again for your lovely gifts and for being here this morning." She sank back into her seat and smiled at her mother.
Jessie and Molly Locke walked toward Polly, Molly veering off to see her friend, Cassidy.
"Hi, Jessie," Polly said. She reached over and pulled a chair toward them. "This is Chloe Alberts. She's engaged to my friend, Jon Renaldi."
"One of the gorgeous brothers who show up and create chaos among all of us single women," Jessie said, fanning herself. "Lucky you."
Chloe giggled.
"This is Jessie Locke. She works for Henry's father. Runs his office. Her daughter, Molly, is there with Cassidy."
"She's adorable," Chloe said.
Jessie nodded. "I don't know what I'd do without her. Polly, do you have a minute?"
Polly stood up and took Jessie's hand. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. It feels weird to know that Austin is dead, and it feels weird that I'm not more emotional about it. I knew him and he was trying to contact me. Was he looking for help? Could I have stopped the murder if I’d answered my phone?"
"I doubt it. What time did he call you?"
"It was about ten o'clock."
"And he was murdered several hours later, right?"
Jessie nodded slowly. "That's right. So, he was just trying to get in touch with me again. I don't understand that at all."
"It’s hard to understand," Polly said.
"Have you told Lexi about me and Austin?"
Polly shook her head. "Not yet. I'm not trying to hide it from her, though. The topic hasn't come up."
"Do the clothes fit her?"
"She hasn't worn much. A pair of sweatpants and a sweater to get home from the hospital. Sal bought her a few nightgowns and a robe."
"Okay. If there is anything I can do, please tell me, would you? I know that we don't have any reason to be connected, but it feels like we are. I wanted to buy her a few things, but this week has been nuts."
"Sal bought those things for her. You’re fine."
"Even if she just needs to go out for pizza. I'll take her."
"That would be wonderful."
"There are so many wonderful girls our age in town these days," Jessie said. "It's fun getting together with them." She shook her head. "Sometimes I feel like I’m still a kid and then there are days when I think about Molly and I'm working on detailed reports for the business and I'm paying my own bills and I have to make dinner and do laundry. I don't feel like an adult, but I keep doing all of these adultey things. Things that my parents did. When did I get that responsible?"
Polly laughed. "It happens to the best of us. And there will be days when you're in the midst of those adultey things and wonder why the kid inside is making such big decisions. Only real adults should be doing that."
Jessie and Polly both turned at the squeals of the two little girls, Jessie faster off the block as she ran toward them. They pulled up short when Cat put her hand up. "It's okay. They just got into the diaper cream. I wasn't paying attention."
Molly held her creamy hands up. "It's soft, Mommy."
"What did you do?"
Molly recognized the tone and immediately pointed to Cassidy. "She opened it."
Polly laughed out loud. "Bathroom break for everyone. Come on, Cassidy. Time to clean up your …" Peering down, she realized that Cassidy had covered her face and legs in the cream. "… well, everything."
When she walked into the bathroom, she expected to face a wave of nostalgia. She'd cleaned these bathrooms many times, but they'd been renovated and only the basic
shape was part of her memory.
After propping the door open, she picked Cassidy up and set her on the stool, then pulled out first one, then two and three paper towels. Jessie sat Molly on the sink. "We're really adulting now," Jessie said.
"No kidding. Cassidy, why did you open the cream?"
Cassidy beamed up at her and shrugged. "I don't know. The top came off and it smelled good."
"The top just came off?"
"All I did was twist. It came right off." She held up an arm for Polly to de-grease. "Like your lotion."
"Did you know that you shouldn't open any of Cat's presents?"
Her daughter looked at the floor. "Am I in trouble?"
"A little bit. You know better than that, don't you?"
"Sorry."
"Oh my." Polly turned and grinned at Maude and Dawn Wallers. "We have a bit of a mess. How are you?"
Cassidy squealed again, pointing at the two of them. "Teacher! Miss Cat's teacher."
"Hi there, Cassidy," Maude said. "It's nice to see you today. Do you remember my daughter, Dawn?"
Dawn was the sweetest girl and an advocate in the community for Down's Syndrome. She helped her mother in the third-grade classroom after graduating from high school last year, giving the kids a fresh way to look at someone who was different from them. Maude brooked no bullying in her room and made sure her students learned to care for those who needed more attention.
Cassidy and Molly both beamed at the girl who smiled so gently at them.
"Dawn, this is Miss Cat's niece, Cassidy."
"I remember, Mama," Dawn said. "Hi, Cassidy."
"Hi, Dawn," Cassidy said. She looked at Polly. "Clean?"
"Clean enough. You need to change your clothes when you get home. How are you doing, Jessie?"
"We're done."
"Let's get out of your way, Mrs. Wallers," Polly said. "Was Ken out late last night?"
"Late enough. I hope Libby is okay."
"Me too."
"Her mother has a great deal to handle. I know she works for you out at the bed and breakfast. If you hear that there's anything we can do, don't hesitate to ask."
An Offering of Hope Page 19