The Perfect Recipe for Love and Friendship

by Shirley Jump

  THIRTY

  Abby stood on the front porch of Jessie’s parents’ gray saltbox house in a tony neighborhood of Newton, clutching a bouquet of daisies and trying not to sweat. She’d rehearsed what she wanted to say thirty times in her head on the drive over, but every time, the words had sounded hollow, cheap. Like she was trying too hard.

  She blew out a breath and pushed the doorbell. A series of gongs bellowed inside. She waited, counting the beats in her head. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Just as she raised her hand to ring the bell again, the door opened. And there was Jessie.

  Abby’s heart hitched. She tightened her hold on the flowers and tried not to be an idiot who burst into tears.

  Jessie’s hair was in a messy ponytail. She had on an old T-shirt of Abby’s—Bruce Springsteen’s faded image filled the front—and a pair of sweats. Her feet were bare, the polish chipped. And Abby thought she’d never looked more beautiful.

  She sucked in some courage and moved forward, thrusting the flowers in front of her like a knight’s lance. “First, these are for you, and if I don’t give them to you now, I’ll crush them because I’m so nervous. I know daisies are your favorite, and I hope you like them. Second, before you say anything at all, please let me explain.”

  Jessie took the flowers, but the look on her face was pained. “Abby—”

  “Jessie, please.” Abby drew in another breath. The second she opened her mouth to say her practiced speech, the entire thing flew out of her mind. There was no right way to undo all the damage of the last few weeks. Not enough words in the world to tell the woman who had saved her when Abby had gone off the rails—drinking too much, cursing too often, hopping from job to job and relationship to relationship looking for what she had lost the day of Bridget’s wedding—that she owed her life to Jessie. That she was Abby’s whole world, and nothing felt right without her in it. “I know I’m not going to say this right, and not at all like I practiced in the car, but let me just start with—I was wrong. So, so wrong to not tell my family about you. I knew they would judge you and judge me, and I was trying, in my own weird way, to protect you from that. I didn’t want them to hurt you like they’ve hurt me.”

  “Oh, Abs.” Jessie took a step forward but didn’t touch Abby, didn’t completely close the gulf between them. “It would have been okay.”

  “No, it wouldn’t. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, and they should know that and respect it. You take my wild and crazy and tame it, and you make me want to be a better version of myself.” She ran a hand through her hair and searched for the words she needed. She’d never been good at this part. Put a lump of dough in front of her and she could form a wreath of bread. But give her a bunch of words and Abby felt like she was grasping at straws, trying to fashion them into a house. “What I mean to say is that when I’m with you, I feel…safe.”

  Tears welled in Jessie’s eyes. Inside the house, someone was watching Wheel of Fortune. Pat Sajak’s voice floated on the air, celebrating the award of another trip to Switzerland, which seemed so alternate universe right now. Abby stood on the porch while the sun beat down on her and tried to remind herself to breathe.

  “Oh, Abs, damn it, I can’t stay mad at you. Because…because I feel the same with you. Safe. Loved. Needed,” Jessie said. But still she didn’t move any closer. The gap between them remained, maybe too wide to traverse.

  Abby plowed forward, a jumble of what was in her heart and what she had rehearsed. “I don’t care what my family thinks anymore. I told my mother I was in love with you and that I was going to marry you. Then I walked away from her, from the bakery.” Abby shrugged. “If she can’t accept us, accept me, then I don’t need her in my life.”

  Jessie shook her head. She laid the flowers on the table inside the door. “You can’t just walk away from your family. I mean, they’re family, Abs.”

  “You are my family. And, God, I need you, Jessie. Today, tomorrow, forever. I want to marry you, and I don’t want to wait for a hall and a DJ. I want to marry you now. Today. Tomorrow. Whenever you say. Just please, please say yes.”

  “Today?”

  “Sure. Why not?” Abby waved toward her car. “Let’s go run down to city hall and grab a judge or city clerk or whatever it is we need and get married.”

  Jessie shook her head again, and for a second, Abby’s heart fell. All this had been for nothing. She was too late, had done too much damage. The door was going to close, and Jessie was going to disappear from her life. Jessie’s gaze dropped to the floor.

  Then Jessie looked up, and the tears had been replaced with laughter, joy. “You’re crazy, you know that?”

  “Crazy about you.” Abby reached for Jessie and took her delicate hands in her own. She’d always liked Jessie’s hands, how they moved when she talked, how her fingers curled around Abby’s when they were sitting together on the sofa. “Come on, let’s get married and have the expensive party later.”

  “You really want to do this?”

  “More than anything in the world. I love you, Jessie. I really, truly do.”

  Jessie reached out and hauled Abby against her. In an instant, the nerves in Abby’s chest disappeared. She inhaled the fruity scent of Jessie’s shampoo, and leaned into her soft embrace, and thought to herself, This is what home feels like.

  “I love you, Abby O’Bannon.” Jessie pressed a kiss to Abby’s hair. “Let’s get married.”

  Someone on the television won a new car, and the audience erupted into applause and wild whoops. Abby held on to the one person in the world she couldn’t live without, a gift so much better than any Honda sedan.

  THIRTY-ONE

  Bridget stood in the stark gray hallway of Boston City Hall, wearing a pale pink dress she had found in the back of her closet. A long time ago, it had been her favorite, but Jim had hated the pale color on her and the dress had gathered dust. She vowed to wear it more often going forward, a lot more often.

  She’d swept her hair into a loose chignon, added a spray of baby’s breath, and slipped on a pair of nude pumps that fit so well, she could have worn them for days, unlike those mean black shoes from the funeral. When she got home, she was throwing those damned things away. In fact, she was throwing away anything that didn’t make her happy. Didn’t fit the new and improved Bridget.

  She had arrived at city hall a good half hour early. After getting Abby’s text last night, she didn’t want to risk missing this wedding. Magpie and Nora were on their way—Magpie flying in from Texas, and Nora grabbing her from the airport just in time. Aunt Mary had said she’d meet Bridget at city hall, saying she had an errand to run first.

  “My God, you are stunning and a very nice surprise to see.”

  Bridget spun around and found Garrett standing behind her. A part of her had hoped she’d see him at city hall, even though she hadn’t told him she’d be here today, and his work didn’t take him up this way very often. She smiled and felt a blush creep into her cheeks. “Thank you.”

  He glanced over at the city clerk’s office door. “Please tell me you aren’t here to marry somebody?”

  Bridget laughed. “No. Just to watch my sister get married.”

  “That’s great. And I mean that on multiple levels.” He took a step closer and reached up to twirl a loose tendril of hair gently on his finger. Bridget had to remind herself to breathe. “I like your hair like this. I like your dress. I like the whole package.”

  “Thank you again.” She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been complimented that much. It was heady, intoxicating. As was the way he looked at her, the same way some people looked at the cookies in the case. That made her think about him taking a bite—

  Not appropriate. She was in a government building, waiting for her sister’s wedding. There was undoubtedly some ancient Puritan law on the books outlawing such a thing. “What are you doing here today?” she asked Garrett.

  “One of my clients is trying to get a new building approved, so I’m here to
throw myself on the sword of the mayor’s mercy so we can get the permits taken care of.”

  Men in suits and clerks with loaded arms scurried past them, breaking like the Red Sea around the two people in the middle of the hall. A sullen boy stared at them as he walked by, his father keeping a directing hand on the boy’s shoulder. Any second now, her family was going to get off the elevator, and Bridget would have to explain Garrett. But that was okay. It was about time she explained him. She was ready to make him a part of her life, her world.

  “So…what are you doing after the wedding?” Garrett asked.

  “Going back to my house. We’re having the reception there.”

  “Am I allowed to say I’m disappointed?” He shifted closer to her. She caught the dark, masculine scent of his cologne, and it made her want to kiss his neck, to follow the trail of that scent. “Because I’d love to take you out in this dress.”

  “I’d like that.” She inhaled. “Very much.”

  A smile curled across his face. “God, I like you, Bridget.”

  The busy city hall seemed to disappear. All she saw, all she knew, was the way this man was smiling at her. Her breath hitched, her pulse raced, and she wondered—no, hoped—he would kiss her. “I like you too.”

  His smile widened and lit his eyes. She loved his smile, how it seemed to take over his whole being. “Then maybe we should do something about that.”

  Her heart stuttered. “Maybe we should.”

  Very slowly, Garrett leaned in, his green eyes locked with hers. At the last second, she closed her eyes and surrendered to the kiss. His lips drifted across hers with a feather touch at first, and she let out a soft mew of anticipation and the kiss deepened. Electricity lit every nerve in her body, and when his hand cupped her jaw, his thumb tracing a seductive line beside their lips, she almost melted.

  Too soon, Garrett pulled back. “Damn. I’m supposed to be at work. And be all professional lawyer-guy right now.” He lowered his voice and brought his mouth to her ear. “But all I can think of is taking you out of here and to somewhere private for one very long, very nice afternoon.”

  The deep growl of desire in his words made her wish she could take him up on that offer. Right now. “Let’s, umm…start with dinner and see where that goes.”

  “Tomorrow night?”

  “Actually, tonight.” Why put one more element of her life on hold? Things were changing, and this new Bridget, the one who had been stifled for too long, was embracing those changes. “Why don’t you come over and meet my family? If you still want to stay after that, then we’ll see where this”—she pressed a finger to his lips, repeating his words with a flirt in her voice—“goes.”

  “Deal. I’ll bring the wine.”

  She gave him her address and a time to be there. He left her with a quick kiss on the cheek and a song in her heart. She glanced over her shoulder after he left and caught him looking at her too.

  Bridget blushed and turned back. But not without a small smile of satisfaction. He really did like her—and she really did like him.

  The elevator opened, and a second later, Nora and Magpie came down the hall, Nora carrying several bouquets of flowers. Magpie had her professional Nikon around her neck and was wearing a blue floral patterned dress that swirled around her knees. Nora had opted for something more conservative—a light coral dress with a scoop neck. She had on low heels and had pushed her hair back with a sparkling headband. “Are we late?” Nora asked.

  “Nope. The brides aren’t even here yet.” Bridget glanced at her watch. “We have ten minutes.”

  “And Ma?”

  Bridget shook her head. She hadn’t heard anything from her mother since the fight in the bakery yesterday. No texts, no phone calls, nothing. Abby told her she’d invited Ma, but there’d been no response.

  The other girls sighed. “I’m not surprised,” Nora said, “but I am disappointed.”

  “Me too. I was hoping she’d be here. I even left her a voice mail with the time and place, but…” If Ma missed this wedding, she’d be carving a wound in this family that might never heal.

  “Yeah, I know,” Nora said, reading what Bridget left unspoken. Nora separated the simple, ribbon-tied bouquets of daisies and lilies, handing one to Magpie, another to Bridget. “I’ve got ones for Abby and Jessie, too, though I wasn’t actually sure which one of them wanted a bouquet. God, I hope I didn’t screw that up. There should be a how-not-to-offend-your-sister’s-new-wife book out there. I’m not quite sure how to act.”

  “Act like Abby is marrying the person she loves. That’s all.” Bridget put a hand on Nora’s shoulder. “I don’t think either of them are going to care about flowers or ribbons or whether the sky is gray today. I think Abby’s just going to be thrilled we are here, and everything else is just…”

  “Gravy,” Magpie finished.

  “Exactly.” The elevator at the end of the hall dinged, and the doors slid open. The conversation halted, and all three women turned.

  Abby and Jessie stepped off the elevator, holding hands and wearing similar versions of the same knee-length white dress. Jessie’s had a sweetheart neckline and a dark blue ribbon around the waist while Abby’s had a simpler scoop neckline. No veils or tiaras, just simple elegance, which seemed to fit both of them perfectly.

  Magpie shoved her bouquet into Nora’s hands and ran forward and drew them both into a hug. “Oh my God! You both look gorgeous! Happy wedding day, both of you!”

  Abby stepped back and smoothed a hand down the dress. “Thanks. Though I’d be a lot more comfortable in a hoodie and jeans.”

  “After the wedding, you can wear whatever you want.” Jessie kissed Abby’s temple. “But for now, let’s at least look bridal. Okay?”

  “Okay.” Abby drew in a deep breath.

  “Are you ready?” Magpie asked. “Bridge says we have ten minutes until your appointment with the clerk.”

  Abby exhaled, clenching and unclenching her hands. “I’m nervous. This is a big deal.”

  “Look at me, Abs.” Jessie caught Abby’s gaze and brought their foreheads together. “It’s gonna be fine.” They stared into each other’s eyes for a long, tender moment while people hurried through city hall in a constant wave. Bridget could see her nervous sister gaining strength, calm, from Jessie’s touch. Her shoulders relaxed, her frown lines eased, and her breathing slowed.

  “Yes, I’m ready,” Abby whispered. They exchanged a soft, gentle kiss, and then a smile meant only for Abby spread across Jessie’s face.

  “Me too,” Jessie whispered.

  “God, I hope I meet someone who loves me like that,” Magpie whispered. “That is just too damned sweet.”

  Bridget grinned at her little sister, usually the very vocal anti-commitment and anti-settling-down one. “Are you getting sentimental on me?”

  “Hell no.” Magpie dabbed at her eyes. “I just watched too many sad movies on the plane, and now I’m all sappy. It’ll wear off soon.”

  Nora leaned in and gave Magpie a wink. “Don’t bet on it. Now that you’re all softened up by a real-life love story, maybe there’s some guy out there who can tame the last O’Bannon girl.”

  “Good Lord. I have to get away from you two before you grab some stodgy lawyer and make him marry me. I’m just saying that was a sweet moment, not a reason for me to jump off the marriage cliff too.” Magpie grabbed the extra bouquets from Nora and strode forward. She handed Abby and Jessie each some flowers. “Hey, guys, it’s time. Are you ready?”

  “Yup.” Abby took Jessie’s hand, and they started toward the city clerk’s office. Just before they reached the door, the elevator dinged again. Abby froze in place for one long second. Then slowly, she pivoted back.

  Hope was written all over her face, in the way she leaned toward the elevator doors as they shuddered open, the way she held her breath. Bridget whispered a prayer that the person getting off the elevator was the one person they all wanted to see. She watched her sister’s face, watched t
he hope begin to slide away, and then a light in her eyes—

  And a smile wider than Boston Harbor. “Ma. You came.”

  Ma and Aunt Mary, complete with a bow-tie-wearing Pedro, walked down the hall toward Abby. Aunt Mary’s bright, floral maxi dress skimmed the floor and showed peeks of sparkly sandals. Ma was wearing her church clothes, a dark blue button-front knee-length dress along with her sensible black shoes. She held her purse in both hands in front of her, her knuckles white. Here, but clearly not comfortable with it.

  “Would you look at you girls? Oh my goodness, you all look so beautiful,” Aunt Mary said, greeting and hugging each of her nieces in turn. She stopped and turned to Jessie. “So nice to see you under happier circumstances, and without mashed potatoes on the floor. I’m Abby’s aunt Mary, by the way. Welcome to the family.”

  Jessie shook hands with Mary. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  They all waited to see what Ma would say. Bridget was pretty sure every single one of them was holding their breath at the same time.

  The world of city hall kept moving forward, people rushing off to hearings and meetings, security guards making the rounds, snippets of arguments escaping whenever a door opened. The plain, ancient building stood strong and cool, as if saying it had withstood hurricanes and floods and battles and would withstand this small family war too.

  “Congratulations to you both,” Ma said with a little nod. “You both look…lovely.”

  Abby stood beside Jessie, a protective hand on her fiancée’s waist. She reached for her mother’s hand and tugged her closer. “Ma, I’d like you to meet Jessie, my wife-to-be.”

  Colleen hesitated for a split second. The air stilled, but then Colleen’s face relaxed and she reached out to draw Jessie into a hug. It wasn’t a warm, known-you-all-your-life hug, but it was a start. “Welcome to the family, Jessie. Take good care of my daughter.”

  “I will, Mrs. O’Bannon. I promise.” Jessie wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye. “And thank you. It’s an honor to marry Abby.”