by Amie Denman
“I...” Alice began, but she couldn’t think what to say.
“At least the guy got three weeks,” Nate said. “Better than finding out the night before.”
Alice felt the breath leave her body and her face went numb.
“What are you talking about?” Jack asked.
Nate clammed up and his face went white. Alice could only imagine how shocked he was that he’d said something so personal in front of other people. His PR neutral smile was gone, but the damage was done.
“He’s talking about me,” she said. She heard someone gasp, and seeing the surprised looks on the faces of people she liked and worked with made her feel exposed and guilty. Trying on the unworn wedding dress at home had been a lot easier than revealing to Starlight Point’s staff that their wedding planner was herself a runaway bride.
Nate shook his head, as if asking her not to say he was the one she’d left. She had to say it, wanted to say it. The truth, no matter how painful, was the one thing she had learned to count on. But she could only expose the part of the truth she owned. The owner of the rest of the story had to do that for himself.
“I left someone at the altar with only hours to spare,” she said.
She waited for Nate to reveal that he was the one jilted. Everyone in the room could guess it, couldn’t they? Why wouldn’t he say it?
Nate pulled his face into his everything’s fine smile. “I believe there’s still some punch left in that bowl on the table.” How the heck did he manage to sound glib and jovial? “We should drink a toast to whoever that poor guy was.”
Several people laughed, and Alice felt her cheeks brim with humiliation as she left the party. Her passion for exposing the truth had exposed only herself.
“Hey,” June called after her. Alice was halfway to her office, where she intended to grab her purse and coat and take off for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. “You okay?”
“Fine,” she said. She turned and pasted on a smile that was a complete lie. “It’s water under the bridge. Happy Thanksgiving!”
It was kind of June to care about Alice’s feelings, and Alice wanted to spare her any worry. But she wished Nate had been the one to rush after her.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“I DID THE MATH,” Evie announced. “And I’m not just using this as an excuse. It was almost the same price for me to have a caterer prepare all this food than it would have been for me to buy it myself and prepare it. If you consider my time as a valuable commodity—which it is—it’s a wash.”
“So Scott can put away the fire extinguisher?” Jack asked. “I’m sure he’s disappointed.”
“I’m not that bad a cook. It came down to practical finance.”
“And you can’t argue with the results,” Henry said. He helped Evie peel back the foil covers on the warming trays delivered only moments earlier by the caterer. It was so nice being invited to a family Thanksgiving after years of being in airports and cockpits. He could easily get used to being part of this family. “The food smells delicious.”
“I had the caterer slice the turkey for us,” Evie added.
“Come on,” Henry said. “That’s the best part. You get to use sharp implements and be a hero.”
Henry thought he’d get a laugh, but instead Evie looked flummoxed, Jack looked out the window and Virginia looked as if she might cry. What had he said?
After a moment, conversation started back up when Scott and Caroline related a funny story about someone they knew who ordered Chinese food every year on Thanksgiving. Henry breathed again and searched for some way to either be useful or blend in. Even though his sister had invited him to her family’s celebration every year, he had only gone twice because he’d volunteered to work holiday shifts. It paid well and gave him the satisfaction of helping his colleagues who had spouses and children.
He’d always suspected he was missing out, but it’s hard to know what you don’t know.
One by one, everyone moved down the kitchen counter and filled their plates from the catering bins. Sliced turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, gravy, salad, rolls and assorted finger foods for the kids. Henry handed out plates, claiming he was trying to decide what to eat while he waited for everyone else, but really wanting to make himself useful.
June put a bottle of wine on the kitchen counter and dug through the drawer near Henry for a corkscrew. “That was always my father’s job,” she whispered. “Carving the turkey. It’s been five years since he passed away, but it’s still a taboo topic for some reason.”
“Oh.”
“You didn’t know,” June said. “Family holidays are minefields waiting for some poor sucker to misstep.”
“Any other tips you might want to share?”
“Just be yourself.” June used the corkscrew to work the cork out of the bottle of red wine. “My mother likes you for a reason.”
“Do you?”
She poured two glasses. “I want her to be happy.”
Another advantage of going last through the food line was scoping out exactly where he was supposed to sit. He’d already tallied up the number of people and chairs, and the numbers matched. By the time he sat down, there would only be one choice, so he couldn’t screw it up. What if Ford Hamilton had always occupied the head of the table? Should he avoid sitting there?
June handed her husband, Mel, a glass of wine and sat with him and their two children. Jack, Augusta and their daughter were on the same side of the long table. Evie, Scott, Caroline and Matt were on the other side with Virginia and one empty chair—his only choice. Henry had never met Ford Hamilton, but he knew the guy had to be something special to be the head of Starlight Point and a wonderful family like this. How could he ever compete?
He couldn’t. Plain and simple. All he could do was take June’s advice and be himself. And take the empty seat next to Virginia.
“Next year we’ll have another new family member,” Augusta said.
Henry froze for a moment and then realized what she was talking about. Evie’s baby.
“And I hope it won’t be long before we hear good news about another one,” Augusta continued.
Flying a jet with three hundred souls on board was less stressful than this.
“Don’t look at me,” Caroline said. “I need a few more years of police work under my belt before Matt talks me into producing the next generation of construction engineers.”
“Be a team player,” Jack said. “We’re going to need new rides built, and if we keep it in the family, it’s a win for everyone.”
“It’s a holiday,” Virginia said. “You’ll have to take over the amusement park world after dessert.”
“About that,” Evie said. She swallowed and held up one hand as if she had something important to say. “I didn’t get pumpkin pie this year.”
“But we’ve always had that. It was your father’s favorite,” Virginia protested. Henry watched the faces of the family members, wondering if this was one of the landmines June mentioned.
Evie turned white and got up from the table. Scott jumped up and followed her as she went toward the hall leading to the bathroom.
“It’s either the color or texture,” he explained over his shoulder. “She’s hardly had morning sickness all fall, but one look at pumpkin pie and she’s...well, you know.”
Virginia laughed, dispelling the tension. “There’s always next year.”
The talk turned to family issues involving cousins, in-laws and other extended members Henry didn’t know. They discussed school and preschool, and changes they were making to their houses. The chances of local sports teams in football and the upcoming basketball seasons. All the things normal families talked about around the dinner table. Evie returned with more color in her cheeks, drank some water and ate a dinner roll.
The meal was friendly, personal, loving. June tried to
include him in the conversation when it switched to travel, and Scott asked questions about airplanes. Matt wanted to know about his favorite airports and their construction and design. Henry enjoyed the food, conversation and the possibility he could belong to a family—something he deeply regretted missing out on. Was it too late for him?
Being next to Virginia stirred feelings other than regret. Spending most of the last year with her had made him realize he could spend the next year and the next. When he touched her hand or she smiled up at him to share something she already knew he understood, the emotion was as sweet as the brief kisses they had exchanged. There was already more than friendship and Henry hoped it was the tip of the iceberg.
He’d had romances and relationships over the years. A few of them stretched into months and one a little longer, but they had never given him the feeling he had now. The feeling that if it ended, he would be alone on an island, devastated. The longing he felt and the physical need to scoot his chair closer to Virginia’s—this had to be love, and it was terrifying. Not because of what he felt, but because he didn’t know what she felt.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Virginia said. She leaned close and her hair brushed his cheek. Heat radiated throughout his chest and spread up his neck and face. “Are you all right? I know it’s getting a little hot in here with the fireplace going and all these people.”
“I’m fine,” he said.
“Well, you might want to run because the torture is about to begin. Family movies. Old ones from when the kids were little. We’ve been watching some every year, and this year we’re up to Jack’s third grade play and Evie’s first steps.”
Was she giving him an out in case the movies made him uncomfortable, or did she want him to leave because it was none of his business? As much as he’d come to like and even love the Hamiltons, maybe he was fooling himself if he thought they were his family.
“I planned to step out to the nursing home and visit my mother’s sister.”
“You still have an aunt in Bayside?”
Henry nodded. “She lived with my parents for years until her health deteriorated. I try to visit her at least once a week now that I’m her only relative in the area.”
Virginia put a hand on his. “That’s really nice.”
Was she going to offer to go with him?
“You should make up a plate of food and take it to her. There’s plenty left and it’s probably better than what she’s getting there.”
So much for offering to go with him. Instead, she was offering him a graceful exit.
* * *
“MASHED POTATOES AND GRAVY, hold everything else,” Alice’s mother said as she handed her a plate.
Her sister Lauren grinned and turned to her twin four-year-old daughters. “I think this all started with a potato costume for the school play when she was in second grade.”
“I was a tree that year,” Mallory explained to Todd, who’d recently gone from being her boyfriend to her fiancé. “All the kindergarteners were.”
“I’m glad you don’t eat trees as a result,” he said.
“I could be a tree hugger, though. I’m looking for a good way to use my environmental science degree.”
“You should have majored in something practical like education,” Lauren said. “I have a job.”
“Good for you,” Mallory said, raising a glass of wine to her eldest sister. “You were always the smart one.”
“Hey,” Alice said. “I thought I was the smart one. At least I save all my calories for foods I truly love instead of worrying about balancing out my plate.”
Alice’s mother stood at the head of the table and pointed her serving spoon and fork at her three daughters. “I’ve missed you, bickering and all.”
The mashed potatoes were amazing. Made from scratch with heavy whipping cream and plenty of butter. Even when Alice was thirteen and worried about how she looked in her skimpy figure skating outfits, she’d never departed from her love affair with her favorite food.
It had been on the menu for her wedding—rehearsal dinner and reception. She always advised brides to consider the dietary expectations of their guests for most of the food selections, but she also encouraged them to include the one thing they considered comfort food. For some brides, it was chocolate, for others buttery biscuits and for one notable bride it had been caviar. Comfort comes in all price ranges.
“So how’s the wedding business at the Point?” Lauren asked. “I would have gotten married there if they were doing weddings a few years ago.”
“They started booking fast this past season, and next year looks solid already,” Alice said.
“How’d you get started planning weddings?” Todd asked.
“I started off doing special events like beautiful baby contests and sand castle parties on the beach, but then the Hamiltons shifted me over to weddings because that’s where the money is. I’m now in charge of colors, flowers, cakes, pictures, invitations and every other wedding decision the bride wants help with.”
“That sounds hard,” Todd said. He put down his fork and turned to Mallory. “Are you sure you want to marry me if you have to face all those choices?”
“We have an expert in the family,” she said and stood up. “What do you think about a June wedding for us next year?”
It wasn’t just a question. It was also an announcement. Mallory and Todd had been vaguely engaged with no definite date for at least a year.
Their mother put down her serving implements and smiled broadly at her youngest daughter. “Have you finally picked a date? Can I get my dress now that I know what season and century the wedding will be in?”
Mallory grinned. “We’re thinking second weekend in June, but we’re going to need professional help.”
“Here in Bayside?” Alice asked. She was already scrolling through possible venues on her phone. June was a tricky choice because of its popularity. Would anything be available only seven months out?
“I was thinking maybe at Starlight Point,” her sister said. “We looked at all the wedding information on the website and started falling in love with the idea. That’s when I also noticed someone’s name listed as the PR man for the Point.”
“You mean Nate Graham,” Alice’s father said reasonably, as if he wasn’t dropping a grenade into the family conversation.
Alice nodded. “We work together.”
“How?” Lauren asked. “Isn’t it awkward?”
“The same way you work with anyone. I’m sure you don’t love every single one of your seventh graders and their parents, but you find common ground, right?” she asked Lauren.
“With almost all of them. But some of them, sheesh, I’m just hoping they grow up over Thanksgiving break. Or move to a different school district.”
“It must be weird seeing Nate all the time,” Mallory added. “You’re braver than I am.”
Her sisters didn’t mean harm. They’d been there for her after the wedding and cheerfully sacrificed the cash they’d spent on matching dresses and shoes. They probably really did think Alice was fine...even brave.
But they didn’t know about the previous day’s humiliation at Starlight Point when Nate had refused to acknowledge being a party to her failed wedding. He’d left her dangling in front of the whole room as if she were a broken bulb on a Christmas tree. It hurt her more than she wanted to admit.
But her sisters clearly believed her to be over it. Her mother had probably even told them that the unused wedding gown was on sale at her shop. Over it.
“Well,” Alice said lightly. “Starlight Point is a big place. It’s not that hard to ignore Nate Graham and focus instead on the most perfect day in the life of other brides.”
Her mother finally sat down now that all the plates were filled. “Do you ever wonder what happens to those couples after they get married?” she asked.
“I hope they go on an awesome honeymoon someplace where there are no children,” Lauren said, sighing as she spoke. “I could use one of those about now.”
“I’d like to imagine the bride and groom looking just as happy as they did during their first dance all the rest of their lives,” Alice said.
Her father laughed and everyone turned toward him. “What? Based on my personal experience, I think Alice has the right idea.”
Her mother leaned over and kissed her dad. “I was already planning to cut your slice of apple pie bigger than all the other ones, but now I’m giving you two slices.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ON FRIDAY EVENING, Starlight Point sparkled with shimmering snowflakes and miles of red ribbon. Even Alice traded in her favorite pink clothing for Christmas red—deep red that wouldn’t clash with her auburn hair. She wanted to be everywhere at once, just to gauge the reception of her plans and the excitement.
“It’s incredible,” June breathed, her eyes alight with the holiday spirit. She stood next to Alice between the ice rink and the Christmas tree lot. Where hundreds of cars usually sweltered in summer heat, ice skaters and evergreens took a place on the asphalt. “Even better than I expected. When I saw all these plans last February, I was definitely impressed. But with snow and people and music everywhere...we’ve just got to do this every year. Maybe even bigger next year.”
“Whoa,” Alice said. “Let’s see how the attendance figures tally up or your sister won’t approve five dimes for next year.”
“Oh,” June said, waving her hand in the air. “Evie will be distracted by her new baby. It’ll loosen her up. Having a family does that to you—makes you put things in perspective.”
Alice nodded. She didn’t doubt June’s words a bit, but she wondered if she would ever have a chance to find out for herself.
At one time, she’d thought she had her entire life planned out. Did she regret not marrying Nate back then? No. But if she could go back in time and force him to face the truth, she would do it. And what was the truth? Had her perspective been off, shoved sideways by her own youth and the stress of planning a wedding? Did he really not love her enough to open his heart? She had recently begun to think she’d misjudged him because of the glimpses of emotion she’d noticed. But after the scene at the office party, she had no doubt she’d been right about him.
