At the sight of wall-to-wall people eating catered salmon and steak, Natalie thanked God once again for not blessing her with a daughter.
The church hospitality area with its adjacent patio accommodated nearly every member of Holy Cross Fellowship. Of course nearly every member attended the wedding reception because they all knew the Hathaways never spared the horses when it came to entertaining.
Natalie spotted Susan, cocreator of the extravaganza. Her sister-in-law claimed Melinda Hathaway needed very little help, but Susan now appeared downright haggard.
Natalie made her way through the throng and cornered her. “I didn’t know this was a costume party.”
Susan’s eyebrows lifted. It was probably all she had energy to do.
“Suze, you look like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off, racing to and fro.”
“I’m fine.”
“And I’m a tree. Hey, everything went beautifully. You can relax now! Take your heels off and eat some cake.”
Susan attempt to smile failed. “Did you notice the centerpieces?”
The showy red anthurium were hard to miss. They were part and parcel of a typical Hathaway production. The cost of flying flowers in from Hawaii guaranteed they would be noticed.
“Yeah,” Natalie said. “I give them a wow factor of ten.”
“They remind me of the bird-of-paradise behind the beach house.”
“There’s one there?”
“Yes. Growing right out of the concrete.”
“That wins a big wow factor too.” They hadn’t talked since Susan called her on Wednesday and asked her not to visit the beach house. “So how did your last few days go down there? Did you read in front of a fire and relax?”
“I did. It was good. But now—I don’t know. All I can think about is what you said.”
Uh-oh. What’d I say now?
“About the jot and tittle.”
“Hmm,” she murmured again, treading lightly. “You mean about not listening to him screen them? About listening instead for God’s permission? The ‘you go, girl’ comment?”
Susan gazed around the room and didn’t answer. Up close the haggardness worsened. Dark circles rimmed her eyes. She looked too thin in the simple pale blue sheath. Had she even slept last night? Maybe she had come home too soon.
“Suze, do you think you spent enough time away?”
“How would I know? I’ve never done such a thing.”
“Well, how do you feel right now?”
“Like I want to grab the microphone and announce that I’m going to be a grandmother. And please pray for Kenzie because she can’t come home and deep down she must feel so lonely and so rejected.”
“That would take care of Drake’s quandary of whether or not to slip it into some future sermon.” Natalie smiled gently. “Why don’t you go home?”
“They haven’t cut the cake yet.”
“Do you know how many former brides are in this room? Not to mention all it takes is a knife and the photographer in place. We’ll manage somehow.”
Susan shook her head. “There are other things, so many details—”
“Gwyn has been helping. Let her finish this business. Really, Susan, you look like you might keel over any minute. Go. You’ve reached your limit here. I’ll tell Gwyn.”
“I shouldn’t leave Melinda.”
“Look at her flitting between tables. She’s having the time of her life. I will make your apologies! Go. That was God’s voice granting permission.”
At last Susan made eye contact, her expression that of a woman drowning. She whispered, “I feel worse than I did last week.”
They stared at one another for a long moment. Natalie replayed Rex’s admonition that she not become more involved. But…
She was certain her blood pressure skyrocketed. This was Susan.
Natalie said, “Do you want my opinion?”
Susan closed her eyes.
“I’ll give it anyway. Your sabbatical was too short. And, for your information, the beach house is still ours to use.”
“Until Monday. Hardly worth—”
“Until the end of the month.”
Susan opened her eyes.
Natalie shrugged. “I paid for longer. Who knows? I thought somebody could use it. Maybe even Kenzie. So. If you replaced the key yesterday in the lockbox, then it’s still there.”
Susan’s face went from wild-eyed to wrinkled brow to open mouth with no sound. She clutched her hands to her stomach and walked away.
Natalie didn’t move. She’d done it again. Said way too much.
Someone squeezed her elbow. Rex. “Hi.”
She wrinkled her nose.
“What’d you say to her?”
“I think I just told her she should leave her husband.”