“Your mom is a lovely summer bride.”
Kylie and Brendan glanced at the small, elderly woman in front of them. They both broke out in smiles when they saw the little dog she held cradled in one arm.
Kylie took the small, gloved hand the woman extended. “You must be Miss Lily.”
“I am, indeed.”
“I’m so happy you could make it. Mom said it wouldn’t be the same without you. And Sweetums.”
Brendan looked to where their mother stood with her new husband. “You’re absolutely right, Miss Lily. Mom’s beautiful.”
“And so radiant.” The woman’s sparkling eyes moved from Brendan to Kylie. “It’s just delightful that she chose to have her wedding in the park. Sweetums would have hated to miss this auspicious occasion.” Miss Lily followed Brendan’s gaze back to the wedding couple. “And I must say, her new beau looks so happy.”
“They do, indeed.”
Kylie nudged her brother at the smug tone in his voice.
“How good of God to bring them together.” Miss Lily patted their hands, then moved away, holding a piece of wedding cake out for Sweetums to nibble on as she walked.
Kylie shot her brother a look. “Ha! Miss Lily got you good with that one.”
He shook his head. “Put in my place by a little woman who talks to her dog.”
Kylie laughed. “I only hope I’m half so elegant and sweet when I’m Miss Lily’s age.”
“Congratulations, team.”
They turned at the hearty call and found Gramps coming up behind them. He held three plastic goblets of punch. They each took a goblet.
“A toast.” Gramps lifted his goblet high.
“To us,” Brendan said.
“To Mom and Jericho,” Kylie added.
“To a mission well accomplished.” Gramps’s eyes were glowing.
They clinked their glasses together, then drained them.
Brendan looked around. “Pity there’s no fireplace to cast them into.”
“Not necessary.” Gramps took their empty goblets from them. “I’ll just put these away in case I need them again.”
Kylie frowned. “For what?”
“Oh, you never can tell.” Gramps patted the coat pocket where he’d put the goblets. “There may come another time when we need them to celebrate a successful mission.”
“Gramps, Mom’s doing great.” Brendan loosened his tie. “She’s not going to need us again.”
“True.”
Kylie wasn’t sure she liked the serene smile on her grandfather’s face. What was he up to?
“But there are others who may yet need help.” He patted them each on the arm, then drifted away.
“Others?” Kylie called after him.
Gramps kept moving, but his words reached them all the same. “People who aren’t settled yet, who are wrapped up in their careers, who need to find happiness as much as your mother did.”
Brendan shook his head. “I pity the poor fools, whoever they are.”
Kylie still watched her grandfather. “You know Gramps. He won’t give up until they’re ‘settled.’ ”
A small frown creased her brother’s forehead. “Who do we know that’s wrapped up in their jobs?”
“No one.” Kylie noted that Gramps was now deep in conversation with Mom and Jericho. All three glanced at her and Brendan. “But it’s clear he’s up to something.”
“Maybe they’re moving on to you,” Brendan said with a laugh.
Kylie crossed her arms. “Not a chance. I’m too busy for relationships right now. I mean, it’s fine for Mom. She needs a man around. But me?” She waved the thought away. “Last thing I need is a man underfoot, needing me, wanting to spend time with me, looking at me the way Jericho looks at Mom, like she’s some kind of early Christmas present. Besides, I don’t exactly have any prospects. And with all the hours I work you can bet I won’t have any for a good long time. Which wouldn’t be so bad if I wasn’t standing here watching my mother get married before I do. My mother, for heaven’s sake—”
She looked away, astonished to find herself blinking away tears. What was with her today? And what was with this ache inside? She cleared her throat and turned back to Brendan. “Anyway, you know what I mean.”
The small crease tugging at her brother’s brow said he wasn’t so sure. “You OK, Sis?”
“Fine.” Whoa! That came out way too forceful. She dropped her tone a notch. “Fine, really. Weddings always get to me.”
“Are you sur—?”
“So, you ready for some cake? I sure am.” She didn’t wait for a reply. She spun on her heel and started for the cake table.
Brendan fell into step beside her. “Don’t worry, Sis. I’m sure whoever Gramps is talking about doesn’t concern us. We’re good, right?”
“Right, of course.” She linked her arm with her brother’s. “We’re adults. We’ll know when it’s time to take the step into a relationship.”
“Exactly.”
Kylie gave her brother a bright smile, and herself a quick kick in the mental pants. Buck up, girl. Today isn’t the day to feel sorry for yourself. Today is about Mom and Jericho. You’ll have plenty of time later to get all morose. At home. By yourself.
Like always.
“Kylie, Brendan!”
She started from her thoughts and looked around. Mom waved at them from where she stood, a growing crowd of women behind her. She was positively glowing.
“Come on, you two. It’s time to throw the bouquet.”
Brendan shot Kylie a look, but she straightened her shoulders and pasted a broad smile on her features.
“You don’t have to—”
She brushed her brother’s concern aside. “Don’t be silly. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
No matter how much she might want to.
She made her way to the back of the crowd. She should be safe here.
“Everyone ready?”
The chorus of giggles was enough to drive anyone crazy—
“Here goes!”
A wave of movement surged through the women as they lifted their hands, fingers outstretched.
“I got it!” The woman beside Kylie pushed off of Kylie’s shoulder as she jumped up. The unexpected impact sent Kylie flying backward, and she landed on her backside with a resounding “Oomph!”
She looked up to give the woman a piece of her mind—and just managed to avoid getting beaned with the bouquet, which landed square in her lap.
All the women screamed and gathered around Kylie, pulling her to her feet and hugging her. She clutched the bouquet, about to run screaming for cover, when a gentle hand touched her face.
Mom.
She enfolded Kylie in her arms, hugging her close. “Sweetie, are you all right?”
For a moment, Kylie stiffened, then she melted against her mother, letting the warmth and love overflow her. She buried her head in her mother’s neck.
Mom led her away from the crowd, to two empty chairs. She took Kylie’s hand in her own. They sat in silence, and Kylie felt peace flowing through her.
Mom must be praying for her.
She looked up and smiled at her mom. “You look so happy.”
“I am.”
“Jericho’s a wonderful man. He’s so perfect for you.”
“Just as perfect as your man will be for you someday.”
Her mother knew her so well. “I wish I were as sure as you, Mom.”
“That he’ll be perfect?”
“That he exists!”
Her mother’s laughter danced around her, easing the tightness in her heart.
“Oh, Kylie. Of course he does. You know how I know?”
“How?”
Her mother stood, holding a hand out to her. Kylie took her hand and let herself be pulled to her feet. Together, they started walking back toward the reception crowd.
“I know, my darling girl, because I’ve prayed for that man since the day you were born.”
Kylie stopped. “Really?”
Her mother’s nod was firm. “Really. And God let me know, many years ago, that he was working on it. So I know, when the time is right”—she touched Kylie’s cheek—“when it’s God’s perfect timing for you and for that very lucky man, it will happen.”
Kylie forced words past the lump in her throat. “You promise?”
Her mom slipped her arm through Kylie’s. “Absolutely.”
That settled it. Because if there was one thing Kylie could count on, it was that her mother always kept her promises.