Friday night’s rehearsal dinner at the Morgan’s Ranch Lodge was hosted by Hope’s mother and her husband, Ralph. Polly and Lynn had offered to help serve, and Carmela joined the Lodge’s chef, George Baran, to prepare a Southwest barbecue on the terraces. Hope’s brother Tom and her Uncle Randy were assisting with hosting duties, and Tom’s wife, Betsy, was one of Hope’s bridesmaids. Their son Tom Junior and daughter Sara were also part of the wedding party.
A tray of stuffed mushrooms in hand, Lynn stood on the terrace steps talking to Betsy Seymour. “Your kids have certainly grown up,” she said. Tom, Betsy, and their kids had visited for Hope and Robbie’s engagement party over a year ago. Betsy’s son Tommy, nine, was a junior usher, and his sister, Sara, was seven. Sara had been given the choice of acting as junior bridesmaid or flower girl, and she had chosen the latter.
“Sure have,” Betsy said. “Tommy really shot up this year. He’ll be taller than me in no time.”
Lynn didn’t know Hope or her family well, but she liked what she knew of them. Steady, grounded, and warm would be how she’d describe them, unlike the flighty Weezie Morgan, who was currently hanging on the arm of one of Robbie’s Sedona friends, Hal Garrard. Robbie’s tall, dark-haired college roommate towered over the petite Morgan cousin, but seemed to be taking her attentions in stride. All evening, Weezie bounced back and forth from Hal to red-haired, freckle-faced Dave Burrows, Robbie’s other coworker from Sedona.
Betsy noticed Lynn’s gaze. “She’s something, isn’t she?”
“You could say that,” Lynn said. “I’d better keep passing before these mushrooms get cold.”
“You and Polly are so kind to be helping tonight.”
“Are you kidding? After all this family has done for us? We love it. Have a great evening.”
“Yes, and we’ll see you at the wedding.”
As Lynn passed her tray, she came to the Sedona group. “Hi, Linda,” Weezie said. “Do you know Hal and Dave?”
“Hey, Lynn,” Dave said, smiling at her. “Good to see you.”
“You too,” she said, nodding at Hal.
“Oh, my bad,” Weezie said. “Thanks, Lynn. These mushrooms are to die for.”
Lynn headed for the buffet table, where Polly was setting out plates. “Could that woman be any more nauseating?”
Polly giggled. “I’m assuming you’re talking about our kissing cousin.”
“Ha, ha. What’s next anyway?”
“Just a few more passes, then Hope says for us to have dinner. Everyone’s out on the terrace. We can eat in here with the staff or join the family.”
“I vote staff,” Lynn said. “Then we’re to pass dessert trays, right?”
“Right.”
“Wow, you gals get around,” a voice said as Weezie popped up behind them. “Super nice for you to help out this way.”
“The Morgans are like family to us,” Polly said. “We love helping with Robbie and Hope’s special party.”
Weezie nodded. “It is quite a family. I’d never met my cousins before.”
“They’re incredible people, warm, generous, and kind, every one of them. The in-laws too.”
“I adore Hope, Lang, Maggie, and Harley. Just met Rose and Harriet.”
Lynn smiled. “As you say—quite a family.”
“And we’ll be living near Kyle and Harriet, so that’s really cool,” Weezie continued, eyes scanning the room.
“Oh?” Polly said.
“Yup, Dad’s just bought a huge parcel of land near Horseshoe Crab Cove. He’s moving all his operations from Maine to Massachusetts. Wolfie and I’ll be coming with him. Maybe some of the other sibs.”
“What’re his plans for the property?” Lynn asked.
“Horse breeding, for one. That’s why he’s so keen on picking their brains out at Valley Stables.”
“That’ll be great,” Polly said. “You can start a Morgan’s Run East.”
Weezie laughed. “We could, couldn’t we? If he dared, Dad would poach Harley and a bunch of their workers to come work for us.”
“Not if he valued his life, he wouldn’t,” Lynn said, gesturing toward the terraces. “I think they’re calling you all for dinner.”
“You’re joining us, aren’t you?”
“We’ll be around,” Lynn said, smiling as Weezie hurried off. “She’s guaranteed to drive ’em crazy back in Horseshoe Crab Cove. Wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Kyle and Harriet have decided to relocate by the end of the weekend.”
“Hush!” Polly said, poking her. “She’s just young and enthusiastic. You remember what that was like.”
“If I ever acted like that, I sure don’t remember. Come on, let’s get a plate and head into the kitchen. I want to catch up on the latest gossip from the Spa.”
Gus had just tucked the kids into bed when his cell buzzed. He clicked on. “Hey, sis.”
“Guess where we are?”
“Home?”
“We’re two hours south of Sedona, headed your way.”
“What?”
“Yup. Should be there soon.”
“You said ‘we.’ Did you bring your rug rat Sparky?”
“No, even better! Jeannie’s with me! She had vacation time, and she’s dying to see her niece and nephew. We’ll bunk together. You’ve got plenty of room, right?”
Wrong. A hundred-room mansion wouldn’t have adequate space for those two friends. “Sure, the kids’ll love to see Jeannie.”
“You too, of course.”
“Of course.”
“So we’ll see you soon, big brother.”
Jeannie Olsen, Lissie’s younger sister, had been Laurie’s best friend. They were inseparable. Both great one at a time, like a steamroller when together. Just what I need, he thought, heading in to get clean sheets.
As he carried sleeping Dulcie to the twin bed in Cal’s room, then set to work putting clean sheets on Dulcie’s beds, his mind raced. What about the wedding? What will Jeannie think of my situation and what will both women say about my new relationship with Lynn? This is your life, buddy, he told himself, grabbing a beer and sitting to wait for the tornado about to touch down. Don’t let Thelma and Louise derail it for you.