Chapter Sixteen

Charlotte pulled her jacket tighter around her neck and patted her leg. “Come on, Toby, keep up,” she called without looking back. The air was cold on her face, biting her nose, yet the sun slightly warmed the top of her head. It was one of the nicest February days they’d had so far, and Charlotte wanted to take advantage of it. She’d spent enough winter days cooped inside. It felt good to get outside and breathe in the fresh air. To walk the gravel road. To stretch her legs and let her mind think over everything she’d learned about her Granddaddy so far.

The crunch of car tires and Toby’s bark met her ears simultaneously. Charlotte glanced over her shoulder and realized she recognized the car. Toby must have recognized it too and had trotted down the road alongside it.

Charlotte turned and waited, waving to Dana. Dana didn’t wave back. She pulled up next to Charlotte, her hands gripping the steering wheel. Charlotte opened the door and noticed the tear streaks on Dana’s face.

“Want to give me a ride the rest of the way home?”

Dana nodded but didn’t answer.

Charlotte suddenly felt sick. She hoped she hadn’t done anything to upset the girl. More than that, she hoped Pete hadn’t done anything.

Toby wagged her tail next to the open door. “Do you mind if Toby jumps in too?”

“Sure. That’s fine.” Dana attempted a smile. “I like Toby. In fact, maybe Toby should come to the wedding.”

Charlotte patted her leg, and Toby jumped in squishing between the dashboard and Charlotte’s feet.

Dana drove the quarter mile home in silence. It was only after they parked and went inside that Charlotte dared to ask what the problem was. She walked to the sofa, turned to her side, and patted the cushion next to her. As Dana plopped down beside her, Charlotte asked, “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

“It’s my mother. She’s trying to do everything—take over everything.” The words spilled from Dana’s lips like water from a faucet. “She asked months ago if she could help address envelopes. I told her that would be great. Then yesterday before the cake tasting she asked for more invitations. I don’t have more invitations. They were expensive, and Pete and I only got enough for the ones on our list.”

“Are you saying there’s another list?” Charlotte took Dana’s hand in hers.

“Yes, my mother’s list. She knows everyone in all of Adams County, and she thinks they all need to come. I looked it over, and out of about one hundred people I probably recognized ten names.”

Charlotte considered how to respond. Personally, she knew how hard it had been to pare down her own list—after all, she and Bob had lived in Bedford their whole lives. They knew everyone in town, and most of those people had watched Pete grow up. She was sure they could fill Bedford Community Church to standing room only. Yet it had been Pete and Dana’s choice to have a small ceremony with only family and a few close friends.

“Well, perhaps—” A knock at the door interrupted Charlotte’s words. She looked up to see the door open and Hannah’s smiling face peering in.

“Anyone home?” she called.

“Oh no! I look a mess.” Dana wiped her face. Then she rose and hurried to the bathroom. “I’ll be right back.”

Charlotte stood and glanced at her watch. It was barely 9:00 AM. She forced a smile on her face as she motioned Hannah inside.

“What are you up to this morning, Hannah? Out early I see.”

“Yes, well, I saw the sun peeking through the clouds, and I thought I’d pop over and see if you wanted to walk. I thought about calling, but I didn’t want to wake the whole house up.”

Charlotte moved to the kitchen, pulling a mug from the cupboard. “Oh, Bob, you know, has been up for hours. Christopher and Emily are staying at friends’ houses, and Sam …” She cocked her head as if trying to listen for him upstairs. “I haven’t heard a peep out of him. He’s usually out doing chores by now, but we had some words with him last night, and I’m wondering if he’s decided to hide away for the day.” She set the coffee cup on the counter. “Would you like a cup? It’s fresh.”

“Of course. Sitting over coffee is just as good as going for a walk.” Charlotte heard the squeak of the bathroom door.

Hannah moved to the dining room and sat down. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

“No, Hannah, you’re fine.” Dana sniffled into a tissue. “I was just crying on Charlotte’s shoulder. It seems my mother has hijacked my guest list, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Yes, well, I’d say your mother is one of the most sociable people I know. She was always on one committee or another when she lived here, and I’m sure nothing’s changed.”

Charlotte poured Dana a cup of coffee too and handed it to her. “I’m sure she doesn’t want anyone’s feelings to get hurt.”

Dana sighed. “I know, but she has no idea what a big wedding costs. She and Dad gave us a small amount of money, and Pete and I are trying to stay within our budget. I’m digging into my savings too. I just don’t like the idea of starting our marriage off in debt just because my mother wants to stay in good graces with the Rotary members.”

“I can imagine. I remember staying up to watch Charles and Diana’s wedding. What year was that?” Hannah combed her fingers through her hair, as if trying to stir up a memory. “Oh, yes. 1981.”

Dana leaned over to Charlotte and smirked. “I was only a toddler.”

“Hush now.” Charlotte playfully swatted her arm, happy to see Dana’s spirits had lifted.

“Did you see that wedding, Charlotte? The reporter said there were thirty-five hundred people there. That’s bigger than Bedford! Oh, and the dress,” Hannah rattled on. “I’ve never seen a prettier wedding dress—not even when Karilee Hamlin married that Foster boy up at that big mansion in Harding.”

“I don’t even want to know how much that royal wedding cost,” Dana muttered. “But the money isn’t the point. It’s my day, and I want to celebrate it with those I know and love best.”

Charlotte settled down in the chair next to Dana and added a spoonful of sugar to her coffee, stirring it slowly. “You know, maybe there’s a way to compromise,” Charlotte suggested. “Can you give your mother a limit—such as twenty extra friends—and then ask her to donate more for the cost of food and everything else? I imagine if you showed her your budget and shared your struggles—just like you did with us—and explained your heart, then she would probably understand and be willing to cut down her list.”

Dana rested her chin on her hand. “You’re right. I suppose I just need to talk to her.”

“She’s excited.” Hannah sat on the other side of Dana and wrapped her arm around her shoulders. “Her little girl is getting married. I know if I had a little girl I’d want the whole world to come to the wedding.”

“Thanks, Hannah.” Dana wiped her face. “You’ve got me crying again. And maybe …” She looked toward the window. “Maybe I need to be a little more understanding too.” She turned and winked at Charlotte. “I’ll tell her she can invite 24 guests—an even number, you know.”

They chatted over coffee a while longer, and Charlotte enjoyed hearing more about the wedding plans. “You know,” she offered, “if there is anything you need help with, be sure to let me know.”

Dana’s face brightened. “Really? I appreciate that. You know I do need help with the favors. I’m still trying to come up with something unique.”

“I can help too,” Hannah piped up. “I never mind putting in a little elbow grease.”

“You can talk to my mother for me,” Dana quipped.

Hannah’s face fell. “Well, I …”

“Just kidding.” Dana patted Hannah’s hand. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

Through the window, Charlotte spotted a car coming down the driveway. The old, yellow Volkswagen pulled to a stop in front of the house. Charlotte’s jaw dropped as she noticed Sam getting out of the car.

“Oh, my word.” She braced herself against the counter.

“Is that Sam?” Dana rose and hurried to the window.

“I thought you said Sam was upstairs sleeping?” Hannah also rose and moved to the window. “Who’s he with? I’ve never seen that girl before. Is that Sam’s girlfriend? She’s kind of cute!”

Charlotte crossed her arms over her chest and turned her body toward the door. Sam waved good-bye to Kendall and then opened the door. He paused as he noticed three faces staring at him. For a moment it looked as if he were going to bolt up the stairs.

“What’s up?” Sam kicked off his skater shoes and hung up his coat.

Charlotte approached him. “What do you mean, What’s up?” She lowered her voice and leaned close to his ear. “Sam Slater, where in the world have you been? It’s ten in the morning. I thought you were upstairs sleeping.”

Sam pulled a small white bag from his cargo pants pocket and thrust it into Charlotte’s hand. “It’s a cinnamon roll from Mel’s. I know how much you like those.”

“You were at Mel’s?” Charlotte felt her heartbeat slow from its wild pounding.

“Yeah. That’s not against the rules, is it?”

“When did you leave?” She glanced back over her shoulder and noticed that Dana and Hannah had moved back to the table and were attempting to have their own conversation. Charlotte was thankful. There was nothing harder than parenting with an audience.

Sam leaned one shoulder against the door jam leading into the laundry room. “I don’t know. A while ago.”

“Like last night?” Charlotte’s heart skipped a beat.

“No. Grandma, please. It was this morning.”

“Is that all you’re going to tell me? There’s nothing else you want to tell me?”

“Not really. I promised I wouldn’t.” He pulled his work jacket off the hook. “Except that I’m going to head out and get to my chores now.”

Charlotte stepped away from the door and watched as he hurried out. Then she turned her attention back to Dana and Hannah, trying to remember what they’d been talking about.

Suddenly the worries about guest lists and cake options didn’t seem important. Sure, she wanted to help Pete and Dana have the best day possible, but more than that, she wanted Sam to make good choices—to think about the decisions he was making. To consider the company he kept.

What in the world could he be doing this early in the morning that he promised not to tell me about?