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BEATRICE PEERED OUT through one of the windows on the doors leading into the sanctuary. She turned to smile at her daughter, Piper, resplendent in her wedding dress and glowing with happiness. “It’s a full house,” said Beatrice. “I think most of the town is here.”
Piper grinned back at her. “Considering that I’m a local teacher, the mother of the bride is the minister’s wife, and the groom’s family has lived here forever, that’s hardly surprising, is it?”
Piper smoothed down her dress, which didn’t really need any smoothing. It was a simple and elegant white satin dress with a drape of tulle from her waist to the floor. She wore a fingertip-length veil over her dark hair. She smiled at Beatrice, who was wearing a waterfall-style jacket with lace applique over a long tank with lace detail and a full-length skirt, all in a silvery gray. “You look beautiful, Mama.”
“I was about to say the same to you!” Beatrice blinked rapidly to disperse the pesky tears that kept stinging her eyes. “I wish your father were alive to see this. And to walk you down the aisle. He would have been so proud of the woman you’ve become.”
Piper gave Beatrice a quick hug. “I miss him, too, Mama. But don’t worry that I’m somehow missing out on anything. I love having you walk me down the aisle.”
“And I love walking you down. But I wanted to give you something to help you feel as though your dad were here, too.” Beatrice stooped to pick up a small box. She opened it to reveal a simple gold bracelet with a ring attached. Piper gave a little gasp and slipped it on her wrist. “I know your father would love that you have his old ring.”
Piper gave her mother a wordless, grateful look and then hugged her.
Beatrice gave her hand a squeeze as she let her go. She cleared her throat. “The church has never looked lovelier.” Beatrice peeked out the window again, taking in the pew ends draped with tulle and baby’s breath bouquets. She saw Ash, handsome and relaxed and beaming in a tuxedo, walk out at the front of the church with his father, Ramsay, who looked somewhat less-comfortable in his tuxedo, but still so happy. Beatrice’s friend, Meadow, as the mother-of-the-groom, was already seated and kept irrepressibly turning around to look at the back of the sanctuary. She glimpsed Beatrice this time and grinned at her.
Piper’s attendants for the ceremony were some of her former students. They were giggling quietly in a group a few feet away from Beatrice and Piper. The church’s choir director gestured to them to fall in line, whispering reminders to them and opened the door.
Pachelbel’s Canon in D began playing in the sanctuary and Beatrice took a deep, steadying breath. “That’s our cue, sweetheart.”
But Piper was already at the door, holding her arm out to her.
The church was completely filled with old friends and new. Wyatt smiled at them as they slowly made their way down the aisle to the front of the beautiful, old church. It was a late-afternoon wedding and sunlight streamed through the colorful stained glass onto the wooden pews and the stone walls and floors. A quick glance at her daughter told Beatrice that Piper only had eyes for Ash ... and he for her. Ramsay tugged at his tux and winked at Beatrice as they approached. Then, after a few words, Beatrice sat down in the front pew, watching as her daughter joined her life with Beatrice’s new son.
A young soloist friend of Piper’s sang Ave Maria and Beatrice’s eyes prickled again with happy tears at the old hymn. Rings were tenderly exchanged, vows given, and before Beatrice knew it, Piper and Ash were married and striding, glowing, back down the aisle as an usher offered Beatrice his arm to lead her out of the church. Walking down the aisle, she saw her friend, Savannah, give her an approving nod. Her tenderhearted sister, Georgia, was dabbing up her own tears and smiled at her mistily through them. They sat with Posy, who looked to be trying to restrain the unpredictable Miss Sissy from getting up and following Beatrice out of the church.
Beatrice knew that Ash and Piper would be staying back at the church for photos, some even with Wyatt. She and Piper had had photos taken before the ceremony, so she needed to hurry on to the reception site to make sure, once again, that everything was set up and ready to go.
As she drove to the park that sat on the lakefront, Beatrice once again thanked God for the good weather. Piper and Ash had wanted an outdoor reception. Beatrice had realized that this was going to either be absolutely perfect and beautiful or a complete disaster. The weather was ideal and the location was, too: with the Blue Ridge mountains rising before them and the sun glinting on the small lake. They had tents set up and Beatrice’s quick walk-through, her second of the day, showed that everything was in order.
Piper had taken inspiration from past weddings and incorporated quilting into the decorating of the tents. Hanging quilts added texture to the white tents and blocks adding a pop of color to the white tablecloths of all the tables. Ash’s favorite cuisine was his mother’s food, and to prevent a determined Meadow from leaving her mother-of-the-groom duties to cook, they’d hired a caterer who had Southern cooking nailed. The aroma of fried chicken wafted on the gentle breeze. The crowning glory was June Bug’s marvelous wedding cake. It was, naturally, in a quilted design, a diamond hexagonal quilting with fresh flowers adorning the top. Beatrice’s mouth started watering. She knew from experience how delectable June Bug’s cakes were and she remembered that Piper had bucked tradition and opted for a chocolate cake with raspberry filling and buttercream icing.
Beatrice was still admiring the cake when she spotted June Bug standing shyly at the edge of the tent. “June Bug, this looks like an absolute masterpiece. And I know from past experience that your wedding cakes taste just as good as they look, which is amazing because I remember eating wedding cakes back in Atlanta, and they all tasted like cardboard.”
June Bug smiled at her, eyes twinkling. “I made it especially good today, since it’s for Piper.”
“Did you make it to the ceremony?” asked Beatrice, frowning a bit. “I should remember, but all I saw was a blur of people.”
“I made it there. And it was lovely,” said June Bug. “Then I ran over here as fast as I could. I sat in the balcony.”
Then there was no time left to talk as the guests started arriving at the reception. Beatrice had put June Bug’s eight-year-old niece, Katy, in charge of the guestbook. Her serious expression changed to smiles when she saw Beatrice. Katy’s straight brown hair was pulled back with a blue ribbon that matched her carefully-starched blue dress. She gave Beatrice a shy wave and Beatrice gave her a quick hug. “Thanks for taking this on again, Katy. You did such a great job with the guestbook last time.”
Katy flushed at the compliment and said in her quiet voice, “Thanks for asking me.”
As guests walked in, the catering staff lit candles on each of the tables, lending a warm glow to the insides of the tents. Guests filed up to Beatrice to tell her how beautiful the wedding had been. The band was finishing setting up their equipment and was quietly warming up. Savannah, Georgia, and Posy came up and hugged Beatrice.
“I’ve finally stopped crying,” said Georgia with a light laugh. “I don’t know why I got so emotional. It was just such a lovely wedding.” She gave Beatrice a quick hug.
Savannah said in an approving tone, “And very organized. The ushers behaved perfectly. They were practically in military precision.”
A smile touched Beatrice’s lips. Savannah always admired symmetry of any kind. Her quilts usually reflected this.
Posy said, “I especially loved seeing all the young people in the ceremony. I’m guessing those precious children were Piper’s former students?”
Beatrice nodded her head. “They were girls that have kept up with Piper through the last couple of years. Sometimes they’ll pop by the school to see her and show Piper how much they’ve grown and what they’re up to. Piper loves it.”
Georgia said, “They looked so proud to be part of the big day. And they all wore white, too!”
Beatrice said with a smile, “Piper thought it would be easier if they simply wore whatever white dress they had instead of making them all buy the same dress. That way, most of them wore their Easter dresses or could have easily borrowed a dress from a friend.”
“It was good the children could be Piper’s attendants, since you needed to walk her down the aisle,” said Savannah in her brusque, practical way.
Beatrice said, “Very true.” She glanced around. “Where’s Miss Sissy?”
“Near the food, of course,” said Posy with a laugh.
Sure enough, Beatrice spotted Miss Sissy with a plate heaped with fried chicken, ham biscuits, and green beans. She appeared deep in concentration as she tried to find room on her plate for fried green tomatoes.
Savannah also spotted Miss Sissy’s plate and quickly said, “Lovely wedding, Beatrice,” and started hurrying over to the food as if there might not be much left after Miss Sissy descended on it.
Georgia said ruefully, “I guess she’s getting hungry.”
Posy said, “Who isn’t? I’ve been to a couple of weddings this caterer has done. Her macaroni and cheese is to die for.”
Beatrice nodded. “Her mashed potatoes, too. I went to the tasting with Piper.”
Posy added, “And her biscuits were so light and fluffy.”
Now everyone was looking over at the food tent.
A car pulled up with a jaunty toot of its horn and Beatrice said, “Oh, they’re here!” Piper and Ash jumped out of the car and were instantly surrounded by guests. Wyatt pulled up in his own car a moment later and was also soon engulfed.
Georgia said, “You really should have something to eat, Beatrice. It’s been a big day for you, and it’s not ending anytime soon.”
Beatrice said ruefully, “Yes, but if I brave the food tables, I’ll be swarmed by guests and won’t be able to eat it.”
Posy said quickly, “I’ll bring you a plate, Beatrice. Everyone will be distracted by the bride and groom ... and Meadow, too! That will give you a chance to eat. I’ll make it a big plate and maybe Wyatt can have a few bites, too.”
Beatrice thanked her and watched as Posy quickly made her way to the tables, ducking in and dodging conversation with a gentle smile as she focused on her task. Beatrice was so deep in thought that she jumped a little as Wyatt slipped an arm around her. Beatrice grinned up at him.
“Happy?” he asked.
“Very. Even better now that you’re here. How did the pictures go? It didn’t seem as though they took very long.”
Wyatt said, “That was the best part. The photographer really knew what he was doing, apparently. He got exactly what he wanted and then let us leave.” He paused. “It looks as though everyone is having a good time.”
“Everyone is having a wonderful time!” bellowed an enthusiastic voice behind them. Beatrice and Wyatt didn’t have the chance to turn around before Meadow grabbed them both into a bear hug. Her gray hair was still in its long braid, although it was somewhat more tamed than usual, with fewer strands falling out. But otherwise, she looked wildly different from her usual self. Ordinarily, Meadow was a fan of mismatched, flowing clothes in bright colors. Today she wore a beige coat dress, carefully-applied makeup, and tottered on an unfamiliar pair of heels. She suddenly lurched as she tried to turn and face them, causing Wyatt to grip her arm to keep her steady.
“Isn’t this the happiest day ever?” she asked, beaming. She gave Beatrice another hug, weaving alarmingly again on her heels. “Piper looks so beautiful. And Ash so handsome!” Her eyes filled up with tears and as she tried blinking them away, they tumbled out on her flushed cheeks, causing her to rummage through her purse for a tissue.
After giving a robustly blowing her nose, she added, “And everyone came! Honestly, they did, didn’t they? I swear that the entire town is here.” She frowned. “In fact, I’m pretty sure that there are people here that we didn’t invite. Piper’s list and yours were fairly short and I know exactly who was on Ash’s, Ramsay’s, and my list.”
Posy slipped Beatrice a heaping plate, napkins, and forks and Beatrice gave her a grateful smile. Then she turned back to Meadow. “Who isn’t supposed to be here?”
“Well, for instance, Ophelia Lundy over there.” Meadow wrinkled her nose.
Beatrice followed her gaze and saw a small, child-like woman with a sharp-featured face and a short shock of blunt-cut white hair. She had a cagey, observant expression as she watched the guests. It was difficult to gauge her age ... she might have been seventy-five, but she might have been sixty. Beatrice watched her, thoughtfully, while she gobbled down some of the fried chicken.
“She wasn’t on my list,” said Beatrice. “I don’t even recognize her. She’s from Dappled Hills?”
Wyatt said, looking alarmed, “You don’t recognize her? She’s a member of my congregation. I should have introduced you to her.”
Beatrice frowned. “Has she been coming to church? She’s fairly distinctive-looking. Surely I’d have remembered if she’d been regularly attending.”
Meadow shook her head. “I haven’t seen her there in a while. Which is fine with me.” She crossed her arms and pursed her lips, disapprovingly. “Ophelia gets into everyone’s business. She’s very nosy! You can look at her right now and see that she’s trying to gather intel.”
“Intel?” asked Wyatt, a grin pulling at his lips. “I didn’t realize that she was a spy. I’ve always thought of her as a rather innocuous member of my congregation.”
Meadow said, “That’s because you’re too trusting! No, I promise you, she’s out looking for dirt on everyone. That’s her main hobby. That and casting blame on other people as if she’s perfect.”
“Which I take it, she’s not?” asked Beatrice, eyebrows raised. She took a bite of the creamy mac and cheese and then offered the plate to Wyatt. “Try the pasta,” she said.
Meadow snorted. “Clearly. Although you wouldn’t know it to hear her talk. She acts as if smoking is a terrible sin, but then her teeth are quite yellow and her clothes smell like smoke. She acts holier-than-thou about drinking, but she drinks. I’ve seen her buying alcohol at the grocery store ... and not just a little here and there. Bottles! And bottles!”
Wyatt said mildly, “Maybe she’s pointing out faults in others that she wishes she didn’t have, herself.”
“Maybe she should just keep her ideas about others’ faults to herself,” said Meadow. She sighed. “Well, I suppose we’ll just ignore the fact that she’s crashed the wedding. There’s no point in creating a scene by asking her to leave. I need to run and meet and greet everyone anyway. And get food! That plate of food that Posy made you is making my stomach growl.” She hurried off, still tottering dangerously on her heels, and was soon surrounded by guests.
The band played a romantic slow number and Piper and Ash started dancing. Wyatt and Beatrice quickly finished up eating. “That food is too good to hurry through, but we’re short on time. We’re up next,” he said with a smile.
“Good thing I have my dancing shoes on,” said Beatrice. She held out a foot encased in gray heels ... carefully chosen low heels that she could actually dance in.
“Do you think Meadow will be able to manage a dance?” asked Wyatt with a chuckle.
“I guess we’ll find out!”
Meadow was able to stay on her feet for a dance with Ramsay, although Ramsay’s eyes were wide and he had a panicked expression on his face whenever she lurched at him. Beatrice relaxed in Wyatt’s arms as they moved on a dance floor under strings of fairy lights. As the sun went down, the tents looked even more magical with their glow.
After the first song, Ramsay danced with Beatrice, and Wyatt and Meadow danced together. Ramsay said dryly, “It’s nice to dance with someone without fear that they’ll collapse on the floor or stab me in the foot with a heel.”
Beatrice laughed. “Fortunately, it’s a slower song, so Wyatt won’t have to worry as much about keeping Meadow upright.”
“She was determined to wear those heels,” he said with a shake of his head. “And you know how stubborn she can be.” He gave her a small twirl and then said, “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
Beatrice laughed. “What I’m reading now?”
“Am I really that transparent?” asked Ramsay in mock consternation. “Surely I could have asked you about something else. Your opinion on local politics? Favorite foods?”
“That wouldn’t have been in keeping with our usual conversations, Ramsay. Although I can’t think why I seem to be the only person you talk about books with. There are plenty of readers in Dappled Hills,” said Beatrice. “Your wife is one of them. In fact, it was Meadow who recommended my current book to me.”
“Meadow? Sadly, she doesn’t share my taste in literature,” said Ramsay, pulling a face. “Her interests run more along the lines of thrillers.”
“I’m not altogether certain that we share the same tastes in literature. I seem to remember your giving me Moby Dick to read right before my wedding,” said Beatrice.
Ramsay said, “That was just bad timing! And I’m counting on you to try it again when life settles down a little.”
“To answer your question, I’m reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. But it’s taking me forever to read because I’ve been so busy with Piper’s wedding. How about you?” asked Beatrice.
Ramsay grinned at her, “You won’t believe it if I tell you.”
Beatrice raised her eyebrows. “You’re not finally giving Pride and Prejudice a go, are you? I’ve been recommending that book to you forever!”
“Well now, you know I’ve been busy. Catching bad guys, and all that.”
Beatrice said, “What do you think of it?”
“I love it,” admitted Ramsay. “And somehow I thought it was going to be awful because it was all about wanting weddings and marriages, and that’s all that’s been going on in my house for the last few months. But it’s a fantastic book. I’m going to reread it as soon as I finish.”
They danced for a moment in silence and then Ramsay glanced around them at the lights, the decorations, and the food. “You and Piper really pulled together a beautiful wedding.”
“Oh, well, we had help. Meadow had lots of good ideas. But in the end, it was mostly Piper, you know. I was busy trying to adjust to married life, combine two households, and get used to a new role in the church,” said Beatrice.
“It sure is packed,” said Ramsay. He gave a small frown. “I’m surprised you invited Ophelia Lundy. She’s one of the town residents who causes a bit more trouble than some of the others. How do you know her?”
“Meadow was asking me the same thing. I don’t know her. She’s apparently a wedding crasher,” said Beatrice with a shrug.
“Great,” said Ramsay with a sigh. “Well, no worries. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
“Is she that bad?” asked Beatrice.
“Sometimes. She can just get into arguments with folks at the drop of a hat. Somehow Ophelia knows everything that goes on in town and I think she’s one of those people who likes to be in the know. It’ll be okay—don’t worry,” said Ramsay hastily, obviously not wanting to create any sort of blemish on the day.
The dance ended and then there were toasts for the couple, with Beatrice giving the first one. She was determined to keep the tone light, never being fond of public tears for herself or anyone else. Still, she couldn’t help but get a little choked up and quickly ended her toast with a hug for Piper and Ash. Ash followed with a toast, and then Ramsay. Soon there were toasts from other friends and guests, including Barton Perry, who was running for state senate and was an elder at Wyatt’s church.
After the toasts, the dancing recommenced with livelier tunes that the younger people were dancing to. Beatrice took a seat at one of the tables but was immediately swarmed by guests wanting to speak to the mother of the bride. She ended up standing again in a sort of impromptu receiving line when Meadow joined her. Quite some time later, she plopped down again, exhausted, Meadow dropping into a chair beside her.
Meadow instantly kicked off her shoes and gave a melodramatic groan. “I’m going to sleep well tonight, I think. But it’s been the perfect day. The wedding ceremony was a tear-jerker, the food is fabulous, the cake will be sure to melt in everyone’s mouth, and the band hasn’t missed a beat. It’s the best wedding ever.”
“Isn’t it wonderful that all our friends could be here to share today with us?” asked Meadow happily, her gaze scanning the crowd. A small crease furrowed her brow. “Except that I have the funny feeling I’ve forgotten something. I think I was supposed to remember something. From a few days ago.”
Beatrice said dryly, “A few days ago feels like decades. We’ve done a lot to help Piper and Ash with the final details of the reception.”
“That’s true. But I know that Posy wanted to talk with me about something. She was worried about ... somebody.” Meadow shrugged and sighed. “It’s gone. Poof! Anyway, I’ll probably run by the quilt shop and check in with her tomorrow after it opens. Want to go?”
“Maybe. But I might just stay at home in my pajamas all day, too,” said Beatrice. “This has been quite a week.”
“But don’t you agree? It’s the best wedding ever?” asked Meadow.
Beatrice grinned at her. “The very best. And I think I’ve spoken to every guest, at least once.”
“Except for Ophelia,” said Meadow, making a face. “She didn’t want to come up and say hi for obvious reasons. And now it looks as if she’s stirring the pot.” She waved her hand to indicate someone a couple of tables away.