25
A COVERED-DISH RECEPTION? Who does that?” Sadie stood in the kitchen, hands on hips, asking the question of no one in particular.
Ella stood at the window, watching for Laura and her sister Helen, who planned to get ready for the wedding at Gran’s. They’d have a light lunch and then it would be time to do hair and makeup and who knew what else in preparation for the afternoon ceremony.
“I think it’s kind of creative. Let’s everyone feel like they’re involved and saves money on catering. I’m not saying I’d do it, but it works for Will.” Ella leaned her forehead against the cool glass of the window. “And they are springing for a proper wedding cake, which in my opinion is what really matters.”
“Yes, well, I’m not taking a dish. Making lunch for all you girls will have to suffice for my contribution.” Sadie pulled chicken salad out of the fridge and started slicing croissants. “And your mother shouldn’t feel obligated, either. She’s bringing over fruit and dessert.”
Ella saw her mother pull up to the house. “I doubt she feels obligated—Mom likes feeding people.”
“Humph. Feeding that brother of mine for the past thirty years should satisfy any woman’s urge to cook.”
Mom breezed in, setting a bowl of fresh fruit and a plate of frosted sugar cookies shaped like wedding bells on the counter. “Helen and Laura are maybe five minutes behind me.” She rubbed her hands together. “This is going to be such a fine day. I don’t think I’ve been this excited since the day Henry and I finally got married.”
“Smartest thing he ever did,” Sadie said, giving Mom a rare hug.
“Where’s Perla?” Mom looked around hopefully,
Ella sighed. “She’s in the living room. She threatened to stay at Hillside Acres, but I don’t think she could resist all the hubbub.” She leaned through the open doorway. “Could you, Gran?”
Gran gave her a pinched look to indicate her disapproval, but Ella just grinned at her. “I’m calling your bluff, Gran. You’re glad we’re all here and you can’t wait for Will and Laura to get married.”
Gran waved her off, but she was smiling that crooked smile of hers.
Just then, Laura and Helen spilled into the kitchen in an avalanche of laughter. Even Aunt Sadie couldn’t resist the joy percolating through the room. Soon they were seated in the living room, plates of food on their laps and crystal punch cups on the coffee table.
Helen had dropped a flowered tote at the door as she came in. As soon as they finished eating, she retrieved it and laid various beauty implements out on the kitchen table.
“Before I decided to become a teacher, I toyed with the idea of going to beauty school,” she said. “Always had a knack for doing hair and makeup and I can’t wait to get my hands on you, Ella.”
Ella tried not to look worried. She wasn’t exactly adventurous when it came to her beauty routine, and she wasn’t altogether certain she wanted to take a chance on whatever Helen had in mind.
“I’m okay, you focus on Laura. I can just do my usual thing.”
Laura settled into a chair and let Helen begin work. “Ella, trust me when I tell you not to settle for your ‘usual thing.’ Helen is amazing, and you’ll want to let her work her magic.”
Since it was the bride making the suggestion, Ella decided to give in. How bad could it be? It wasn’t like she saw lots of pink blush and blue eyeshadow. Plus, watching Laura’s transformation from pretty girl to gorgeous bride gave her confidence. This might even be good.
Finally they all trooped into the bedrooms and bathroom to look in any available mirror. Ella thought Laura was breathtaking, and Helen looked sleek and stylish with her hair perfectly straight. She stepped in front of the mirror and had to do a double take.
Her hair fell in glossy sheets, swishing softly around her face, which was . . . well, frankly, Ella had never looked this good. Apparently she had a thing or two to learn about applying makeup. Her eyes looked huge and dewy with perfectly arched eyebrows. Her cheeks were rosy and her lips, slightly parted in shock, were a luscious peach. Laura and Helen were trying not to roll on the bed laughing at her.
“I look . . .” Ella was at a loss. Laura wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Yes. You do!” she said.
“Wait till Pastor Richard gets a look at you,” Laura giggled. “He’ll forget the words to the ceremony. And Seth—those two may end up having a duel out in the road.”
Ella waved them away and pulled dresses from hanging bags. “Oh, hush. This is your day and I can’t hold a candle to you. You look like something out of a fairy tale.”
“I know,” Laura said. “Helen is the best.”
Dressing took up the last bit of time before they headed for the church. Gran opted out of attending, making it clear being part of the afternoon’s festivities had worn her out. Ella suspected she could manage the ceremony if she put her mind to it, but didn’t argue. Aunt Sadie would take her back to Hillside Acres on her way to church.
Mom rode with Ella while Laura’s mother drove the bride and Helen in her minivan with sliding side doors that allowed Laura to sidle inside in her layers of gown. There was no place to dress at the church, and they planned to arrive after the guests were inside to avoid being seen before the ceremony. Of course, that plan didn’t work out at all. Almost everyone was milling around outside, half trying to look nonchalant, and the other half not even pretending they were doing anything other than waiting to see the bridal party. Ella got out and shooed everyone indoors.
As the last guest shuffled through the door to find a seat, Richard approached Ella. He did look the teensiest bit awed by her beauty. Or she might be imagining things.
“Hi,” he said. “You look amazing.” Okay, maybe he was impressed.
“Thanks.” He looked like he might say something more, but Seth came out and moved to Ella’s side. The two men looked at each other for a long moment before Richard said he guessed he’d better take his place up front.
Seth watched him go before turning his attention to Ella. “You look . . . different.”
“Helen did my hair and makeup.” Ella couldn’t read his expression.
“It’s nice, but I think I like it better when it’s just . . . you.”
Ella felt a flush rise. Was that a compliment or was he saying she had on too much makeup? She decided to take it as a compliment, but the way he was looking at her left her feeling unsettled and a little off-balance.
After the ceremony, they all went out to the side yard for the reception. Most of the cars had been parked in a rarely used lower lot so there’d be plenty of room. Thankfully it was a warm, sunny day with a hint of a breeze to stir the flower petals. Tables and chairs were scattered across the spring green grass, with white cloths weighted down by clips made from chandelier crystals. More tables had been arranged on the concrete pad in front of the church. As soon as the first guest stepped out of the sanctuary, dishes and coolers and baskets began to reveal the most amazing feast Ella had ever seen.
She saw Mavis directing her grandson to unload several trays of fried chicken. Others brought out every kind of food, including a whole ham studded with pineapple slices and maraschino cherries, succulent slices of roast beef, every imaginable kind of casserole with rich, brown crusts and layers of cheese, towering congealed salads, breads ranging from biscuits to airy fresh-baked loaves, plus pitchers of iced tea, lemonade, and if Ella wasn’t mistaken, buttermilk. And there was a gorgeous crystal punch bowl with a circle of ice that had flowers and mint leaves frozen inside. Someone had even set folks to turning the handles on ice cream churns. Ella was pretty sure she’d never had wedding cake with ice cream, but why not?
“Too bad Norman Rockwell is dead,” she said to Dad, who stood next to her. But she wasn’t sure he heard—his eyes were glued to a white van pulling up to the church.
“I think that’s them,” he said.
Ella watched as band members spilled out, setting up equipment and a wooden dance floor under a spreading oak. Dad pitched in and apparently knew the fiddle and banjo players. He looked like a kid whose best friends had showed up to play. After they were set up, Dad jogged to the car and pulled out his fiddle with a massive grin. He played off and on all afternoon, even dedicating a mournful ballad to his father.
Mavis sidled up to Ella and motioned for her grandson to step over. “This is Simon. He’s my oldest grandson, come to spend the weekend with me.”
Simon stuck out a hand and offered a shy smile.
“He’s going to West Virginia University to study . . . what is it?”
“Sociology,” Simon offered. “I find the behavior of the human species keenly interesting.”
Mavis looked at him with a mixture of affection and pity. “Can’t think what he’ll do with a degree like that, but he’s smart as a whip and it’s high time someone in the family did something other than farm or work an assembly line.”
Ella tried to make small talk with Simon, but it was clear he preferred fading into the background to watch everyone else. She was relieved when she could step away to watch Laura and Will open their gifts with laughter and exclamations of joy. She was thinking about getting another chicken leg when a hush fell. She looked up to see Laura holding a card with a look of astonishment on her face.
“What is it?” someone called out.
Will plucked the card from her hands and whistled.
“Is it a joke?” asked Laura.
“Looks like the real deal to me. Who sent it?”
Laura’s eyes flicked to meet Ella’s. “Mark Arrington.”
Ella stiffened and stepped closer. “What did he send?”
Will shook his head. “You sure can pick ’em, little sister. It’s two passes for tandem BASE jumps off the New River Gorge Bridge on Bridge Day this year. Do you have any idea how much those cost? And there’s only maybe a dozen spots.” He waggled his eyebrows at his bride. “You up for it?”
“No!” Ella cried out. Then she flushed and added, “I mean, that sounds kind of dangerous. You just got married. Seems silly to take a risk like that.”
Laura laughed. “This is the craziest wedding present ever, but it’s also the most memorable.” She hooked her arm through Will’s. “I’m not saying I’ll do it, but you do have until October to persuade me.”
Will kissed her and whispered in her ear. They went back to the last few gifts including the crazy quilt, finally finished thanks to all the Phillips women. Laura hugged Ella, who was still fighting the urge to steal and burn the jump passes. She was probably being silly. Mark was just showing off. He wasn’t really trying to hurt her family. Nonetheless, Ella felt as if some of her joy in the day had been stolen.
Next, the newlyweds cut the cake and exchanged dainty bites. Slices were passed around, along with scoops of vanilla ice cream for those who wanted it. Ella took a slice and sat on the steps to the church. The white frosting and flowers hid moist yellow cake with tangy lemon filling. Trying to put all thoughts of Mark out of her mind, she was thinking it tasted the way daffodils looked when Richard stepped up beside her and gave her something like a bow.
“May I have this dance?” he asked.
The band was playing a ballad, and Ella let Richard lead her onto the dance floor. They must have looked like children at a cotillion with their backs straight, arms stiff, and a distinct gap between them. Ella realized how wooden she was and giggled, relaxing a little. She didn’t exactly melt into Richard’s arms, but she did crack a smile and tried to stop acting like she had a fence post up her spine.
“This is my first covered-dish reception,” Richard said.
“I think this is everyone’s first,” Ella laughed. “Leave it to Will to get the whole community to cater his wedding.”
“They do look happy,” Richard said, nodding toward Will and Laura, dancing as though they would fall over without holding on to each other. Will touched his forehead to Laura’s and then kissed her, quick and soft.
“I don’t think they’ll be staying much longer,” Richard said as though to himself. He glanced at Ella, and his cheeks turned ruddy. Although Ella had been thinking more and more about Seth in a romantic way, she still found Richard appealing—not to mention confusing at the moment. She pushed back a notch, hoping it seemed natural as they moved to the music.
“They’ve cut the cake, so as far as I’m concerned we’re done with them,” she said. “They’re going to Abingdon, Virginia, for their honeymoon, but I think they’re spending tonight at Will’s.” Now Ella found herself blushing and wishing desperately for some other topic of conversation. Richard came to the rescue.
“So, how’s Perla? I haven’t had a chance to spend much time with her, considering the demands of Easter and then this wedding.”
“She’s . . . still making up her mind.”
“What do you mean?”
Ella wished she hadn’t spoken so honestly. “I think she has to make up her mind to really fight to get better, and for some reason she’s not there yet.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know,” Richard said.
Ella smiled and then the song came to an end. She started to move away when Richard grabbed her hand.
“Hey, will I see you in church tomorrow?” he asked.
“Sure.”
“Maybe we could meet and talk at some point. We could get together Sunday afternoon . . .” He trailed off.
“Let’s see what tomorrow brings,” Ella said. “I’ll let you know after church.”
As she walked away, she noticed Seth bringing her mom a slice of cake, then laughing and talking with her dad while he took a break from playing. Ella felt a stab of something like . . . jealousy. Seth hadn’t even asked her to dance. He was too busy waiting on her parents and making jokes with Will. And he hadn’t been all that impressed with her new look. For a moment she wondered if what Seth liked most about her was her family.
Will and Laura announced they were leaving not long after six that evening. The guests formed a double row from the cake table to the waiting car and threw birdseed at the bride and groom as they paraded down a gauntlet of people who loved them. When they reached the end, Laura stopped to throw her bouquet of lilacs over her shoulder. Ella had the feeling Laura was throwing the flowers at her, but Dad leaned out to get a better look at the departing couple and the bouquet nearly hit him in the face. He caught it and stood there with a befuddled look. Mom whacked him on the arm and pointed to Ella.
The party quickly broke up as the band packed their gear, ladies collected casserole dishes, and children were rounded up and herded into cars. Dad drove Mom and Aunt Sadie home so that Ella could take the bouquet to Gran at the nursing home.
Ella slipped into Gran’s room and found her asleep in the armchair. She touched her forearm and squeezed. Her grandmother stirred and rubbed her eyes. She looked at Ella, and a tenderness stole over her expression. “T-tired.”
“I know. I’ll tell you all about the wedding tomorrow. Right now we should get you in bed.” Ella helped Gran to her feet. “I brought you the bouquet and put it in a vase on your nightstand.”
Gran closed her eyes and smiled. “Lilies.”
Ella knew she meant lilacs and chose not to correct her. Sometimes the word Gran meant to say wasn’t the one that came out. She was just glad Aunt Sadie hadn’t heard. It would only confirm her notion that Gran wasn’t going to get better.
Back at the house, Aunt Sadie had already showered and changed into her nightclothes. She settled into Gran’s chair with a gusty sigh of relief. “I should know better than to wear high-heeled shoes at my age.”
Ella, changed into yoga pants and a T-shirt, settled on the sofa and drew an old quilt around her. “You looked wonderful.”
Sadie waved a hand as though batting the compliment away. “I looked presentable, and after all it’s the bride’s appearance everyone should be focused on.” She picked up a book from the end table and ran a hand over its cover. Anna Karenina. Ella had never made it all the way through that one.
“I found records for Imogene all the way up to Chuck’s death in 1992. The fact that I can’t find a record of her in the Social Security Death Index makes me think she’s still alive.”
Ella felt nonplussed. She’d almost forgotten about Sadie’s quest. “Really?”
Sadie nodded. “After Chuck died, Imogene moved to Wetzel County. I’ve been anxious to check the tax records for the county. But they aren’t online, and I haven’t had time to get back to the library with all the wedding preparations.”
“So you think this could be it?”
“I do. I’ll find out on Monday.” She rubbed at the spot where a price tag had once been stuck to the thick paperback in her hand. “Will you come with me if I find her?”
“To visit Imogene Bennett?”
Sadie looked her in the eye. “Yes. I confess the thought that I might be close to learning the truth has left me feeling . . . out of sorts.”
Ella felt a stab of compassion for her aunt. Sadie could be abrasive at times, but the depth of her vulnerability at the moment moved Ella.
“Of course I will. She’s family, right? I love meeting family.”
Sadie looked as if she’d been given some sort of reprieve. “Good. I’m going to turn in and read now.” She held up the book.
Ella picked up her own novel, but couldn’t seem to follow the story. She rose and pushed the curtains aside to peer out the window at the cold stars glittering in the soot-black sky. Stars usually looked warmer in the spring, but they had a January glint tonight. Ella thought about how those oblivious stars would go on shining for years, for centuries, heck for millennia for all she knew. Cold, uncaring stars.
And then Ella surprised herself by praying. She prayed that God would bless Will and Laura. That He would restore her grandmother’s health. That He would lead Ella into the life He’d planned specifically for her. That He would forgive them all for letting the church slip away. That Sadie’s quest would be a blessing and not bring pain to anyone. And then she waited, thinking if God was really listening it would be the perfect moment for Him to speak or give her a sign. But there was no voice from heaven, no angel descending, not even a whisper. Finally, Ella gave up and prayed that God would do whatever He thought best. Ella felt something like peace begin to creep over her. She opened her eyes to see that the stars had come closer and were winking at her warmly.
That’s when the car with flashing lights pulled into the driveway.