A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn(57)

“Of course I will have a room for you both.” She was pretty sure she would. But even if she didn’t, she would find them someplace, even if it meant she had to give up her own room or share with Tricia. “I’m glad you’re coming down.” And, she realized, she was glad. Edward and Kathleen had never had the opportunity to come visit her. She’d understood, knowing he was busy with his farm. “I’ve missed you, Ed,” she said, voicing her thoughts.

“I feel the same way.” Lowering his voice, he added, “Kathleen has been fairly vexed with me. She’s been wantin’ to come down for a few weeks now.”

“I’ll look forward to seeing her.”

“You’ll see her soon enough. Now, give me some answers.”

“Well, let’s see. Ben is a nice young man. He seems very smitten with Tricia. He’s also the eldest of three sons. He looks after them and helps his father with their organic farm.” She thought of his other questions. “As for his father, I’m not sure when his wife passed on to heaven and I haven’t asked. I do know he came down here to start fresh.”

“Tricia already told me most of that.”

Now, more than ever, Beverly wished she could go back and apologize to Tricia for sounding so doubtful. Not that she had changed her mind about her concerns, but it was obvious poor Tricia had already been grilled over the phone.

“If Tricia told you everything, why are you asking me?” she snapped.

“I want your thoughts about this man. Tricia acts like he’s wonderful. Is he?”

Oh, for heaven’s sakes! “That’s not for me to say. I am not engaged to him, Edward.”

“Come on, Beverly. Do you really not care that my youngest is ready to get hitched to a man she barely knows? I would have thought you, of all people, would have cautioned her about giving in to her heart.”

For days, she’d thought the very same thing. But now, hearing her brother speak about her misalliance in the past? Well, it didn’t feel too good.

In fact, she was kind of tired of being Marvin’s poor ex-fiancée. “Tricia is her own woman and she is smarter than you are giving her credit for,” she replied, no longer even trying to keep the vinegar out of her voice. “As far as I can tell, Ben Hilty is a good man and he seems to care for her very much. She certainly looks happier than I’ve ever seen her. That says a lot, I think. And if you’re wondering if he’s going to break up with her before the wedding, I don’t think so.”

Edward sighed. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

“This isn’t about me, Ed. It’s about Tricia and Ben.”

After a brief pause, he mumbled. “Jah, that’s what Kathleen said.”

He sounded so sheepish, she grinned. “I knew you married a smart woman. Now I really can’t wait to see Kathleen.”

“We’re looking forward to being there. I suppose it’s still hot there?”

“Hot as July,” she said with a smile. “Bring plenty of cool clothes. And don’t forget water for the bus ride. That twenty-hour ride seems to last forever.”

“I wrote that down. Okay, we’ll be getting off that Pioneer Trails bus on Saturday.”

“I’ll be in the parking lot waiting with the rest of Pinecraft. Does Tricia know you’re coming?”

“Nee. I wanted to talk to you first.” For the first time, his voice sounded hesitant. “Will you tell her?”

“Of course I will. Safe travels, Edward.”

After she hung up, Beverly poured bread batter into the three lined pans on the counter, put them in the oven, and set her egg timer. Then she went to go find Tricia and deliver the news.

WHAT SHOULD SHE WEAR? What should she say? What should she do? Staring at the clothes in her small closet on Friday, Emma’s choices became too many and the decisions dire.

It was time she got some help.

Though Emma had plenty of weeds to pull and even a sewing project to finish, she put a leash on Frankie and walked around the block toward Dorrie’s house. Around noon every day, her best friend took a thirty-minute walk. Though it was hot as could be, Emma figured she and Frankie could handle it if he could keep his paws mainly on the cool grass.

They’d passed five houses and just turned up Miller Avenue when they saw her. Dorrie had on her usual: sunglasses, sporty tennis shoes, and a bright smile. Today, she was wearing a bright coral-colored dress. Frankie, recognizing Dorrie and her penchant for giving him lots of doggie treats, wagged his tail and picked up his pace. When Dorrie saw them approaching, she waved.

“Fancy seeing you two out and about!” she said with a happy smile.