“Because I said so.”
“But—”
“Not another word, Mandy.”
Immediately, Mandy quieted. Looking for Annie, Mandy grabbed her hand and started leading the way down the street. After a pause, Lena followed her. Tired of bending over to hold Frankie’s collar, Emma hefted him in her arms. Frankie squirmed uncomfortably then snuggled close, as if he was grateful for the ride.
She was so ashamed. She should have given the dog away years ago. She should have been harsher to him, maybe. Meaner. Something to have made him mind better. And that was what she was going to have to do. Tomorrow, she was going to take Frankie to the pound.
After two seconds passed, she sighed. Oh, who was she kidding? She could never give her sweet, silly dog away. He curled up next to the girls when they were reading or sad. He slept next to each of them every night. And after their father had died, he’d let them cry all over him for hours without complaint. She loved this silly, ill-mannered dog. Loved him completely. And he loved them, too. It was simply a real shame that he managed to ruin lots and lots of meals.
“Mommy, how do you think Frankie got out this time?”
“I guess he dug himself another hole.”
“It’s good he found us, though. Ain’t so?” Annie added helpfully. “We don’t want him lost.”
She was wondering how to answer when she heard someone jogging toward them.
“Emma, girls, slow down, wouldja?” Jay asked.
Her heart in her throat, Emma turned and watched him approach, bracing herself for his anger. After all, she’d just single-handedly ruined his son’s wedding day. When he stayed silent as he closed the gap between them, she decided to get her apology over with.
“Jay, I’m so sorry. I really am so embarrassed. I don’t know how to apologize enough.”
His gaze softened. “There’s nothing to apologize for.”
“Yes there is! I ruined Ben and Tricia’s wedding.”
“Nee, Frankie ruined the cake.” When Frankie yelped in her arms, he shook his head. “Put him down, Em. I’ll deal with him now.”
“But he might run off—”
“I’ll make sure he doesn’t. Set him down, dear,” he murmured. “Girls, why don’t you go on ahead? We’ll be right there.”
Once the girls were on their way, Jay helped Emma set Frankie on the ground. Then, after giving the silly dog a pet, he snapped his fingers. “Come on, Frankie.”
To Emma’s amazement, Frankie lumbered forward. He was, no doubt, feeling awful.
She grimaced. “He’s going to be so sick tonight.”
“I’m afraid he will.” His lips twitched. “He ate a lot of cake.”
“He did. In mere seconds, too.”
“It was impressive. He practically inhaled it. People will no doubt be talking about his display for years to come.”
The tears that she’d been holding at bay pricked the corners of her eyes. “I feel so bad about this.”
“Don’t feel bad. It was only cake.”
As they approached her house, she saw all three of her girls sitting on the front steps, each one looking more dejected than the last.
“What’s wrong with them?”
“They are upset that we had to leave the wedding. They’ll be all right.”
“Sure they will.” Reaching for her hand, Jay said, “Please stop worrying. I heard Eric tell Beverly he was going to run over to Yoder’s and buy a bunch of pies. No one is going to go hungry.”
That made her feel slightly better. “At least no one will miss dessert.”
“I promise you, the only people we need to make happy are Tricia and Ben. And I promise, they are. I can almost pretty much assure you that the last thing they’re thinking about is dessert.”
Emma figured Jay had a point. She and Sanford had only been thinking about each other on their wedding day. After taking a deep breath, she looked at him curiously. “Why are you here? You better hurry back to the reception. Ben might need you.”
“I will. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I will be.” She summoned up a watery smile.
“Why don’t you come back, too?”
“Jay, I can’t. There’s no way I can face everyone right now.”
They were at the house now. After guiding Frankie inside, Jay turned back to Emma. “Of course you’ve got to go back. Everyone’s waiting for you. And I don’t want to go back without you, Em.”
“I’m so embarrassed. Frankie ruined everything.” And then, to her horror, those tears finally started to fall. And then she started crying. Really crying.