Daughters Of The Bride(47)

The front door opened before they reached it. Sienna beckoned them inside.

“Help me,” she whispered. “I’m so very afraid.”

She was hard to hear over the loud music pouring out of the built-in speakers Maggie had had installed a few years before. It took Courtney a second to recognize the song. “Love Runs Out” by OneRepublic.

Courtney followed her sisters into the house. The three of them came to a stop as they stared at Maggie and Neil dancing to the upbeat song. Arms flailed, hips swayed, feet shuffled back and forth. Neil grabbed for Maggie’s hand and spun her in a move that was part something from the 1950s and part Grapevine.

Their mother caught sight of them and waved them in. “Join us,” she called over the music. “I love this song. Neil and I were talking about having it played after the ceremony. We’d dance down the aisle to it. What do you think?”

Rachel smiled. “That’s great, Mom. I, ah, just have to get the guacamole into the refrigerator.”

She escaped to the kitchen. Courtney went after her, with Sienna trailing behind.

“I don’t know if I should be impressed or appalled,” Rachel admitted. “Good for her for being so happy and in love.”

“I was here alone with them,” Sienna complained. “You have no idea how that scarred me.”

“We should be grateful that when we get old, we’ll be like that,” Courtney pointed out. “Better too full of life than not full enough.”

“Weird expression, but I get what you mean.” Rachel pointed to the blender Maggie had left out on the island. “I believe it’s your turn to make the margaritas.”

“It’s always my turn.” But Courtney wasn’t complaining. She liked knowing what was expected when she came home to visit. It made things easier.

She added ice, then began juicing limes. By the time she’d pulled the tequila out of the freezer, the built-in speakers were playing “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.”

Maggie walked into the kitchen. “Neil’s off for a night with the guys,” she said, holding open her arms. “How are my three favorite daughters?”

They hugged their mom in turn. Courtney hung on for a second, hoping tonight was going to be one of the good ones. She inhaled the familiar scent of Arpège. It had always been her mother’s favorite perfume.

“Just to be clear,” Maggie said as Courtney handed out the margaritas, “I plan to talk about the wedding. A lot.”

Sienna raised her glass. “That’s exactly what we want to hear, Mom.”

Someone nicer than Courtney would assume that Sienna was being a good daughter rather than trying to make sure they didn’t discuss her recent engagement. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall after David and Sienna had gotten back to her place.

“Let’s get dinner together,” her mother said. “Then we can talk.”

The meal was usually more about assembling than actually cooking. This time Maggie had picked up a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store, along with corn tortillas, shredded cheese and tomatoes. There was a bag of coleslaw and ingredients for Maggie’s famous jalapeño salad dressing.

Rachel took the chicken apart and cut the meat into small pieces. Maggie assembled the dressing, while Courtney made another batch of margaritas and Sienna put out the fixings for tacos, along with the chips, salsa and guacamole. The food was served family style, with the pitcher of margaritas front and center on the dining room table.

Maggie raised her glass. “To my girls. I love you all very much.”

Courtney thought about the toast from the party and silently said, “And Courtney.” Then she told herself not to be bitchy. Her mother meant well. Mostly.

“I want to go first,” Maggie said. “So oldest to youngest.”

Sienna sighed. “I hate being the middle child.”

“You get to be the beautiful one,” Rachel pointed out.

Sienna brightened. “That’s true.”

Maggie reached for a tortilla. “My good thing is the engagement party. It was wonderful. Courtney, I know you did a lot of the work. Joyce told me. Thank you for that. I loved the runner for the table best of all.”

Sienna stared at her sister. “I still can’t believe you did that all by yourself.”

Courtney leaned toward Sienna. “I didn’t. Little cartoon woodland creatures came and helped me while I sang. Of course by myself. It’s not that hard, and despite what you think, I am capable.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t,” her sister snapped. “I’m surprised you know how to work a computer that well. You’re a maid. There’s not much call for being tech savvy when you’re cleaning toilets.”