He led her inside through the rear foyer of the town house and up the stairs to the main living floor.
“We’re back,” he called as they reached the landing.
She turned to him. “Someone’s here?”
He grinned and pointed. Sienna turned in that direction and saw a short, plump, middle-aged woman hurrying toward them. Her dark hair was styled in kind of a bubble, and she had on a lot of makeup.
“Finally!” she said, holding open her arms. Several charm bracelets jangled as she moved. “Sienna! Welcome to the family.”
David released her hand and Sienna found herself being hugged by the woman. “Who is she?” she mouthed over the other woman’s head.
“My mother,” he said with a laugh. “Linda. Mom, this is Sienna.”
His mother was visiting and he hadn’t told her?
Linda straightened but kept hold of Sienna’s upper arms. “Oh, my, you are tall! David said you were, but I wasn’t expecting all this.” She shook her head. “I hope your children aren’t going to take after you in that respect. They’ll look so peculiar in family photos.”
Sienna opened her mouth, then closed it. “It’s, um, very nice to meet you, Mrs. Van Horn.”
Linda released her, then waved a hand. “Call me Linda. Or Mom. We’re family now, dear.” She looked up. “Is that your natural color? The blond is pretty enough, I suppose. Now, we have so much to discuss. I’m only here for a couple days, and there’s all the planning to do before I fly back to spend the Fourth with our family.”
Sienna found herself guided into the living room, where a large suitcase lay on the floor. While she wasn’t usually afraid of luggage, she found herself sidling away from it as she moved to the sofa.
“Planning?”
“The wedding,” Linda said, settling next to her and smiling. “David keeps mentioning Christmas, but I just don’t see how that could possibly happen. Plus, the weather in St. Louis is a little iffy in December. Spring would be better, as long as there isn’t a tornado.”
“Or flooding,” David added.
Tornadoes and floods? “I didn’t know the weather was so bad in the Midwest,” Sienna murmured.
“You get used to it,” Linda assured her. “Once you’ve lived there a few years, you won’t think anything of it.”
Lived there? As in...lived there?
“Now, Mom, you know I told you that Sienna and I haven’t decided what we’re going to do about living arrangements.”
Linda shook her head. “Of course you’ll come home, David.” She turned to Sienna. “There are so many opportunities there for him now that he has the right kind of experience. Plus, St. Louis is a much better place to raise children than California. Everybody knows that.”
Instead of looking panicked, David seemed pleased. Had this been his plan all along? They’d talked about the possibility of moving someday, but she hadn’t thought it was anything but just that—talk.
“I had no idea you were coming for a visit. David, you’re just full of surprises.”
“Mom called me a few days ago.”
“I told him I had to meet the woman who had stolen his heart,” Linda confirmed. “With the long weekend, this seemed like the perfect time. I flew in last night and I’ll head home tomorrow. I’m such a jet-setter.” She smiled. “Oh, we need to take lots of pictures so everyone can see what you look like.”
“That will be great,” Sienna said faintly.
“Did I mention we’ve already set up a Facebook page for the wedding? Everyone is so excited. The entire family wants to be a part of things. Oh, and speaking of that.” Linda pointed to the suitcase. “That’s for you.”
“You bought me luggage?”
Linda laughed. “Of course not. Open it. Your gift is inside.”
Sienna stood and walked around the coffee table. David nodded encouragingly.
“Do you know what it is?” she asked.
“Not a clue.”
She knelt on the floor and unzipped the case, then slowly opened the top. Inside were several layers of tissue paper. She folded them back, then stared at what looked like a white dress. No, not a dress. A wedding gown.
“It was my mother’s,” Linda said proudly. “I was hoping I would have a daughter to wear it, but I only had boys.”
Sienna pulled out the dress. It was enormous and heavy, with long sleeves and a full skirt. Lace covered every inch of the gown, and as for it being the right size...
“My mother was a larger woman,” Linda said. “We might have to take it in a bit.”