“Just the waist up?” Alix put her hand up. “Don’t answer that. What about Preston? I liked him.”
“You liked the gifts he gave you. When I saw him folding your laundry but leaving mine in the basket, I told him to get out.”
Alix took her mother’s arm in her own. “I’m sorry. I had no idea, but then I’ve seen so many men make fools of themselves over you, I always assumed there was love involved.”
“I seem to attract the wrong kind of man. They don’t look at me and see a two-story colonial and three kids.”
“But Dad did,” Alix said, then grimaced. “Please don’t tell me anything horrible about my father.”
“There’s nothing bad. He grew up in an easy, sheltered world where everyone knew their place. I was young and from a very different world. I think I was exciting to him. For a while, anyway. When it got bad between his parents and me, he ran away and hid.” Victoria squeezed Alix’s arm. “All that was long ago and doesn’t matter now. Besides, your father is in love.”
“With Jilly?” Alix had been so overwhelmed with wedding and shower plans that she’d spent little time doing anything else. She certainly hadn’t seen that her father was in love.
“Yes. They’re mad for each other. I can see it already.”
Alix sighed. “Well, Mom, I guess it’s just you and me. Again. Jared offered me a job at his firm, but I don’t know if I should take it. If I had to see him with another woman, I would probably fall down dead.”
“You’re going to find that you can stand a lot more in life than you think you can. Of course you’ll take the job.” They were near the wharf now, at the Juice Bar. “Do you still love peanut butter ice cream?” Victoria asked.
“I do. And do you still like cherry chocolate chip?”
Victoria smiled. “Still my favorite. Shall we indulge and forget about men?”
“Gladly!” Alix said.
At about four that afternoon, Alix got a text from Lexie. TOBY AND I ARE GOING TO DRESS UP AND GO OUT FOR DRINKS. PICK YOU UP AT 7:30? She read it to her mother. “I’m not sure I’m in the mood to go out.”
“I want you to,” Victoria said. “Freddy is coming over and we’d like some time alone.”
Alix still looked hesitant.
“What if I lend you my blue silk Oscar de la Renta?”
“With the Blahnik heels?”
“The black ones with the rhinestones on the side?” Victoria put her hand to her heart. “The sacrifices one makes for her child.”
Alix pushed three magazines—all bridal—and two rolls of wrapping paper off her lap and started for the stairs. “And your silver earrings with the pavé diamonds,” she called as she ran up the stairs.
Victoria gave a loud, melodramatic groan, which wasn’t easy considering she was smiling broadly.
When Lexie appeared at the back door, she looked at Alix and said, “Wow! You look like—”
“Cinderella,” Toby said from behind her.
They were dressed nicely but Alix looked like she was about to step onto a runway. “Mom did my hair. Like it?” Victoria had pinned it up, with soft tendrils framing her face.
“You look wonderful,” Toby said. “I wish we’d hired a limo.”
“But my truck will have to do,” Lexie said.
Victoria kissed all three of them, wished them a good evening, and waved goodbye.
The three young women got into the front of Lexie’s pickup. Alix had no idea where they were going, but she was surprised that they were heading toward where the chapel was being built. She hadn’t been there since they’d found Valentina’s journal, which right now seemed like a long time ago. When Lexie pulled onto the dirt drive, Alix began to suspect something was up. “What are you doing?”
It was Toby who answered. “We’re sorry, Alix, but Jared asked us to bring you here. He’s in the chapel and he wants to talk to you.”
Alix frowned. “If he wants to talk to me, he didn’t need to put on this charade. He could have—”