But Patricia Beale missed nothing.“What celebration?”
Donna rose and walked over to her mother.“I was going to call and tell you. Today. I was going to call today.”She held out her hand.“Barry asked me to marry him.”
Patricia stood silent for a long moment, looking at the ring.“I see. Are you certain that’s what you want to do?”
“I’m sure, Mom.”
“You’ve been on your own for a long time. And men can be…difficult. And aren’t you a bit old for planning a wedding?”
Ouch. Her mother could be…blunt.“Mom, I love him.”
“That’s fine, but it doesn’t mean you have to marry him.”Patricia shook her head.
Evelyn jumped up.“She wants to marry him. And he’s a great guy. Really great.”
Olivia came to stand beside her.“Grandmother, he makes Mom happy. We’re all thrilled for her. And we all adore Barry.”
Emily and Heather came to stand beside her, too. All the Parker women, defending her. Though,technically, the town thought of Patricia as a Parker woman, too.
“They’re going to get married in six weeks. At the pavilion at The Cabot,”Heather added.
Patricia’s eyes clouded for a moment and a slight frown crossed her face.“The Cabot? Really?”
“Yes, Delbert offered the pavilion,”Donna explained.“I think it will be lovely. We’ve already done a lot of the planning.”
“But exactly six weeks from this weekend?”Patricia’s frown deepened.
“Yes.”
“You can’t get married that weekend.”Her mother shook her head.
“Why not?”
“Because that’s when I’ve planned to move to Sunrise Village. There are six of us moving from our retirement place in Naples to the new one opening here. I’ll need you girls to help.”
“Grandmother, I’m pretty sure a wedding tops a move. You can change your move-in date,”Olivia insisted.
“I don’t want to change it. All my friends are moving in then.”Patricia looked appalled that Olivia had even suggested it.
Donna wavered. It was sometimes easier not to challenge her mother. But they’d already made plans. Even picked out flowers and booked a photographer for that date.
“We can help you the next week after Mom gets married,”Olivia insisted.
“If invitations haven’t been sent, Donna should move her date.”Patricia’s eyes flashed, determined in her stance. Determined to win the argument.
Evelyn looked at Donna, shook her head, and stepped forward.“Donna isnotchanging her wedding day because you’re moving. We’re happy to have you back here in Moonbeam, but…I won’t let Donna change her day.”Evie turned to look at her.“I know that’s what you’re thinking. It’s easier to change than to stand up to Mother.”Her sister turned back to their mom.“But, Mother, the wedding isn’t changing.”
“Well…I…never,”Patricia sputtered.“I don’t see whyIneed to change my plans.”
“You don’t have to, if you don’t want to. But then you’ll miss the wedding,”Emily said.“You don’t want to do that, do you?”
“I…I supposed if there’s no getting around it. I’ll change my movers. Maybe they can come a few days before that.”
“That’s fine, but we’ll be busy with Donna’s wedding that week, so we won’t have time to help you very much.”Evelyn stood tall, facing their mother.
“Fine. I’ll do it all on my own.”Patricia whirled around and headed for the door, her heels clicking precisely on the tile floor, dismissing her daughters with every step.
“We’ll be glad to help with anything you need after the wedding,”Heather called out.
