She frowned. “That’s not right.”
Tanner’s silence led her to wonder if he’d let Jasper think he was at fault. She decided she would correct Jasper at the reception. Right now she had to focus on greeting the rest of the guests.
As everyone in the wedding party continued to greet guests, Anita discovered Jasper wasn’t the only one who wanted her back at the diner. Each of the Bosom Buddies stopped to tell her that Sunshine wasn’t the same without her sweet presence, and one of her preschool students’ mothers said no one made iced tea like Anita did. There were several others who voiced their sentiments, all within the earshot of Tanner. When she glanced to see his reaction, there wasn’t one. He continued to smile, say hello, and agree that the wedding was lovely. If anyone’s comments bothered him, he didn’t let on.
Once they were finished, they all headed for the reception hall in Hot Springs. The groomsmen were in one limo and the bridesmaids in the other, while Riley and Hayden took a separate car. When Anita entered the limo and closed the door, Harper popped a bottle of champagne that sat in a bucket, almost getting bubbles on her dress. “Time to celebrate!” she said, pouring the drink into glasses.
“None for me,” Anita said, holding up her hand. She’d had her fill of alcohol for a long,longtime.
“Good choice.” Harper grinned. When everyone else had their champagne, she handed a bottle of water to Anita. “I got your back.”
Smiling, Anita clinked her plastic bottle to the glass flutes. “To Riley and Hayden,” she said.
“Riley and Hayden!”
She sat back and sipped her water as the rest of the girls gushed about the wedding, but her thoughts moved in a different direction. She’d appreciated the compliments she received and had promised her former customers she would drop by Sunshine from time to time. All of them promised to visit her café when it opened. She was grateful to be appreciated and happy that people were already willing to give her business a chance. But she couldn’t stop thinking about how their words affected Tanner. Like her, he had put his life savings into his business. It had to be hard for him to listen to what could be construed as complaints about Sunshine.
Olivia was sitting next to her in the limo. She leaned over and whispered, “You’re looking pensive.”
She didn’t realize she was wearing her emotions so publicly instead of focusing on celebrating the married couple. She turned to Olivia and smiled. “I’m thrilled for Riley.”
“Me too.” Olivia tapped her champagne flute against Anita’s water bottle, and they both took a drink. “Now, on to the reception.”
“Right. The reception.” Her smile tightened. There was only one more thing to get through tonight, and that was her dance with Tanner. After that, they would go their separate ways... closing the last chapter of her old life.
***
“Ya might want to slow down with that punch.”
Tanner looked at Rusty and then at the small glass cup in his hand. If there was any alcohol in the cranberry-flavored punch, he couldn’t taste it, and this was his last glass anyway. “Thanks for the advice,” he said, draining the cup and setting it down at the end of the table where all the used cups were.
“I prefer a cold beer myself,” Rusty drawled, taking a sip from a glass filled with water. “None of that sissy punch for me.”
He eyed Rusty. “Sissy?”
“Oh, I ain’t callin’ you a sissy. Just referrin’ to the punch.” Rusty grinned, his straight white teeth gleaming through his perpetually scruffy red beard. “Nice weddin’, wasn’t it? Looks like it’s gonna be a pretty good reception too.”
Tanner nodded absently, barely listening to Rusty as he complimented the appetizers provided by the facility, a rustic yet updated barn nestled in a wooded area outside of Hot Springs. The apps were all southern—pimento cheese balls, Creole fried pickles, black-eyed-pea hummus, corn-and-green-tomato cakes, bacon-jalapeño deviled eggs, and mini chicken-and-waffle skewers. There was a variety of southern desserts too—banana pudding and pecan pie along with peach and blackberry cobblers. Normally he was the first one to sample the food, but he hadn’t eaten a bite. How could he when all he could think about was Anita?
The moment she had held on to his arm, he’d lost his internal battle. He was tired of fighting his feelings, but he had to tread carefully. She was still tense, which was why he’d tried to lighten her up a bit when they stood in the reception line. When he saw her delighted expression aseveryone told her how much she was missed at Sunshine, he’d had to keep from smiling. He’d heard all of it in the weeks since Anita left.
Correction, since I fired her.
The groomsmen had ditched their jackets and ties but kept their vests on while the women remained in their bridesmaids’ dresses. Tanner had catered a few weddings, mostly casual affairs, and often the bridal parties changed into more comfortable clothes for the reception. But Hayden had only slipped off his bow tie, and Riley still looked picture perfect in her wedding dress.
Many of the guests were finishing the appetizers, and Hayden and Riley were still greeting guests at the tables, since some of the attendees hadn’t been at the wedding ceremony. He spied Anita at the edge of the dance floor, talking to Jasper again.
“Boy, she cleans up nice,” Rusty said, tipping his cup in Anita’s direction. He let out a low whistle. “She sure is pretty, don’t ya think?”
“Yeah,” Tanner ground out.More than pretty. She’s downright beautiful.
“I’m thinkin’ of askin’ her to dance.” Rusty took another drink of water. “But I got two left feet, so that might not be a good idea.”
A spike of jealousy stabbed Tanner, but he couldn’t expect Anita not to get asked to dance, especially the way she looked tonight. He grabbed another cup of punch and drained it dry.
“All right, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to introduce the bridal party.” The enthusiastic DJ pressed a button on hissoundboard, and a slow song sounded through the speakers. He turned down the volume as Tanner walked over to the bridal table. Anita was on the other end of the table, and by this time the entire bridal party was ready to dance. The jealousy he’d felt a minute ago switched to nervousness. More than likely this was their last chance to be together. After the wedding they would go their separate ways again, like she had said the night when everything had fallen apart.
“Olivia Farnsworth and Spencer Updike!”
