“Hi. I’m Jane. We talked on the phone a few times.” Jane stuck out her hand.
“Yes, I remember. Nice to meet you.” Courtney’s handshake was firm, her smile genuine. Maybe she wasn’t so bad after all. “Sorry to be such a stickler on the phone, but Mother wanted everything to be perfect.”
Aha! So maybe it was the mother all along.
“Yes, I did. Nothing is too good for my darling daughter.” Marilyn sniffed. “But I’m afraid there’s a little problem, dear.” She nodded toward Cooper.
Courtney’s eyes widened, apparently noticing the dog for the first time. “Oh! A dog!”
She crouched down, holding her hand out for Cooper, who was delighted to sniff. Once they were acquainted, Jane eased up on the leash, and Courtney hugged the dog. She looked up at Jane. “Does he live here?”
Jane nodded.
“He's gorgeous. Do you think he could be a ring bearer?”
Stunned, Jane answered, “Sure. He’s pretty smart. I’m sure we can train him.”
Courtney stood, brushed off her slacks, and hooked her arm through her mother’s. “Perfect. Then I guess I’ll check in and then take a look at what you have set up for the wedding. The property is lovely, and I’m sure what you have will be just wonderful.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jane was so busy the rest of the day and into the next that she barely registered the hours ticking by. It turned out that Courtney really wasn’t as bad as her mother.
Brenda made a quick ring box and pillow to attach to Cooper’s collar, and Courtney helped Andie and Jane train him to walk down the aisle behind her. He learned quickly, but it was one thing to do it with empty chairs and another to do it while the tent was full of guests that could distract him. Jane could only keep her fingers crossed.
The guests all seemed happy, and the couple looked enamored with each other at the small rehearsal dinner held on the back deck of Tides the night before the wedding.
Even the feuding aunts had found common ground. It turned out they both loved dogs and had tolerated each other’s presence, since they both wanted to be near Cooper. Jane had even overheard them reminiscing pleasantly about family dogs they'd had in the past.
When the moment finally came for the wedding, Jane was relieved and somewhat eager to get it over with.
She stood at the back of the tent and watched the couple exchange vows. Cooper stood between them, patiently waiting for the ring exchange.
“See, I knew he’d do a good job.” Mike took her hand. “Everything worked out just perfect.”
“I guess.” Jane watched as the groom kissed the bride, and the crowd erupted in applause. “Now let’s hope the reception and dinner goes smoothly.”
Several yards away on the beach, the Lobster Bay Clambake Company was tending to the steaming pit they’d dug in the sand and lined with seaweed for the lobsters. Two industrial-sized grills were set up for steak. Waitstaff circled in the tent with trays of hors d’oeuvres as the crowd moved from the seating area to mingle under the tent.
The band had taken their place in the corner and was starting to get set up. Fairy lights twinkled along the edges of the tent. Sheer drapes hung in the corners billowed exotically in the sea breeze. Above the ocean, the first stars were just starting to appear in the cerulean sky.
The guests seemed to be enjoying themselves, and the bride was beaming, which eased some of Jane’s nerves. Never having hosted a wedding before, she had no idea if she was doing things right, but so far, so good. Over to the side, she spotted Claire’s sandcastle cake. It looked magnificent with its blue sugar-coated icing and really did match the bridesmaid dresses.
“Let’s go to the table. I want to tell Claire how much Courtney loved her cake.” Jane tugged Mike over to the round table in the back designated for Jane and her friends. Claire and Rob were seated at the table, their heads bent together in private conversation. Maxi sat next to Claire, a champagne flute in her hand as she scanned the crowd.
Andie was standing beside the table talking to the two feuding aunts, who were laughing together about something. Apparently, they’d forgotten about their feud.
Most of the guests were standing in small groups, while a few were seated at the tables. The bride was circulating with the groom in tow. The only person not laughing and talking was Marilyn. She was seated at the head table by herself with a sour look on her face. Jane wasn’t surprised about that.
As she approached their table, James came up beside her.
“Wish me luck.” He winked at Jane as he went over to Maxi then took her hand and led her to the dance floor just as the band started to play.
Jane squeezed Mike’s hand as she watched the couple. “Ahh, see, you were right. Everything is working out just perfect.”
Maxi’s heart fluttered as James took her in his arms on the dance floor. James wasn’t much of a dancer, but she appreciated the effort.
James looked over at the band and nodded. How odd. Did he know them or...?
