The path took a turn through some trees. For a second Shannon thought she heard someone talking, then the three of them stepped around a corner and saw two women walking toward them.
The five of them came to a stop. Shannon’s gaze passed over the tall, blonde woman to settle on the petite brunette on crutches. She was about Shannon’s age and pretty, although her two black eyes were distracting. She’d obviously been in some kind of accident. The bride? Shannon wondered, checking outher ring finger. She didn’t see a ring and humorously wondered if she, too, were keeping her engagement a secret from her—
Cindy gasped. The other blonde woman went pale.
“Ava?”
“Cindy?”
Shannon looked at her mom who was staring at the stranger—her eyes wide, her mouth parted. She looked as if she’d seen a ghost, or worse.
“Mom?” Shannon asked. The young woman on crutches looked as confused as Shannon felt. Javiar gave her a quick shrug. It was only then that she realized the older woman was gazing at her intently.
“I don’t understand,” Cindy whispered, then shook her head and looked around as if realizing where she was. “Right. So, um, hello.” She drew in a breath. “It’s been a long time.”
“It has,” the other woman, Ava maybe, said, still watching Shannon.
“Mom,” the younger woman said. “What’s going on?”
Ava finally looked away. “This is Cindy.” She waved at the woman on crutches. “My daughter, Victoria.”
“Hey.” Victoria half lifted one of her crutches. “Hi. Yes, I was thrown out of a truck. My bad.”
Cindy seemed to collect herself. “This is Javiar, my fiancé’s son, and my daughter, Shannon.”
Ava’s breath caught. “What a beautiful name. Hello, Shannon. You look so much like your mother.”
“Ah, hi.” She glanced at her mom. “You two are friends?” They weren’t acting like it, but they obviously knew each other.
“We were,” Ava told her, still looking at Shannon. “You’re all grown-up. Of course you would be. It’s been years.”
She briefly rested her hand on her throat. For a second Shannon wondered if she was going to cry.
Victoria glanced between the two older women. “How do you know each other?”
Ava ignored the question and smiled at Shannon. “I’m staring, and I apologize for that. It’s just, I always wondered what you’d look like when you were older. The pictures I saw...” Her mouth straightened. “Not pictures, really. But I wondered.”
She turned her attention to Cindy. “You look well. You mentioned a fiancé. You’re getting married?”
Cindy nodded.
“Congratulations. We’re looking at a venue for Milton’s birthday party. He’s going to be sixty.”
“How is he?” Cindy asked, her voice faint.
“Well. He’ll be delighted to know you and—” there was a faint hesitation “—Shannon are thriving.”
“Okay, you have to stop ignoring me,” Victoria said sharply. “Mom, there’s something. This is incredibly awkward, and none of us know why. How do you know these people?”
Cindy opened her mouth, then closed it. She sucked in a breath, as if gathering courage. “I met your parents when...” Her mother went completely white, and for a second Shannon wondered if she was going to faint.
“Mom? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She shook her head. “It’s all such a surprise.”
“Would somebody tell me what’s going on,” Victoria demanded. “This is ridiculous. Mom, why are you acting so strange?”
Ava looked at Cindy. “Would it be easier if I said it?”
