“It must be a world record.”
“Not for Mom,” Matthew whispered as he answered the call. “Hi, Mom.”
Sean carefully listened to the one-sided conversation. His brother was telling a whole lot of half-truths to make the engagement party seem real. Goodness knows what their parents would say if they knew they were actually coming to a wedding.
Grabbing a pen and a sheet of paper he scribbled a message to his brother. Matthew frowned, but told their mom to buy a new dress. In hindsight, it might not have been the right thing to say. From what Sean could make out, their mom was wondering why she couldn’t wear the dress she’d worn to Sally’s wedding.
She’d always said it was one of the most comfortable dresses she’d ever bought and it looked great. But Sean knew what she’d say if she saw herself wearing the same dress in Matthew and Ashley’s wedding photos. The dress was stylish, but she’d want to know why someone didn’t tell her to wear something different.
“Okay, Mom. Tell dad I love him. Yes. He’s here. I’ll tell him. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” After ending the call, Matthew dropped his head to his chest. “I’m having heart palpitations.”
Sean slapped him on the shoulder. “You did good.”
“I did great considering the amount of stress I’m under. Mom sends her love. She’ll call us tomorrow at seven with Dad.”
“It’s just as well I don’t have an exciting social life. How does it feel to be an almost married man?”
Matthew closed his eyes. “Terrifying.”
Sean pulled him into a hug. “I hate to tell you this, but it will get worse before it gets better.”
“Thanks. Just wait until you find the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with. Then you’ll know exactly how I feel.”
Sean didn’t need to wait for that to happen. He’d already found Becky and he was just as unsettled as Matthew. Especially when there was a little girl’s future at stake, too.
Molly opened the cutlery drawer.“I can’t believe how much you’ve done. You’ve helped Sean organize an entire wedding in the blink of an eye.”
Becky dipped her spoon into her slice of cheesecake. “Matthew’s wedding isn’t like anyone else’s. Apart from a few catering and decorating questions, Sean and I have been making all the decisions. If we had to work with a bridal party, it could have taken a lot longer. I just hope Ashley likes what we’ve chosen.”
“She will be happy to finally be a bride.”
Becky was glad her sister felt so positive, but Ashley and Matthew’s wedding was still a month away.
Molly leaned her elbows on the kitchen table. “Sean might have a little Irish blarney hidden inside his handsome body. He’s called on every favor he’s owed to make his brother’s wedding a success. I’ve never seen so many people hold a secret so close to their chests.”
“I don’t know how much longer we can keep the secret from Ashley. Especially if Doris Stanley sets her mind to discovering what’s going on.”
“Doris is a gossip, to be sure, but she also has a heart of gold. Have a chat with her to set the story straight.” Molly sat beside Becky. “While I was babysitting Mary after school, Jamie’s mom called. She wants to come for a visit.”
“That’s grand. Mary will enjoy seeing her again.”
Edith O’Rourke loved Mary dearly, but she wasn’t able to look after her. Since they’d returned from Ireland, Becky had done everything she could to make sure Mary had a relationship with her grandmother. They regularly talked to Edith on video calls and sent her emails and photos about what they were doing.
“Coming to Bozeman wasn’t the only reason she called.” Molly cleared her throat. “Edith sent you an email. She wants Mary to live with her.”
Becky’s heart plummeted. “I spoke to Edith after we arrived in Montana. She said she couldn’t look after Mary.”
Molly placed her hand on Becky’s arm. “I don’t have the ins and outs of her decision, but you need to read her email. She apologized for not speaking to you before she sent it.”
No apology could ever make up for how Becky felt. From the moment she’d discussed Mary’s care with Edith and her lawyer, they were grateful for the home she could give the anxious five-year-old.
Why would she want to change what was working so well? Never in a million years would Becky stop Edith from seeing her granddaughter. Her relationship with her own gran had been one of the most important in her life. She’d travel across different continents to make sure Mary grew to know her grandma. Edith knew that. But this…this was the last thing she’d expected.
With a sinking heart, Becky opened the email and read the document prepared by Edith’s lawyer. “She’s petitioning the courts for the removal of my guardianship.”
“Why would she do such a foolish thing?”
Becky shook her head in disbelief. “I don’t know.” As she read the next page of the attachment, her eyes filled with tears. “Before we left Ireland, she said she was happy for Mary to live with me. We did everything to make my guardianship legal in Montana. Mary will be so upset if she has to leave.”
