Shona frowned. She would’ve remembered if she'd met Joseph there. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Adele and I had only been in Sapphire Bay for a few days. Nate and his friends were being presented with scholarships for Montana State University. I looked to my right and saw you sitting by yourself with tears in your eyes. I waited for someone to make sure you were okay, but no one did.”
She closed her eyes and remembered the event Joseph was talking about. It was a Friday night. She’d arrived at The Welcome Center with Nate to help with dinner, but ended up going to a meeting Pastor John had organized to celebrate the end of another year.
When Nate and his friends were invited onto the stage, she was as confused as her son was. No one knew the students would be presented with full college scholarships. It had sent ripples of excitement and gratitude throughout the community and transformed the students’ lives.
Joseph brushed a lock of hair off her face. “I tried to find you after the presentation, but you were surrounded by people.”
“I was overwhelmed. Everyone wanted to congratulate Nate and talk about what he wanted to do at college.” She looked into Joseph's eyes. “I couldn't have afforded to send him to college. Without the scholarship, he would’ve stayed in Sapphire Bay and worked at The Christmas Tree Farm until he found another job.”
Joseph frowned. “Do you know who provided the scholarships?”
“They wanted to remain anonymous. Whoever it was has made a huge difference to many people’s lives. Each year since then, five students have been awarded full scholarships.”
Joseph stepped around another couple. “How did you and Nate feel about accepting it?”
“For the first few days, Nate kept looking at the certificate Pastor John gave him. I don't think he realized how life-changing it was until he started college.”
“What about you?”
“I spent a couple of months trying to work out who’d sponsored the scholarships. If someone looked at me strangely in the supermarket, I thought it was them. Pastor John wouldn't tell me who it was, but he gave them the letter Nate and I wrote to thank them.”
Joseph’s hand settled on the small of her back. “If you had a lot of money, would you do the same thing?”
She didn’t have to think twice about her answer. “Absolutely. The scholarships have opened the door to so many opportunities. And, in their own way, the students are already repaying the generosity shown to them. When they come home, they all volunteer at the church or in one of the outreach programs John runs. I'm proud of them.”
“What if I told you—”
Andrea grabbed hold of Shona's hand. “Sorry, Joseph. Mabel wants a photo of all the single ladies in the room before Paris throws her bouquet. Shona’s coming with me.”
He was as confused as Shona was.
“But I'm not single. I’m here with Joseph.”
Andrea held up Shona’s hand. “You aren’t wearing a wedding band or an engagement ring. And even if you were engaged, I’d still be taking you with me.” She sighed. “If you won’t do it for me, do it for Paris. She didn’t want to toss her bouquet, but Jack made a list of everything that needed to happen at her wedding. She’s doing it for her stepson.”
How could she say no to that? “All right. I’ll come with you, but I’m not standing in the middle of the room.”
“You can stand wherever you like.”
Joseph kissed her cheek. “I’ll wait for you at our table.”
“Don’t worry about Adele,” Andrea told him. “She wanted to come with us, so Jackie’s looking after her.”
Joseph frowned. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. She could get knocked over in the rush to catch the flowers.”
Shona understood his hesitation. With the number of women already leaving the room, a large group would be waiting for the bouquet to come their way. “I’ll make sure she’s beside me.”
Joseph’s nod was the last thing she saw before Andrea pulled her away. Whoever thought catching a bride’s bouquet would increase your chance of finding your happy ever after was crazy. The only person who might enjoy it was the person who caught the flowers.
* * *
Joseph satat the back of the reception room with John and Shelley.
A large group of women were in the center of the room waiting for Paris to toss her bouquet. Shona stood to the side holding Adele's hand and listening intently to what she was saying.
“I'm glad that's not me,” Shelley told them. “It’s one advantage of being married.”
