“Final time,” Rafael said.
“That ought to do it.” Pepper’s black curls bounced as she laughed. “Mama Soto kills me.” Apparently, other people’s mothers were funny. “Hey, I don’t mean to pry, but since there’s no secrets between us, I thought I’d mention that your mother called like five times.”
Lisa slipped a cold hand into Rafael’s. “Maybe you should keep my phone for a while longer,” she said to Pepper.
“That won’t do any good,” Pepper said. “When she couldn’t get you, she called me. She needs to know if anyof the wedding party has food allergies. Yes, that’sneeds, notwants. She was quite emphatic on that point.”
“Food allergies?” Rafael asked.
“She’s planning a meal for everyone at the house the first night we get there,” Pepper said.
“I already told her we weren’t doing that.” Lisa’s voice tightened when anything about her mother came up, making her sound as if someone had their fingers around her throat. “We told everyone they’re on their own for the first night. We’re having a rehearsal dinner at the restaurant in the lodge on the second night.”
“Yeah, she didn’t listen to you,” Pepper said with a grimace. “I’m sorry. But hey, don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll handle your mother.”
“If anyone can, it’s you,” Rafael said.
“Trust me, I’ve known Mrs. Perry a long time,” Pepper said. “And my mom will be there to help me. You know she can charm a snake into a bunny.”
“What about a sixty-year-old control freak?” Lisa asked.
“She’s always up for a challenge,” Pepper said. “I’m on my way to work out,” Pepper said. “I’ll see you guys in the morning.”
The four of them were driving to San Francisco together, where they would board a flight to Denver. Emerson Pass was another hour and a half in a car.
They went inside to finish packing. Because they were going to leave for their honeymoon from Colorado, they’d decided against putting up a Christmas tree. Since Lisa had moved in, his apartment had become a home. It smelled like love now. Scents of home-cooked meals filled the kitchen in the evenings. The lingering aroma of Lisa’s perfume hovered in the bathroom. A citrus diffuser freshened the living room. At night, he would wake to the fragrance of Lisa’s hair splayed across his chest.
Their apartment in LA where they stayed when Lisa wasworking felt more like a place to camp out rather than live. They’d rented a furnished apartment, nice but not theirs. When the right house became available here in Cliffside Bay, they would buy, even if they had to do an extensive remodel. For now, they were happy here in their cozy, light-filled apartment.
While they sorted through what to take on the trip, Lisa was quiet and pensive. He didn’t have to ask to know she was worried about her mother’s presence at the wedding. They’d always had a strained relationship that morphed into estranged when they had a falling-out over her brother’s decision to move to Cliffside Bay. She’d heard from her mother only a handful of times in the last few months. Lisa had purposely excluded Mrs. Perry from the wedding planning. Mrs. Perry, according to Lisa, would have made it about her instead of what he and Lisa wanted. Instead, Pepper had acted as maid of honor and mother of the bride. The girl had been a champion. Every detail had been carefully planned and arranged.
Lisa had wanted the wedding in the mountains since she read about Emerson Pass years before. They would be married in a small church, then take a sleigh ride to the reception at Willows Lodge. He and Lisa would stay at the lodge where they were having the reception, along with some of their friends and family. The wedding party, for the most part, had opted to share a rental house outside of town. As had Lisa’s parents. Lisa figured it was because her niece and nephew were staying there.
“It’ll be all right,” he said.
“I hope she doesn’t make everyone miserable at the house.”
He came around the side of the bed, where she stood holding a pile of sweaters in her arms. Taking the sweaters from her, he placed them in the suitcase on the bed. He pulled her into an embrace. “Nothing’s going to ruin our wedding weekend. Pepper and I will make sure of it.”
“If anyonecan, it’s you two.”
He wished his words had assured her, but he could tell by her worried sigh that his attempt had been unsuccessful.
“No matter what, she can’t ruin our honeymoon to France,” he said.
“Oh, God, I hope you didn’t just jinx us.”
He chuckled. “Now you sound like Mama.”
“Maybe we should use the sage on my mother.”
“Don’t worry, baby. We’ve got this.”
She tucked her head into his chest and let out another sigh. “As long as we’re married by Monday, it’s all good.”
“Exactly.”
“It’s not the wedding but the marriage that matters.”
