She needed a vacation. Some distance. Perhaps when her grandfather and Grace got back from their honeymoon, Kate would drive to Vegas and catch up with her friends.
Maybe she should move. Her grandfather was happy now. He didn't need her, and there was a whole big world outside of Gospel city limits. A world without Rob Sutter-except on holidays.
From a few feet away, Kate recognized Rob's deep laughter, and she looked over at him. Rose Lake had her hand on his shoulder and had raised on her toes to say something into his ear. Kate turned her attention to the preacher and thanked him. She chatted with the Aberdeens, and all the while she managed to keep her smile in place and pretend she wasn't dying inside.
Yeah, she should move, she decided. But she really didn't want to. Not right now. She'd just started to fit in. She'd joined the Mountain Momma Grafters and would attend her first meeting the following night. She'd volunteered to bring refreshments and planned to introduce them to the wonders of gourmet food and jalapeno jelly. Gospel was just starting to feel like home, which was scary if she thought about it too hard.
Kate excused herself and wandered over to the covered pavilion, where the caterers Grace had hired from Sun Valley were setting up. She helped them set out mints and nuts and looked up as she heard the unmistakable sound of Iona Osborn's quad cane.
Iona wore a red dress with so much blue rickrack on the ruffles that she looked like she was about to break into a square dance. "Hi, Iona."
"Hello, Kate." She stopped and looked over the three-tier white-and-blue wedding cake. "Did you make the cake?"
"No. I haven't graduated past cupcakes."
"You did a good job with those." Kate was about to thank her when she asked, "When is it your turn to get married?"
Kate thought the obvious answer to the question was, When I get asked. She didn't bother stating the obvious, though. "I just haven't found the right person yet," she answered. But she had. Or at least she thought she had. She glanced over Iona's ten-gallon pile of hair at Rob. He stood talking to her brother, pointing out at the lake toward town. The two shook hands, then Ted made his way toward Kate beneath the pavilion.
"How many times have you been asked when you're getting married?" he asked as he reached for a glass of punch.
"About ten. How about you
?"
"Five." He drained the small glass. "You win."
This was one competition she didn't want to win. She was feeling a little testy, and her face hurt from smiling. Her head was pounding, too.
Great-aunt Edna grabbed a piece of cake and moved to stand by Kate and Ted. Edna's skin looked as tough as an old army boot, and Kate wasn't sure if that was due to her pack-a-day habit or the toxic effects of her bologna pie. "Are you next?" Edna asked as she reached for a little cup of nuts.
Kate didn't have to ask her what she meant. "No."
"Well dear, if your grandfather can find someone at his age, there's hope for you."
Kate tilted her head to the side. "Did you know that Harvard researchers have concluded that Coca-Cola is not an effective spermicide?"
"Huh?" Edna stared, her mouth slightly agape.
Kate patted her great-aunt on her bony shoulder. "That's good info to know if you ever find yourself without a condom."
Ted laughed and put his arm around Kate. "What do you say we cut out of here and find a bar?"
It was early enough that the Buckhorn wouldn't be filled up with knuckleheads. "Wanna play a game of pool?"
He smiled. "I'm not going to let you win."
They moved from beneath the pavilion. "You never let me win."
"Kate." She didn't have to turn to know who'd called her name. Even after everything, the sound of his voice still poured over her like warm rum. She took a deep breath and turned to watch Rob walk toward her.
He stopped a few feet from her and looked into her eyes. "Do you mind if I steal your sister for a few minutes, Ted?"
"No, I don't mind. Kate?"
She handed her keys to her brother. "Wait for me at my car."
Rob waited until Ted had walked away before he said, "Why are you leaving so soon?"