October Snow (39 page)

Max whistled softly.

“You are simply, absolutely beautiful,” Jo said.

“Sammy…Wow.”

She smiled, fluffing her hair around her shoulders. “Thanks, girls.” She turned back to the mirror, watching the skirt settle around her again. “I’m really glad you talked me into this one.”

Jo laid her bouquet of peach roses and yellow peonies on the bed. “The flowers just came.”

“Oh, that reminds me…” Sam reached under her bed, pulling out a small circle of silk roses, the same colors as her bouquet. She handed it to Jo. “Here you go.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s for Daisy. To wear around her neck.”

She was delighted, turning it over in her hands, fluffing the flowers. “Where on earth did you get this?”

“Dave and I got it when we were in Boston.” As Jo hugged her, she said, “Hey, we can’t have a wedding without the Daizer.”

“I love it. Thank you.”

“Believe me, after all you guys did for us this week, it’s nothing. At all.” She looked them up and down. “Good grief, you two just don’t age, do you?” They each wore a strapless sheath, which hung just to the knee: Jo in pale peach, and Max in pastel yellow. Their blonde hair was done loose and casual. “Where are your flowers?”

“In the kitchen. They’re gorgeous.”

Daisy wandered in, looking around. “Hey, here’s the flower dog,” Max said, slipping the flowers over Daisy’s head.

“Oh my gosh, she looks so cute.” Sam reached down to stroke her back. “Make sure we get a picture of her.”

Daisy looked mournfully to Jo. “I’ll let her wait until the wedding.” She slipped the collar off, laying it on the bed as Daisy waited to be lifted. “Take a nap, baby.”

Max was looking out the window at the gray sky, and the light fog over the lake. “Anyone catch a weather report?”

“It’s supposed to clear up by noon,” Jo said. She held one closed fist toward each of them.

“What? You want a fist bump?” Max laughed.

She shook her head. “Open your hands, both of you.”

They looked at each other curiously, and did as she asked.

“This is for you guys. Let’s never forget this day.” She dropped a pair of diamond teardrop earrings into each of their hands. “Love you both.”

They stared at their gifts, stunned. Finally, Max spoke. “Jo…These are…They’re just exquisite.” She looked up at her. “When did you get these?”

“Dave picked them up for me in Boston. I ordered them last week.” She smiled hopefully. “Are you going to put them on?” She glanced at Sam then. “Oh, no–Sammy, no, don’t cry. Your makeup’s perfect.”

She was grabbing for tissues, dabbing at the corners of her eyes. “I don’t know what to say, Jo.”

“Don’t say anything. Just let me see you in them.”

Sam and Max shared the vanity mirror, and a minute later, turned to face Jo. The diamonds caught even the dim lighting in the room, with a brilliant sparkle that Jo thought was fitting for the two best friends she had ever known.

She said as much, and then Max sat on the bed, looking discouraged. “Well, I have something for you girls, too…” She sighed. “Nothing like this, though.” She got up and looked in the mirror again. “I feel kind of bad.”

“Oh no, you don’t,” Jo said. “What is it?”

“Yeah, Bim. I want my present,” Sam grinned.

“Be right back.” She went across the hallway, retrieving two small boxes wrapped in white tissue paper and tied with gold ribbon. She held them out, her eyes down. “Here.”

They opened them in unison. Sam caught her breath, looking wide-eyed at Max, the tears flowing again.

Jo stared at the framed picture of the three of them, the one Bobby had taken a few months earlier, during the holidays. They stood in front of the Christmas tree at Barley’s, their arms around each other, laughing as they raised their wine glasses in a toast to their friendship.

“Oh, Maxine,” she murmured.

Sam was trying unsuccessfully to stem her tears. “I just love it, Max. Thank you so much.” She hugged her hard. “I love it,” she said again.

“It’s not much.”

Jo wrapped her arms around the two of them. “It’s everything.”

“I’ll keep it forever,” Sam said.

They stood that way for a few moments, then Max said, “We have to patch your face up, Sammy. You’re a mess.”

She put the picture on the table by the bed. “I swear, I’m the luckiest woman on earth.”

“Like I told Dave, he’s the lucky one,” Jo said, and Sam smiled gratefully at her. “You’re heading straight to Maine after the wedding, right?”

Sam nodded. “For a few days of camping, outside Orono.”

“Why’d you choose that? I would have gone to an island someplace.” She was looking through the vanity for mascara. “Max, where would you have gone?”

Max didn’t answer.

“Max?”

She looked up, startled. “Sorry. I was thinking about something.”

“Never mind.”

Sam said, “Dave wanted to go to New York City. I’m the one who wanted to rough it in the Great Woods for a few days.”

Max suddenly remembered something. “Hey, we don’t have anything to throw at you and Dave when you leave, do we?”

“Do you really need to throw rice at us?”

“Yuck, rice.” Jo said. “It’s bad for the birds. They can’t digest it.”

“Want me to run to Lettie’s and grab something?”

“No.”

“
Yes
,” Jo insisted. “Just not white rice, okay?”

“Okay. Back in a bit.” She posed in the mirror for a moment. “I need to show off how I look anyway.”

“True.”

“Hurry back, though,” Sam said. “The guys will be here soon. I want us all to be together for a while before the judge gets here.”

“Yeah–that was some fast footwork. How did he land a judge on such short notice?” Jo asked.

“The guy was his favorite professor at BC. He made judge a couple of years ago, and he and Dave stayed in touch, so he agreed to do the wedding for us.”

“Get going, Bim.” Jo handed Sam her mascara. “Better redo this, too.”

As the weatherman had promised, the sky was clearing to the northeast. Max got into Jo’s truck carefully, so as not to wrinkle her dress, thinking about the arguments she might use to get Jo to move to Boston.

Dave and Tyler spent the night before the wedding at the bed and breakfast with Dave’s family. They pulled into the driveway, maneuvering around the florist’s van, just before noon.

They went to the back of the house, where two men were setting up several tables with pale peach coverings and ivory hydrangeas. They had placed several fourteen-foot poles in the ground, and matching streamers and balloons hung from them.

“Wow!” Tyler shouted.

One of the men looked up. “The groom?” he asked, taking in Dave’s tailored suit and nervous expression.

“Dave Delaney,” he held out his hand, “and this is my best man, Tyler.”

“Best man, huh? Quite the honor.” He shook Dave’s hand, then Tyler’s. “Scott O’Donnell. We own the florist shop in town.”

“Looks great out here.”

“Yeah, it does.” Tyler was watching the assistant attach balloons to one of the displays.

“Almost done. Hey,” Scott said, “you must want a balloon.”

Tyler started to agree, then shook his head. “Nah. But thanks. I have to take care of Dad today.”

“You know, you’re right. I should have thought of that.” He grinned at Dave.

“He’s a great best man,” Dave said proudly.

“Obviously.”

“We’ll let you get back to work.”

They went up the stairs to the deck, going into the kitchen through the deck door. Jo was standing by the stove, her hands on her hips, glaring at Max.

Dave whistled. “You two look gorgeous,” he said, wondering what the tension was about.

“Aunt Josie, you and Aunt Maxine look beautiful.”

“Thank you, Tyler.” She glanced at them. “Dave,” she greeted him curtly, then returned to Max.

“Something wrong?”

Jo was obviously exasperated. “You know the town crier, Lettie? Down at the store?”

He nodded. “Met her last week.”

“Well, genius here,” she jerked her head toward Max, “told her all about the wedding, and then told her to feel free to stop by.”

Dave frowned. “No problem, Jo. We have extra food and all…”

She raised her eyebrows at Max. “Want to pick it up from there?”

Sheepishly, Max said, “She started telling people who came in the store to stop by, too.”

“How many people?”

“I left when she was telling maybe the fifth or sixth customer.”

“Lettie got a ton of supplies in today. She’ll be busy until three, with all the seasonal people moving in for the holiday weekend–then she’s closing the store and
putting a sign in the window
about the wedding, and Max said
nothing
.”

“That’s not true. I told her we had food for only us, and she said she’d make sure no one showed up empty-handed. I think she thought it was like an open-house thing.”

Tyler was laughing. “Cool,” he said, looking up at his dad.

Dave sat at the table, thinking it over. “Well, unless we want to un-invite Lettie…”

“And probably half of the townies,” Jo added, glaring again at Max.

“…we’d better go catch the guys with the tables.” He rose quickly. “Be right back.”

He explained the situation to Scott O’Donnell, who–after a few humorous comments–headed into town immediately for more tables. “I have extra table covers,” he said as he left, “but not flowers. That okay?”

“Hey, I’m grateful. Bring me a revised bill.”

Jo was on the phone when he came back in. “Thank you, so much…Good. See you at three.” She looked at Dave, still annoyed. “The caterer can throw together a few cold cut platters and some potato salad, enough for another twenty-five or so.”

He came around the counter, turning her around and rubbing her shoulders. “It’ll be okay.”

Jo felt her tension melting away. She rolled her neck, moaning, “I just want it resolved before Sammy finds out.”

“Uh oh. Before I find out what?”

They all turned to see Sam standing in the doorway. Tyler gazed at her adoringly; Dave stepped back, wanting to burn the moment into his memory.

“Hey,” was all he said.

She crooked her finger, beckoning him to come to her.

Max put her arm around Jo, and they motioned for Tyler to come with them as they went out onto the deck.

“I’ll betcha Dad’s kissing Mom,” he giggled as they sat at the table.

“I’m sure he is,” Max said.

“They kiss a
lot
.”

“That’s what happens when someone loves you. You get kissed.” She grinned at Jo, and they leaned over, each planting a kiss on Tyler’s cheek.

They had a light lunch together, as the skies cleared and the vendors finished arranging the back yard for the wedding. Judge Harold Cooper got there just after Dave’s parents and sister arrived.

Emma was still a bit reserved with Sam, although she had promised to try for a fresh start with her. She had hurt right along with her older brother when Sam left him for Jack.

But Sean and Emily Delaney, their parents, had always been fond of Sam, and were simply thrilled for their son and grandson. Tyler dragged his mother over to them; and, after hugs and kisses, Sam turned to Emma, her arms open.

Emma hesitated for a second; then, looking at her brother, she smiled and embraced her.

“I’m sorry,” Sam whispered in her ear. “Please, forgive me. In your own time–but know that I know what I put you through, and that I’m so sorry.”

“It’ll take some time.” Emma hugged her tight then, nodding at her brother.

Judge Cooper shook his hand, clapping him on the shoulder. “Congratulations, Dave.”

“Thank you for coming, especially on such short notice, Your Honor.”

“No protocol today, son. Today, it’s ‘Harold’. Okay?”

“Okay.” Sam was beside him then, and he introduced her.

“You, my dear,” he held her hand in both of his, “are one of the most beautiful brides I’ve ever seen.”

“Thank you,” she smiled, but she was distracted–she wanted to get the show on the road.

Max whispered in her ear, “Can we do this already?”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Jo frowned as she studied the far side of the house, where she could see a patch of the road through the trees. “Um, guys–look…”

Several cars were coming down the dirt road to the house; at the same time, the vacationers from the houses around them were strolling onto the lawn. “Hi!” an elderly man called out. A white-haired woman, who appeared to be his wife, waved gaily. “Is this the wedding we heard about? We’re your neighbors…”

Fifteen minutes later, almost a hundred people had crowded onto the lawn to watch Dave and Sam get married.

Jo was glaring again at Max, who looked helplessly at Sam, and then mouthed “I’m so sorry” to Dave.

It was becoming clear to him that there was no room for the bridal party on the lawn. The photographer was struggling to get a few good shots of them, and the deejay was setting up his equipment on the far side of the property line, almost to the camp next door.

He whispered in the judge’s ear.

“Good idea,” he answered. He held up his hands, asking everyone to listen. “We’re going to move the bride and groom up onto the deck, so everyone can see.” For some reason, everyone applauded; some were cheering.

Jo rolled her eyes at Maxine as they moved toward the deck. “Where’s Daisy?” she asked.

“What?” She cupped a hand to her ear. “Can’t hear you.”

“Daisy. Where is she?” Jo yelled over the crowd.

“Don’t know.”

They stepped onto the deck, looking out over the guests. “Terrific. She probably took off.” Jo craned her neck, anxious.

Max leaned over the deck railing, sticking her index and pinkie fingers into the corners of her mouth and blowing an ear-piercing, hillbilly-style whistle.

Jo jumped, covering her ears. “What the
hell
, Max?”

Max cupped her hands around her mouth. “
Daisy! Yo, dawg
!” Daisy emerged from the crowd amid pats on the head and comments about her flowered collar, and trotted up the steps. She laid at Jo’s feet, whining.

The three women looked from the whimpering dog to the crowd, then to each other - and all at once, they dissolved into laughter.

They managed to regain some composure as they arranged themselves on the deck; then, Will came bounding around the corner of the house. He paused, confused for a moment as he saw the crowd. He ran up the steps to the deck, grinning at Dave as he stuck his boutonnière in his lapel. He gave him a quick handshake. “Sorry, man.”

“I’m just glad you’re here.”

Will looked down at the crowd, then back at Dave. “You’ll explain later.”

He sighed, resigned. “Yeah.”

Tyler looked behind his dad at Will, giving him a small wave.

“Hey, Ty-guy. You took care of things here?”

“Yeah, Mr. Remmond. We’re good.”

“Excellent.” Will nodded. “My man.”

They all turned to the judge, and the crowd grew quiet. Jo reached for Max’s hand, squeezing it twice, and they smiled at each other.

The ceremony lasted only a few minutes. Sam had asked for just the basics, but the judge took his time with the actual vows.

“Samantha Eileen Bentley.”

He paused, and she glanced at him, nodding once.

“Do you take this man as your wedded husband?”

Her breath caught in her throat.

“To have and to hold from this day forward? For better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others–until death do you part?”

She was looking into Dave’s eyes, dizzy from the fact that the dream of her lifetime was, at that moment, realized.

“I do.” Without looking away, she took his left hand and put his ring onto his finger.

He smiled, his eyes still on hers as Judge Cooper repeated the vows for him.

“David Sean Delaney.” He paused again, enjoying the obvious love he saw before him. “I already know the answer to this, but…”

A burst of muted, relieved laughter broke out.

“Do you take this woman as your wedded wife?”

Dave nodded, and murmured the rest of the vows with the judge.

“To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, until death do you part?”

Touching her cheek, he murmured, “I do.”

Tyler put the ring in his hand, and he slid it onto her finger, caressing it for a moment before his eyes returned to her.

Jo could hear Max sniffling beside her, and put her hand on her back. She looked out at the people in the yard, surprised that most of them were either crying or appeared like they wanted to.

“Well then…” The judge folded his hands in front of him. “Ready?”

They nodded.

“With the power vested in me by the State of New Hampshire,” a smile spread across his face, “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Sam moaned softly.

“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.” He put his hands in his pockets, beaming. “Kiss your bride, David.”

He pulled her close. Neither of them said a word.

They looked at each other for another long moment, and then slowly drew together, in their first embrace as husband and wife.

The crowd cheered as Judge Cooper made the announcement: “Ladies and gentlemen, David and Samantha Delaney.”

In unison, they looked down at their son.

“Thanks, Ty.” Dave picked him up, his other arm around the woman who was finally his wife, and they turned to Jo and Max.

“Never been in the middle of someone else’s dream before,” Max whispered.

Sam held out her hand to them.

“Come here, you two,” Dave said, and Will joined them in a group hug.

Dave’s family met them at the bottom of the steps as they came down from the deck. His parents were smiling, crying, and embracing everyone–including the sudden, unexpected guests; Emma was beside the photographer, snapping pictures. The wedding party seemed to naturally form into a line, and it took almost an hour to receive the congratulations from all of the well-wishers there.

The reception began then, with the people who had shown up lining the tables with homemade casseroles, desserts, fruit dishes. Some had brought extra plates and silverware, and pitchers of lemonade and coolers of beer and sodas. Someone else had brought a huge, elaborate cake. Jo placed it on the center table, next to the small wedding cake.

A middle-aged woman, wearing what had to be her Sunday best, tapped Jo on the shoulder. “Marjorie Cannell made that. She makes those pastries that Lettie sells at the store.”

Jo turned to Max. “This could actually work out okay.”

She sniffed, feigning offense. “Apology accepted, Josilyn.”

Jo kissed her cheek. “Stuff that someplace, Bim.”

One of the camp owners, moving in for the summer that weekend, set up a makeshift bar which he had stocked with at least two dozen bottles of chilled wine and champagne. “My wedding gift to you,” he said, as Dave and Sam thanked him. “What a wonderful thing, opening your own wedding up like this, bringing the whole town together to kick off the summer.”

They walked to the water’s edge, hand in hand, laughing about what Sam was calling their “flash-mob wedding.” Dave stood behind her, wrapping her in his arms.

“Hey, kids!” The photographer snapped a picture just as they looked up at him. The lake was sparkling blue in the background, and several seagulls were gliding over the surface. He had managed the angle with no one else in the photo.

He beamed. “I just got your wedding portrait,” he said.

The deejay started the music as everyone loaded their plates. Max sat beside Jo on the steps to the deck, handing her a paper cup filled to the top with champagne. “You’re not eating?”

“Thanks.” She took a long drink. “Maybe later.” The Delaneys were seated a few feet away, talking excitedly about the brief honeymoon in Maine. Jo could catch snippets of conversation, with Sean and Emily teasing Dave about taking off for the Great Woods just as they arrived for a visit. Emily was holding Sam’s hand, absently patting it, including her in every part of the discussion.

“Sam’s going to have some great life. Did you notice that no one’s asked where Liz is?”

Max seemed distracted. “I know.”

“God bless the girl. I’m so relieved.”

Will came up behind Dave, bending to talk into his ear. Jo chuckled as Max watched him.

Caught, Max snapped, “
What
?”

“Please to avoid drooling on a two-hundred dollar dress, Bim.”

“Oh, c’mon.”

“Sorry. I should have known you wouldn’t find tall, rich, and gorgeous at all interesting.”

Max started to get up, then sat again. “I think I’ll ask him to dance, once we finally get Sammy and Dave out there for their first dance. I don’t think they realize that everyone’s waiting for them.”

“You could do the hillbilly whistle again.”

“Huh?”

“Get their attention.”

“Gosh, you’re funny. I think I’ll just have the deejay announce them.” She glanced again at Will as she stood. Jo noticed, with some interest, that Will turned to watch Max as she made her way through the crowd.

A minute later, the music stopped. “Okay, ladies and gentlemen, will David and Samantha Delaney please take the dance floor?”

The crowd applauded as Dave stood, holding his hand out to Sam. They walked sedately to the clear area in the middle of the tables as a vintage love song began.

“They are, really, just beautiful,” Max sighed as she sat beside Jo again.

They danced easily together, Dave bending close to sing in Sam’s ear. Tyler sat on his grandfather’s lap, his eyes bright with his happiness; Jo could hear him telling his Aunt Emma that Dad would kiss Mom again soon, because he was
always
kissing her.

“What song is this?”

“Not sure. But I love it,” Jo murmured. She glanced at Max. “Crying again?”

“Can’t help it.”

“Aw, Bim…” She bumped her with her shoulder as the guests applauded again: Sam and Dave were finishing their first dance with a long kiss.

“
See
?” Tyler clapped.

Guests streamed into the center area to dance. As Sam gratefully accepted a lemonade from one of the neighbors, Dave motioned to Tyler to come to him, bending to whisper something in his ear.

Tyler grinned and nodded, then tugged on his mother’s skirt. She bent slightly as she listened, then smiled up at Dave, taking the arm Tyler offered her as he led her to the dance floor.

“Make a joke, please,” Max whispered. “I can’t take this. The kid is just too cute.”

“Here.” Jo handed her the half-full cup of champagne, and she chugged it.

“Thanks.”

“Maxine, right? And Josie?” Will was beside them, leaning on the railing.

Max sat up very straight; Jo was amused, copying her sudden, self-conscious movement–which Max didn’t see, because she was staring at Will. “Yes. I’m Maxine.” She held out her hand. “Hi.”

“Hi. Will Remmond.”

“And the other beautiful woman there is Josie Kane,” Dave appeared behind Will. He pulled her to her feet. “She’s about to dance with me.”

He twirled her into the center of the crowd, surprised by her delighted laughter. He had never before heard her laugh in quite that way.

He looked down at her as they danced close together.

“What’s on your mind?” she asked.

He laughed. “I never did have a poker face.”

“No, and that’s a good thing.”

“Not always.” He maneuvered toward the edge of the crowd. “Sam asked you two about starting over in Boston.”

Jo nodded.

“I hope you do.”

Jo looked away then, shrugging.

“I won’t press, but I want you to know–anything you need…I’m a phone call away.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“Jo…” He stopped. “I won’t press,” he said again. Sometimes, he thought that Jo was a pure enigma: she was strong, and smart, and ferocious in the ways in which she protected those whom she cared about; yet, she seemed completely alone, marooned someplace, like love couldn’t reach her.

Watching Will and Max dancing a few feet away, she smiled wistfully. “Hey, look at that.”

Dave grinned. “He asked me if she was married or anything.”

“Excellent. She’s been watching him all day. How old is he?”

“A few years ahead of me. Forty-three.”

“Weren’t you guys college roommates?”

“Yeah. We roomed together because we didn’t want to hang out with the youngsters, not at our ages.” He leaned back to look at her. “Too young for your friend, huh?”

“No, not at all. Max rolls a lot younger than her age.”

The song ended, and Jo started to leave the floor. Dave grabbed her hand. “Not yet.”

“Oh, dear. You want to talk to me.”

“If you don’t mind.”

“Go for it. Something happened that we need to figure out?”

He sighed, breathing out with a whoosh. “Jo, tell me–do people talk to you only when they need something?”

The question caught her off-guard, and she stammered, “I don’t…I just assumed…”

Dave felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find Judge Cooper waiting to cut in. “Dave, your wife is dancing with all the other men here. Better go get her.”

Jo turned to him, relieved. “Your wife,” she smiled up at Dave. “Wow, huh?”

He kissed her cheek. “Thanks for the dance, love.” He paused. “We’ll talk later.”

“Yup. Go find Mrs. Delaney.”

At dusk, a townie–whose wedding gift to them was his stash of fireworks–set off a ten-minute display over the lake.

“Fireworks?” Will clapped Dave on the shoulder. “Delaney, you know how to throw a party.”

He looked at Tyler, sitting with Daisy at the edge of the lake, oohing and clapping. “I lost control of this thing before anyone even showed up.” He put his arm around Sam, and they explained the unexpected guests to Will–who went from disbelief, to humor, to raucous laughter.