That Man of Mine (13 page)

Was he having a mid-life crisis? He was only thirty-seven, a little on the young side for something like that, but maybe that was it.

And then came the day she'd found something else she wasn't supposed to find. And
that
she hadn't been able to brush off. Or to forgive.

*~*~*

T
he Harbor House was
Whispering Bay's fanciest restaurant. It was located on the gulf and its specialty was seafood, done up southern style. Mimi had come out here last week to speak to the manager regarding the “urgent” situation going on in the lot next door to the restaurant. She couldn't do anything about the construction per se, but she was able to speak to Tom, who worked for Pappas Hernandez Construction, the company doing the work, and they promised to have their crew off the premises by five p.m. so that it wouldn't interfere with The Harbor House's dinner time traffic crowd.

The manager had been grateful and offered to comp Mimi a meal. She'd refused the meal (it didn't seem kosher, what with her being a public servant and all) but revisiting the place had given her an idea. The restaurant had a large deck that overlooked the water and a banquet room that was perfect for not-too-large parties. In other words, it was the ideal venue for a wedding reception.

As planned, Lauren came fifteen minutes earlier than the time they'd told Allie. Her chin length blonde hair was pulled back in a headband and she wore a red linen sixties style shift dress, which Mimi supposed she either bought at an estate sale or made herself to look like a retro piece. Mimi gave her friend a swift hug. “How's business?” she asked, referring to Baby Got Bump.

“Busy crazy,” Lauren said, looking a little flushed. “Is Allie here yet?”

“Not yet,” Mimi said, instinctively lowering her voice. “Let's go out to my car.” Meticulously laid out in the back seat of the minivan, was Buela's wedding dress. “What do you think?” Mimi asked.

“Oh my God. If Nate and I weren't already married I'd so steal this dress in a heartbeat.”

Mimi giggled. “Then let me help you.” She carefully lifted the dress off the seat and between the two of them they transferred the gown to Lauren's car. “Remember, not a word to Allie.”

“Cross my heart and hope to die,” Lauren said. “It'll take me a couple of days to study it and see what I have to work with. Allie's tall, but I think I can make this happen.” She paused. “Do you think she'll love it as much as we hope she does?”

Normally, Mimi would never interfere with another woman's wedding dress. It was like sacred ground. She'd watched enough episodes of
Say Yes to the Dress
to know that even the sweetest, most down to earth girl could turn into a Bridezilla when it came to the dress she planned to wear on her special day. She just had a feeling that this was the right thing to do. And she wanted Allie to see the gown in its full potential before she presented her with the idea of wearing her grandmother's dress.

Lauren paused to catch her breath. “Do you think we can go back inside and get a seat? It's hotter than I expected and I'm in desperate need of a glass of water.”

It was probably about seventy degrees and the humidity was low.

“Of course.”

The hostess, a petite redhead, showed them to their table. “We're expecting one more,” Mimi said.

“Right.” She handed them their menus. Before she left, she leaned down to whisper loudly in her ear, “For what it's worth, Mrs. Mayor, I don't believe any of those rumors about the chief and Cindy. I'm one hundred percent on Team Mimi!”

“Gee, thanks,” Mimi said.

Lauren took a large sip of water. “Team Mimi, huh? How much longer is this thing between you and Zeke going to go on?”

“He wants to go back to counseling,” Mimi admitted.

“That's good, right?” Lauren said enthusiastically.

“I suppose. But it didn't work last time, so unless Zeke really opens up, then I don't see how it will make a difference this go around.”

Before Lauren could respond, Allie came rushing over to the table. She gave them both a kiss on the cheek before sitting down to open her menu with a flourish. “I'm starving! But what else is new?”

Mimi was glad to see her sister-in-law so happy. She was determined not to spoil Allie's day with any glum talk of her and Zeke, so she put on her best face and pulled out her planning book. “Why don't we order some champagne?” she suggested.

Allie's face split into a grin. “Good idea!”

“I'm feeling just a little under the weather,” Lauren said, “So I think I'll stick to my water.”

Allie was too absorbed in the menu to catch on, but Mimi couldn't help but smile. Lauren and Nate had only been married a few months, but it was more than plenty of time to achieve what Mimi suspected.

The waiter came by and took their orders. Allie dug into the bread basket.

“So, I was thinking, if we plan the wedding for let's say, two p.m., we could do a late lunch in the banquet room, then maybe some dancing? And we can end the afternoon with everyone on the deck to watch the sun coming down over the gulf? Do one last champagne toast and send the happy couple off into the sunset?”

“I love the idea of ending the reception on the deck!” Allie said. “And I know Tom will love it, too.”

“That sounds wonderful,” Lauren said wistfully. Her blue eyes looked suspiciously moist.

“Oh, honey,” Allie said, reaching out for Lauren's hand. “What's wrong? Is this because you and Nate eloped?”

“Oh, no, not that,” Lauren said, using the side of her ring finger to blot the tear rolling down her cheek. The diamond in her engagement ring was so big it could be used to send out SOS signals if she was ever in trouble. “I loved my wedding to Nate. It was exactly the way we wanted it. Just Henry and Momma and Daddy and Nate's mom and Lanie. Not that I wouldn't have wanted friends there, but I was grateful that Daddy was himself that day. It meant so much to me and Nate that he was able to give me away.”

Lauren's father had Alzheimer's disease and it was progressing at a steady rate. Mimi, along with the rest of Lauren's friends had been sad not to have been able to attend the wedding, but the important thing was that Lauren's daddy had been cognizant enough to enjoy the day.

“Mimi, you've never told me much about your wedding. Did your dad make a big fuss when he gave you away?” Lauren asked.

“Actually, Zeke and I were married twice. The first time was at the courthouse a few months before Claire was born, so it wasn't much of a ceremony. Momma and Daddy were there, Luke was, too, and of course, Zeke's grandmother and Allie. But it was more of a stand around and listen to the justice of the peace kind of thing.”

“I remember afterward we all went out to dinner and I got sick from eating so much cake.” Allie made a face.

“And the second time?” Lauren asked.

“The second time was a couple of years later when Father Murphy married us. Zeke really wanted us to get married in the Church, so I converted. It was just the two of us, that time. Quick and simple.” For some women, it might have been a sore spot, but it had never bothered her that she hadn't had a big wedding with all the flowers and all the fuss. She'd been in love and that was all that had mattered.

“So, who's in the wedding party?” Lauren asked Allie. Henry was Tom's best man, a gesture Mimi personally found adorable. And Mimi was the matron of honor, but other than that, Mimi wasn't aware that Allie had asked anyone else.

“Just Henry and Mimi. And of course, Zeke will be giving me away. Small and simple, that's what we want.”

Lauren nodded, then hesitated briefly. “Maybe I shouldn't bring this up, but…did you ever find out what happened to your dad? I know he took off after your mom died, but…all these years, has he ever been in touch?”

Mimi tried to keep the expression on her face neutral.

“You know, I asked Zeke about that just the other day,” Allie said. “As far as he's concerned our dad is dead, and I don't blame him. I mean, if he wanted to get in touch with us it would be pretty easy. Zeke's lived all his life here and now I'm the editor of the paper. Just about everyone in town knows us, so…I don't know, either's he dead or he just doesn't care. Probably the latter.” She smiled ruefully and reached out for another piece of bread.

 Lauren smiled sympathetically. “Well, it's his loss.”

Only, it was Allie's loss, too. If Allie was given the choice, if Sam Grant was in her life right now, would she choose to turn him away? Or despite all their history, would she want her own father to give her away at her wedding? The fact that Allie didn't have that choice to make made Mimi tighten her grip on the menu.

“Have you given any thought to your dress?” Lauren asked. “Or Mimi's?” She took a sip of her water and caught Mimi's gaze over the top of the glass. Careful not to rouse Allie's suspicion, Mimi winked back at her.

“Not really,” Allie admitted. “I know the wedding is just a few months away, but I thought Mimi could pick out her own dress. Something nice but off the rack so you can wear it again?” She shuddered. “You know that movie
27 Dresses
with Katherine Heigl?” They both nodded. “Yeah, well, that's me and I would hate to saddle Mimi with something hideous.”

They all laughed.

“As for my own dress, I have absolutely not a clue. I know you and Zeke offered to pay for everything,” Allie said to Mimi, “but honestly, I think you should let me pay for my own gown.”

“We've already been through this, you know Zeke isn't going to let you do that.”

“The thought of spending hundreds of dollars on a dress gives me the shingles. There's just so much more I could do with that kind of money.”

“Why don't I take a day off, say…next week and we can go look together?” Mimi suggested. Hopefully, by then, Lauren would have an idea of how she could alter the dress and they could present it to Allie, who hopefully would love it, making the shopping trip completely unnecessary.

“Sure, that sounds great,” Allie said.

“You know, Allie, I have a belated engagement gift for you,” Lauren said.

“You didn't have to buy me anything!”

“I didn't. It's something I offered you once before.”

“My grandmother's old record player? Are you sure, because I know how much you like it and I—”

“It belonged to your
abuela
. Once I realized that, I always meant to give it to you. Besides, it was a great novelty piece when I had the retro boutique, but now the building is more a factory than anything else, so I don't really have a use for it.”

All three women went silent and smiled at one another. Mimi was positive they were all thinking the same thing. About a year and a half ago Lauren had found the old fashioned turn table along with a collection of albums from the sixties at a garage sale. The record player had been broken, but Tom had fixed it with a thorough cleaning. Playing the albums in her shop had given the place more of a nostalgic feel. But the sixties music had done something else as well. No one wanted to say it out loud, but Allie swore there was a time when she was able to hear that music in her head.

Strangely, it was hearing that music that helped her and Tom get back together. Allie liked to think that it was Buela reaching out to communicate with her. Lauren firmly believed in the idea as well. Mimi wasn't so sure, although anything was possible.

“If you're positive you don't want it anymore, then, yes, I'd love to have it,” Allie said, leaning over to give Lauren a swift hug.

The waiter brought them the bottle of champagne that Mimi had ordered and poured them all a glass. Lauren abstained, just like she'd said she would.

Mimi took a sip of the cold bubbly brew. “Now that all that's settled, let's talk about Lauren's pregnancy.”

Allie gasped and Lauren's jaw dropped.

“
My what
?” Lauren said when she was able to speak again.

“You broke out into a sweat earlier in the parking lot. And now your skin is glowing. You're crying for no reason at all. You aren't drinking champagne, and frankly, even though you have the best boobs ever, somehow they've managed to get even perkier. If all that doesn't add up to you being a new baby momma then I don't know what does.”

Lauren flushed, then giggled. “Okay, but please, don't tell anyone yet. Nate and I want tell Henry first.”

“Our lips are sealed,” Mimi promised.

“Oh, God, this is awesome!” Allie said. “I'm getting married, you're having a baby, and Mimi…well, Mimi's mayor.”

It wasn't what Mimi had expected Allie to say, but she was grateful that the topic of Zeke wasn't involved. She was about to offer up her own toast when out of the corner of her eye she noticed the busboy clearing the table next to them. He was on the tall side and wore thin wire rim glasses. He seemed oddly familiar. Where did she know him from?

Lauren followed her gaze. “Who's that you're staring at?”

“I'm not sure.” Mimi tried to put a name with the face but she came up blank. “Excuse me,” she said to the young man. He turned around and that's when she realized that it was Adam, the boy Claire had left the football game to go parking with last year. Zeke had told Claire that if she wanted to date him, then he would have to present himself at the house. Adam had come by and Zeke and Mimi had spent a few minutes getting to know him. He'd seemed polite and harmless enough, so Zeke had given the boy his blessing. Well, maybe not his blessing exactly, but he hadn't objected to their dating. Adam had taken Claire out a couple of times after that, but then the relationship fizzled. He'd graduated from high school last year and Claire had never mentioned him again.

“Adam, how are you?” Mimi asked pleasantly.