Amanda joined her briefly at the window. “Let me guess. Your first snow.”
“It’s magical,” Sophie breathed.
“Yes, but it’s also May second. We’re all getting a little sick of it.”
“But look, it’s so pretty. Everything is turning white.”
Amanda smiled and returned to her station. “We’ll see how you feel next January.”
The afternoon flew by. Sophie had expected a lot of cancellations due to the snow but no one cancelled. If anything, the phone wouldn’t stop ringing with clients asking about last-minute availability. But the day was over and Sophie was in the middle of closing the salon when Joe called. “It’s finally stopped snowing here,” he said. “How is it in town?”
“A beautiful powdery white,” she said. “Joe, there’s snow everywhere.”
He laughed. “I wondered if you’d be excited or terrified.”
“I love it. It’s so beautiful.”
“Be careful driving. Make sure you’re in four-wheel drive. Take it slow. No need to hurry.”
“I will. See you in a bit.”
Sophie hummed the whole way home, feeling giddy, and buoyant. The dogs raced out to greet her and she didn’t stiffen quite as much. She even managed to pat a few big heads before disappearing into the house. She peeled off her coat and hung it on the hook by the back door but stopped when she heard Joe and his grandfather talking. Their conversation sounded serious, something about two more calves lost, and how they had to be extra vigilant tomorrow.
Sophie entered the kitchen just as Granddad walked out. Joe was still leaning against the kitchen counter, arms folded over his chest. He’d recently showered, his brown hair was dark and wet, but he was wearing a heavy sweater over his shirt, and he had boots on again. He smiled when he saw her but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Bad day?” she asked.
“Frustrating. Winter weather can be disastrous during calving season. I should have been paying more attention. I’m heading back out now. I probably won’t be back until late.”
“Can I make you anything?”
“I already grabbed a bite. Don’t wait up for me tonight.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No.” He approached, kissed her, and headed for the door, grabbing his hat and coat on the way. “Glad you’re home safe.”
“Be careful.”
“Yep.”
*
Joe was out all day Sunday again, and late Sunday night. He came in exhausted, and Sophie reheated a bowl of the beef burgundy she’d tried to make for dinner. It wasn’t as good as she’d hoped, the chunks of meat had been cut too small and had cooked down to nothing, but Joe didn’t seem to notice. He wolfed down the meat and egg noodles and then yawned. “Thank you, I needed that.”
“You must be beat,” she said.
“I am pretty tired.” He stood, stretched, and then remembered something. “Aren’t we supposed to cake test tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Is there any way I can get out of it?”
“Yes! Great idea. I’m happy to cancel. We can just order a cake without—”
“Actually, Mom would love to go with you,” he interrupted. “And then you two were going to look at dresses? You could just do both with her. If you don’t mind.”
Sophie hid her disappointment, because she understood, and truthfully, she knew Mrs. Wyatt would enjoy a day out. “I don’t mind.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“It’s going to be icy. Mom won’t be stable on her feet.”
“I’ll keep a tight grip on her. Won’t let her fall.”
*
Joe was already gone in the morning when Sophie woke up, and Mrs. Wyatt, who usually slept in until midmorning, was up early as well. Joe was right. She was excited about going into town and having a day doing wedding things together.
The cake tasting went well. Mrs. Wyatt really enjoyed the experience, stretching the forty-five minute appointment at Cake Art by Gabby into ninety minutes, but Gabby had no other appointments until later that day and she answered all of Mrs. Wyatt’s questions, and even brought out a few other cake flavors and fillings for them to sample. In the end, they went with the cake combination Mrs. Wyatt said Joe liked best—white layer cake with chocolate mousse filling.
They also discussed the design for the three tiers and Sophie said she would be happy with anything simple and decorated with a few clusters of fresh flowers. Mrs. Wyatt pulled out her folder with the ideas she’d torn from magazines and showed the pictures. “I don’t know if you could include a burlap ribbon around the base, or something else rustic. As you know, the wedding is at the Emerson Barn and it’s rustic chic.”
Sophie almost laughed out loud when she heard Joe’s mom describe the wedding theme, but it wasn’t an unkind laugh. In some ways, Sophie was charmed. Mrs. Wyatt was enjoying the wedding plans far more than Sophie’s mother ever did.
They left the cake tasting and headed to Married in Marietta with Mrs. Wyatt in high spirits despite the obstacles of getting to the parked Jeep through piles of dirty, slushy snow in the gutter and mounded on street corners.
During the short drive to the bridal store, Mrs. Wyatt said that they’d have to choose something that was in stock as there was no time to order anything custom at this point. “However, they’ve assured me the seamstress can alter anything to make it fit you. We just need to find a gown that thrills you.”
Sophie parked in front of Married in Marietta and turned off the engine. “I think I should prepare you that it’s unlikely I’ll find anything that thrills me. If we can find something simple, and inexpensive—”
“Why do you do that? Why keep insisting everything be inexpensive? It takes the fun away.”
Sophie turned to face her mother-in-law. She didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but Sophie was struggling, truly struggling. “Mrs. Wyatt—”
“Maybe it’s time you call me Summer?” Joe’s mom looked up at her and smiled. “Mrs. Wyatt sounds so old, and I know I’m all arthritic, but hopefully I don’t look as old as I feel on the inside.”
There was something so earnest and almost girlish in Mrs. Wyatt’s expression that Sophie’s heart turned over. She couldn’t bear upsetting her mother-in-law, and yet Sophie thought she’d explode if she continued keeping all her emotions and secrets and worries in. Joe was wonderful in his way, but he wasn’t the easiest to talk to. He wanted to solve problems, not listen to problems, and what Sophie really needed now, was someone to just listen.
“Mrs. Wyatt—” Sophie broke off, swallowed, and tried again. “Summer, I have to tell you something. I probably should have told you this before, but this wedding planning is hard for me.” She paused and glanced at Joe’s mom. “It’s not just the money, but that’s part of it. It’s also the planning itself, and the discussion of all the details, from cake to wedding gown. It probably shouldn’t still cause me so much pain. You’d think by now I’d be okay with it.” She stopped talking, and searched her mother-in-law’s face but could see Summer didn’t understand. She wasn’t following.