CHAPTER FIFTEEN #2
Sugar ran ahead. Laughing, Misty tried to keep up with her. She approached the screened-in porch out of breath and saw Crystal sitting there with Natalie.
“Hello,” said Misty, climbing the few steps.
Crystal opened the door. “Welcome. Natalie and I were just sitting here admiring the view.”
“It’s a lovely sight, isn’t it?” said Misty, holding out her hand to Natalie.
“You remember my sister, Misty,” Crystal said to her.
“Yes, it’s nice to see you,” said Natalie, smiling and shaking her hand.
“I’m glad you could come to town a little early,” said Misty. “I’d like you to join Crystal and me at our favorite nail salon on Saturday morning. My treat.”
“That’s very kind of you,” said Natalie. “I just had my nails done while I was staying at our summer place in Maine, but I’m sure they could do with some refreshing.”
“You must be excited about the wedding,” said Misty, and she watched as Natalie struggled to smile. “I was hoping it could take place in Maine, but I understand the problems it might present by doing so.”
“Many of Natalie’s old friends are in Maine. But it would mean making the wedding larger than we wanted. That, and the conflict with Emmett’s father,” explained Crystal.
At this, Natalie’s lips narrowed, but she said nothing.
Misty knew a major reason Crystal and Emmett wanted a small wedding in Lilac Lake was dealing with his parents.
Small and simple is what Crystal and Emmett told everyone they wanted—a joyous occasion.
With Natalie and Everett Chamberlain together, that was almost impossible.
Though they presented an impression to the press of being happily married, everyone knew it was just to win votes for Everett.
“Well, I think having the wedding here is going to be beautiful. Emmett has become a well-respected member of the town. We all love how he treats everyone—adults and children—as his patients.”
“I’m not surprised. Emmett has always been interested in helping others. And I know he’s grown to love this town,” Natalie admitted.
“Has Natalie met GG?” Misty asked.
Crystal smiled at them. “We’re having lunch tomorrow. I know they’ll like meeting one another.” She explained to Natalie, “GG is the grandmother many of us think of as our own. She’s a very generous woman who’s made a great impact in our small town.”
“She seems lovely,” said Natalie. Her face lit up when Emmett walked into the room.
“Great to see you women chatting,” he said, giving Crystal a kiss on the cheek before greeting his mother the same way. “Let me change my clothes, and then we’ll head to the Lilac Lake Inn for dinner. Are you coming too, Misty?”
Misty shook her head. “Thanks, but I have to prepare for school tomorrow.”
“How’s it going?” Emmett asked. “You start up again after Labor Day?”
“Yes,” she said. “It’s been going well. The kids are very cute at that age.
” She wouldn’t say anything about her concerns for Brody but knew if the time came when she should, Emmett would be a great help.
“I want to thank both of you for the security system you had installed at my house. It was such a nice thing to do.”
“We thought it was important,” said Emmett. “Both of us feel better about you having it. The same security service is doing one for our house, too.”
“They seemed to do an excellent job,” said Crystal. “I assume you got all my notes on it.”
Misty chuckled. “It’ll take me a while to get used to it, but I think you covered everything.”
Sugar barked at the door, and Crystal let Sugar come inside.
“Oh, my! What a cute dog,” said Natalie.
Sugar went right over to her and sat by her feet, allowing Natalie to stroke her head.
“She’s trained as a therapy dog,” said Misty, watching Sugar do her thing as if the dog knew instinctively that Natalie needed attention.
“Maybe we should get you a dog, Natalie,” said Crystal.
Natalie shook her head firmly. “I’ll be traveling for Everett and can’t handle a dog. But maybe later. This one is darling.”
Misty and Crystal exchanged looks of surprise, and then Misty stood. “I’d better be going, but I’m pleased to see you, Natalie.”
“Thank you,” said Natalie, studying her.
Misty forced a smile and pushed away thoughts of not measuring up, even though that’s exactly how Natalie made her feel.
Crystal, ever the big sister, walked over and gave her a hug. “Thanks for stopping by,
sis.”
Happy she’d made the effort to come, Misty left with Sugar, knowing the weekend ahead wouldn’t be easy.
###
Friday night, following a one-hour nap, Misty sat in Jake’s.
She needed to be with friends for their usual end-of-week celebrations.
Even those with children, like Whitney and Beth Beckham, got babysitters so they could join in.
And tonight was special because Crystal and Emmett’s surprise wedding would take place tomorrow.
Misty noticed that Melissa and Ross hadn’t joined them and suspected Melissa was busy prepping some of the food for the wedding.
Conversation, as usual, was easy among the group. Everyone was eager to celebrate the long weekend.
“A picnic at Crystal and Emmett’s place is a great way to start the holiday,” said Dirk. “Any idea what to take to it?” he asked her.
Misty worked hard not to give anything away. “My understanding is no one needs to bring anything. Crystal and Melissa are practicing catering, and everything will be prepared in time for the picnic at four o’clock.”
“If you come to Lilac Lake Cottage on Monday, you need to bring your own drinks and a dish to pass,” said Dani. “You can come when you want and leave when you’re ready.” She faced the group. “That goes for everyone. Right, Whitney? Taylor?”
At their nods, the conversation returned to the Gilford girls’ annual party.
Misty used that opportunity to slip away from the crowd. She had to see her sister and make sure everything was on track for the wedding.
###
When she arrived at Emmett’s house, all was quiet. Too quiet. Misty sat in her car, wondering what was wrong. She called her sister, and Crystal answered right away.
“What’s going on?” Misty asked. “It sounds as if you’ve been crying.”
“It’s Emmett’s father. He’s such a bastard,” said Crystal.
“He arrived this afternoon ahead of time to talk to us. He’s arranged for a journalist to do an article on him, and he’s hired a photographer to take pictures at our wedding.
This whole thing is all BS. Emmett can barely stand his stepfather.
He’s gone to the Inn to talk to him again, trying to explain that this is our wedding, not another opportunity for his campaign. ”
“Okay, I’m coming inside,” said Misty. She wanted to hug her sister and find a way to help her.
“Please do,” Crystal said. “I need to calm down, and talking to you will help.”
Misty found Crystal lying down in the master bedroom.
She sat up when she saw Misty. “Thanks for coming. I didn’t want anyone to know what was happening. This is supposed to be a happy occasion. It’s just like Emmett’s stepfather to do something like this.”
“We’ll just have to work around him,” said Misty. “Let’s call a security company to keep uninvited people away, including any journalist or photographer Everett has hired. We won’t make a fuss about it; just quietly take care of it.”
Crystal hugged her. “That’s exactly what we’ll do. I’m sure Emmett won’t mind. This way, there won’t be any confrontation with his stepfather. It’ll be a done deal.”
Together, sitting on the bed, they looked up information online and found a company in Portsmouth that provided security guards.
Crystal called and left a message. Moments later, she received a return call.
After arranging for someone to come tomorrow afternoon, Crystal ended the call and turned to Misty.
“Thank you for thinking of this. It’ll make me feel better, and neither Emmett nor I will have to be involved in turning Everett’s people away. ”
“How are things going with Emmett’s mother?” Misty asked.
“Okay. Once she gets comfortable with me, she can be sweet. And not having a daughter, Natalie loves knowing the details of the wedding. Thank you for inviting her to have her nails done. She is grateful to be part of the wedding.”
“How’s Natalie doing with Emmett’s stepfather?”
“It’s something I don’t understand,” admitted Crystal. “She’s willing to help him politically in the background, something she’s done for years. I think she feels beholden to him for rescuing her from a bad situation when she was a young single mother with a baby.”
“To each his own,” said Misty. “Families can be complicated. I’m lucky to have had you all these years acting as mother, father, and big sister.”
“And I’ve had GG and others to turn to,” said Crystal with a thoughtful expression. “Emmett and I will have the wedding we want because we’ll stick together. It’s a test, in a way, of what our lives will be like going forward.”
“I think you’re right to trust him,” said Misty. “Look what he’s given up to come to Lilac Lake. He could’ve been just a spoiled rich son of a politician instead of the general practitioner of a small town who desperately needs him.”
“Absolutely,” said Crystal. She studied Misty. “Where’d you get that smart?”
Misty held up a hand. “I think I’ve proven I’m not smart. I’ve made a bad mistake, and I’m praying I won’t have to pay for it over and over again.”
“Vince hasn’t shown himself yet,” said Crystal.
“What about the call from Florida?” asked Misty.
“It’s worrisome,” admitted Crystal, “but we’re on alert now. And, really, you can’t prove it was Vince. Maybe it was a misplaced phone call, a telemarketer.”
Sugar barked, and Emmett entered the room.
“How did it go with Everett?” asked Crystal, getting to her feet and going over to him.
Emmett shook his head. “The man has no scruples and an ego that won’t quit.
I told him that we stand firm on our idea of a private wedding and that I won’t allow him to use us for publicity.
He seemed subdued, but he didn’t actually agree not to use the wedding for his promotional purposes in the future. ”
Crystal drew a deep breath and let it out.
“Misty and I have come up with a plan. We’ve arranged to hire a security guard to keep away strangers, including newspeople and photographers.
I trust Belinda Buckley from Captured Moments to do a good job photographing for us.
I’ve met her. She’s new in town and trying to grow her business. ”
“I hate to say it, but I don’t trust Everett to respect what we want,” said Emmett.
“How’s your mother holding up? Crystal asked him.
“As usual, she’s coping and trying not to make matters worse.” Emmett sighed. “I thought once she got sober, she might leave him. But I understand it would be financially difficult for her to do so. Instead, she and Everett have a living arrangement that works for them both.”
Emmett put his arm around Crystal. “We’re never going to be like that. I promise.”
“I believe you. It’s insane,” said Crystal, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Misty stood. “It’s time I left. Crystal, I’ll see you tomorrow at ten at the nail salon with Natalie.”
“Sure thing. Thanks.” Crystal hugged her. “Thanks for your support this evening. It made a big difference for me.”
“It’s about time I could help you,” Misty said. “C’mon, Sugar. Let’s go home.”
Sugar wagged her tail and followed Misty to her car.
Misty knew she’d need all the rest she could get because tomorrow wouldn’t be as easy as they’d hoped.