Love Believes (Sully Point, Book 5) (22 page)

"Mom?" Beth asked, when her mother's
voice trailed off.

"That's it," Sophia said in a wondering
voice. "The Sully Point Collection! Once I move here...oh this is going to
be fun!"

* * * *

Anna answered her front door, surprised to see Eric
standing there. "Eric, come on in."

"Thanks," he said. "Do you have a
minute? I wanted to talk to you about something."

"I'm just working on the wedding cake, so
you'll have to join me in the kitchen."

"Sure."

The countertops were filled with sugar flowers and
leaves. Anna picked up where she'd left off, making a rose. "What did you
want to talk about?"

Eric took a seat on the bar stool at the counter.
"Joshua, actually. I saw what he did at the dinner. His giving totals of
all those items."

Anna chuckled. "Yes, he loves to give random
numbers like that."

"Anna." She looked up at him, and then
shrugged.

"Okay, so he has some ability with
numbers."

"I think it's more than just numbers, isn't
it?"

Anna was quiet for a moment. She wasn't sure what
Eric was after. "Look, Josh is special. But we don't want people treating
him different because of it."

"Don't worry. I wasn't planning on treating
him different. But I thought maybe I could help."

"Help?" She started a row of connected
ivy leaves.

"Help you guys keep his mind occupied. He
could spend time at the computer lab with me when he's ready. I could give him
things to work on. I think it's important to expose him to as much as possible
right now."

Anna sighed. "Yes. That's what the people at
the university told us. We are letting him choose where he wants to go, while
presenting him with as many new things as possible. You'd be willing to help,
and not spread it around?"

"Absolutely. I was considered a weird kid
myself, and I know how that feels, just because you're smarter than everyone
around you. Anything I can do to help, just let me know. And I'll bring over a
computer for him to work on, if you'd like."

Anna laughed. "He has computers, Eric. But
right now what he likes most is taking them apart and trying to put them
together."

"Can he put them back together?"

"Not like they were before."

"Oh. Well, I'm sure he'll figure that
out."

"You don't understand. He took three
computers and made one. That one runs three times as fast as each of them individually.
He put them all together."

"Oh! That is...awesome. Can I come over
tomorrow to play with him?"

"Sure. That would help me out as I need to
finish up this cake tomorrow."

"Cool."

She gave him a hug at the door. "Thanks,
Eric, for understanding."

"No problem. We're family after all."

She shut the door after waving good-bye. When she
got back to the kitchen she found Joshua up from his nap...icing spread across
his face, eating a rose.

* * * *

By the next day, Beth decided that time had speeded
up. Suddenly everything was coming together and the wedding would be that
night. William had hired the lighting guys he planned on using for the play to
light the stage for them, and the reception at Holly and Jason's house was on
schedule with the caterer already there cooking in their large kitchen. They'd
decided to use that particular house because it was the largest in Sully Point.

Beth was at her apartment for a few moments of
quiet in the late morning, when someone knocked on her door. She opened it to
find her sister, Rose.

"You're here!" She grabbed Rose and
dragged her into the apartment, hugging her.

Rose was laughing. "Hang on, you're going to
strangle me."

Beth pulled away and looked at Rose. Beautiful as
always, with shining strawberry blonde hair falling to her waist. Beth knew
that she put it up in a long braid when she worked. Yes, Rose was still her
gorgeous self, with a luscious body and a pretty face. But something in her
eyes...

"Rose...are you okay?"

"Sure. When am I not okay?"

"Maybe now. Seriously, has something
happened?"

Rose burst into tears and Beth gathered her up and
led her to the sofa to sit down.

"The clinic is closed. Lack of funding. All
the people I've been trying to help...now they'll have nothing."

"Rose, I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, well, I protested its closing a bit
too much, and the hospital has told me take a sabbatical. They didn't quite
fire me, but..."

"What? But you're a great doc!"

"I did kind of go overboard this last year. I
was stretched too thin, trying to put in my hours at the hospital and then work
at the clinic the rest of the time. Anyway, I don't know what I'm going to do
now. No job. No clinic. It's like my world has crumbled away beneath my
feet."

Beth handed her a box of tissues and patted her on
the back. Then she thought about what Rose was saying.

"You mean, you're free? You're not stuck in
Philly anymore?"

"I guess you could put it that way,"
Rose sniffed.

"I've got the solution," Beth said with
a smug smile. "Move in here, into this apartment. I'll be moving into
William's house. This place will be empty, but as you can see it's all
furnished. Come stay at Sully Point for your sabbatical. Get some rest, be
around the family, and take some time to figure out your life."

"You think?"

"I do. And I'll tell you something else as
long as you keep it a secret. Mom and Dad are going to be moving here. They're
making plans for it. When they do, we could all be in one place again. Could be
great, you know."

Rose gave her a tremulous smile. Her dark brown eyes
were still wet, but she looked a bit lighter in her face. "Okay. It sounds
like a great idea. And at least I'd know where I'd be. Now," she said,
standing up. "Where's my dress?"

* * * *

William, Cody, Eric and Sam met at the Diner for
his 'bachelor party luncheon.' They parked themselves in a one of the big
booths at the back and proceeded to eat a lot and laugh even more.

Each man had advice about being married to give to
him.

"Don't let things fester. Bring them up and
be angry or whatever, but then make up," said Cody.

"You're marrying a Carter woman," said
Eric. "Always keep chocolate or pastries on hand."

They all laughed, and then Eric said,
"Seriously, just live in the moment and enjoy every second."

They all turned to Sam. He thought for a moment.
"Let each other be whoever you are. You and Beth are both in the same
field, both creative. Be her support and let her be yours, even as you let her
go to find her joy. She'll always come back to you, but let her fly free."

They all sat silently for a minute contemplating
that last comment. Mary Jo appeared at their table with refills on
drinks...which were coffee, tea and soda because none of them wanted to drink
before the wedding.

"So Mr. Christopher, is the Playhouse
something that belongs to the town of Sully Point? Some people were talking
about it the other day and I wondered. Or does it belong to the
Foundation?"

Sam spoke up. "It belongs to the town. The
Foundation only helped to build it and will support upkeep, but the Playhouse
is for the town."

"Oh, cool," she said. "Have a great
wedding, Mr. Christopher."

"Hmm, I wonder if they'll propose changes to
my schedule of plays if they think the Playhouse belongs to them," William
said.

"You never know in Sully Point," Cody
said solemnly. Then he grinned and they all agreed.

William was facing the door and saw Beth come in
with someone else. "Who is that with Beth?"

Sam turned around and then slid out of the booth
and stood up and waved. "Rose! Over here."

William heard Cody say, "Holy cow, is that
their other sister? She's..."

"Yeah," Eric said. "And every man
in this place is staring at her. She's the dedicated responsible doctor?"

Beth and Rose reached their table. "Hey
everyone. This is Rose," Beth said, and then she scooted into the booth
next to William so she could give him a peck on the lips.

Sam made room for Rose on his side of the table.
"What are you two doing here?"

"We were hungry. I wanted a salad and Rose is
starving," said Beth.

"I bet I know what you want," Sam said
with a grin. "A cheeseburger with all the trimmings. It's her secret
weakness."

"Not so much of a secret if you go blabbing
it everywhere, big brother," Rose said with some asperity. "But yeah
that does sound good, and I haven't had any red meat in weeks."

They waved Mary Jo over and placed orders. Beth
explained how she'd talked Rose into taking some time off to visit Sully Point
and stay in the apartment over the Bakery.

William knew his soon-to-be wife, and could tell
she was leaving out some information, but he didn't bring it up.

Rose frowned. "You didn't say it was over a
Bakery, Beth."

"Yeah it is."

"That's never going to work! How can I eat
healthy living over a Bakery?"

"Hang on," Cody said. "I have an
idea. Two of them actually. You could stay instead at the loft apartment. It's
where Anna used to work on her art, then Eric used it and we've done other
things with it, but it's empty now. Or, if you're up for something different..."

"Yes?" Rose asked.

"You could live on my boat. Julia and I kept
the houseboat thinking we'd spend time there, but it's not being used at all.
You could help us out by living there. I used to live there before Julia and I
married. It's very nice."

"Live on a boat?" Rose sipped her herbal
tea, clearly thinking. Finally, she said, "I'll do it! I need some fun in
my life. It sounds great. The boat it is."

The men stayed talking with Beth and Rose while
they ate lunch. They'd just finished eating when Sophia walked into the Diner.

"Uh oh," William said. "Sophia
looks upset."

Before anyone could get up, she had marched over
to them. "You people! What are you doing here? Oh, hello, Rose. I'll hug
you in a minute. Now, I want each of you to check on wedding stuff for
me." Pointing to each of them in turn, she began saying,
"Flowers...Cake...Chairs on stage...Caterers at Holly's...you girls,
dresses to makes sure Rose fits into hers. Got it? Now get moving. We do this
thing in just a few hours."

She left them sitting there, and at the door she
turned and looked back, frowning. They immediately got up and paid their bills,
hurrying out behind her.

* * * *

Beth had decided the best place for all of them to
get dressed was at the Playhouse, using the dressing rooms behind the stage. As
she finished her makeup, her mother came in to help with her hair. They were
putting it up, so that the veil could hook into the top of it, with a sparkling
curved barrette and comb holding it in place. When Beth was in the dress and
veil, she looked in the long mirror.

Sophia had designed a deceptively simple-looking
mermaid gown out of cream silk. It had bared shoulders and a sweetheart
neckline all done in beaded embroidery. The dropped waist fell into folds of
lace that swirled with every step.

"Mom...it's fantastic."

Sophia smiled into the mirror at her. "You
look lovely, darling. Like a star."

Beth blinked rapidly. "Oh, don't make me cry!
Thanks so much for everything you've done. Not just the wedding, but for
letting me be me, letting me follow my dreams."

Sophia carefully hugged her and placed a soft kiss
on her cheek. She handed the flowers to her daughter. Beth carried a bouquet of
cream roses, along with Asiatic white lilies that were green at the center.
Green ivy surrounded them and trailed down from the flowers.

They exited the dressing room. Beth could hear the
music they'd arranged to have the sound man play through the speakers. Light
classical airy music.

Maggie and Rose met them wearing emerald green
silk dresses. Maggie's had a soft, gently rounded neckline with cap sleeves, and
an empire waist. Rose wore a V-necked sheath dress that complimented her height
and long legs. Maggie's had beaded embroidery on the bodice, while Rose had the
same embroidery around the hem. The dresses were tea-length and showed off
high-heeled shoes of green. Their bouquets were made up of cream roses
interspersed with white stephanotis, along with some sprigs of ivy.

They stood in the wings at stage left. "I
think we're ready, Mom," Beth said. "Are the others all set?"

Sophia nodded. "It's time. And...yes, there's
the music change. I'd better get out there and into my seat. Good luck, my
darlings!"

When she left, the three sisters looked at each
other and began to giggle. "Oh no!" Beth said. "We are so not
doing this. Now stop it!"

They giggled some more but then they heard the
wedding march begin. Suddenly, they were all very serious.

"This is it," Maggie said. "I love
you, Bethie." She kissed her sister on the cheek and Rose did the same.
They left to walk across the stage and meet up with the groomsmen who were
entering from the other side.

Suddenly, Beth saw and heard the large burgundy
curtain begin moving. It was opening? That made no sense. They had planned for
it to just be the backdrop. But it was time for her to go out and meet William
now, so she refused to worry about it. She walked out onto the stage and froze
for a second. There was an audience! It looked like the whole town was in the
seats and lined along the walls of the auditorium.

Beth didn't know what was going on, but she was
getting married no matter who was there. She kept walking, and heard the 'oohs'
and 'ahs' as people saw her dress. She looked for William and saw him walking
to the center to meet her, looking so handsome in his perfectly fitted tuxedo.