Willow Smoke (97 page)

“Mrs. B., let’s take
this a little bit at a
time,” Daisy
mocked, narrowing her eyes. “I
don’t
know
about
kids.
And
I
already
don’t
know
which
end
is
up.”

“That
may
be
true,
but
I
ain’t
getting’
any
younger.
And
I’ve
not
diapered
a
baby
in
so
long
I
may
have
plumb
forgot.”

“If
I
need
to
know,
I’m
sure
you’ll
be
able
to
show
me.
Now
what
do
you
know
about
weddings?”

“Nothing
that’ll
help
you
much.
I
don’t
know
about rich folks’ weddings.” Mrs.
Brown
paused
and
then
grinned.
“Though
I
can
help
you
with
the
caterer
for
the
reception.”

“Oh goodness,” Daisy’s
hand flew to her mouth, “I may be in way over my head. I
wouldn’t
have
the
foggiest
idea
of
how
to
deal
with
a
caterer.”

“You’ll
learn.”
Mrs.
B.
placed
her
hands
on
her
hips.
“I
don’t
expect
Mr.
Nick
is
marrying
you
because
you’re
good
with
caterers.
He
don’t
need
a
social
secretary.
He
need’s
a
wife
and
mother
with
fire
in
her
gut.”

Daisy
laughed
heartily.
“Well,
if
that’s
what
he
wants,
I
guess
he
found
her.”

An
hour
later
Daisy
walked
down
the
sidewalk
in
front
of
the
Kenwood
house
besieged
by
one
of
her
favorite
whirlwinds:
Angie
Underwood.

“So
do
you
have
a
date
set
for
the
wedding?”
Angie
asked,
swinging
her
arms
rhythmically in
power walk mode. “I’m
so
thrilled
for
both
of
you.
And
Mom
and
Dad are, too.”

Daisy
matched
the
shorter
woman
easily
stride
for
stride.
Angie
had
come
by
to
congratulate
her
and
“catch
up
on
the
news,”
but
had
to
keep
up
with
her
morning
workout before racing back to the theater.
What a life! It made the backside at the track
appear sedate.

“We
don’t
have
a
date
set.
Sooner
than
later,
I
expect.
Do
you
know
anything
about
planning
weddings?”

Angie
stopped
her
forward
motion
and
grabbed
Daisy
by
the
arm.
“I’d
love
to
help.
I’ve
been
a
bridesmaid
a
few
times.
It
can’t
be
too
difficult.”
She
pursed
her
lips
and
waited
for
a
bus
to
drive
by.
“How
many
people?
Two
to
three
hundred,
I
imagine.”

“Two to three hundred! I
don’t know that many people.”

“Come
on,
girl.
Remember
who
you’re
marrying.
This
will
be
a
society
bash.
You
have
your
friends
at
the
track.
Nick
has
business
colleagues
and
friends.
Plus
people
from
various
social
circles.
Plus
the
family. You’ve only met some of
them.”

Daisy
placed
her
arms
across
her
stomach
and
squeezed
hard.
“Can’t
we
just
elope?
I
had
no
idea
this
would
be
a
social
event.”

Shrugging
her
shoulders,
Angie
turned
and
renewed
their
walk.
“I
doubt
it.
Nick
is
going
to
want
to
show
you
off.
Besides,
you’re
going
to
want
to
let
all
the
females
of
Chicago
know
that
Nick
is
now
your
man
and
they
have
to
maintain
their
distance.
We’ll
have
to
work
on
an
announcement
for
the
society
page
for
the
Tribune.”

“What?”

“Of
course.
You
were
news
at
the
Charity
Ball.
Don’t
think
snaring
Nicholas
Underwood,
one
of
the
most
sought
after
eligible
bachelors
in
Chicago,
won’t
be
news!”
Angie
grinned
broadly.
“You’re
going
to
be
the
envy
and
the
scorn
of
more
than
one
distraught
female
in
the
city.”

Daisy
flashed
on
the
image
of
Claire
Donaldson.
That
woman
would
go
ballistic
when
she
learned
Nick
would
marry
his
gutter
snipe.
Daisy
wished
she
could
be
there
when
Claire
received
the
news.
Should
she
be
more
forgiving?
Daisy
narrowed
her
eyes
remembering
the
scene
in
the
elegant
bathroom
when
Claire
had
made
it
clear
she
didn’t
belong
with
Nick.
Forgive?
Hell
no!

“So
it’s
going
to
be
quite
a
bash,”
she
said,
squaring
her
shoulders.
“It’ll
come
and
go like most things. I can handle it, if I
have to. If you’ll help, that is.”

Angie
checked
her
watch
and
slowed
their
pace
to
a
mere
walk.
“You
won’t
be
able
to
keep
me
away.
First,
you
two
have
to
decide
on
a
date.
Then
we
can
reserve
a
church
and
hotel
for
the
reception.”
Angie’s
lips
formed
a
bow.
“I
expect
my
brother
will
want
to
be
in
charge
of
the
honeymoon.”

“Mrs.
B.
wants
to
help
with
the
reception.”

“Great!”

Daisy came to a halt. “Oh
my God, a dress.”

“We
can
begin
shopping
day
after
tomorrow.
That’s
my
day
off.
You’ll
look
stunning
in
a
long
white
gown.
Or
maybe
it
should
be
long
in
the
back
and
mid-thigh
in
the
front,
showing
off
your
long
legs.
I’ve
been
to
a
couple
weddings
where
the
bride
wore
something
like
that.
Very
eye-catching.”