It was Mitsy who got the ball rolling, regretting that she hadn’t taken a leadership role. She was Toots’s best friend, but she didn’t like to feel inferior in the generosity department. “Now that the location is settled, the Widows have so much more to contribute,” she announced in her imperious voice. “All the flowers could come from our gardens. Winter roses, lavender, olive, rosemary, dried hydrangeas. The blue ones to go with the theme. It could be stunning!” Mitsy was usually too reserved to be excited, but her sense of noblesse oblige won out. Flowers for the people. “I’m not going anywhere for the holidays. My daughters informed me they wanted to take their families to Mexico and made it very clear they didn’t want me to tag along, as if I would. And my former daughter-in-law Helen will be in New York City. My grandson Aiden is there, and he’s in some sort of off-Broadway production of A Christmas Carol, which is so dreary,” she said, clearly as an excuse to not fly across the country. “Travel over the holidays is for people who can’t go in February. I’d be honored to supervise the cutting and gathering from my friends’ gardens, if you hire someone to do the arranging. And all the work on the wedding weekend.”

“My niece and her husband own that winery in Paso Robles. It’s a fairly decent wine,” Frannie shouted. “I’m sure I can get them a deal!”

“I’m happy to offer up my cottage for any overflow guests. I think staying in a hotel sounds fun. What a treat,” Roxanne offered. Her “cottage” near the beach slept ten and was walking distance to the rehearsal dinner venue. Immediately, Alexa thought of her own family, the ones Penny was sure wouldn’t want to travel from Greece, but the ones Alexa was pretty sure would. Roxanne’s place was perfect.

“And I may regret this if the invitation list grows, but I have lovely handwriting. I can address the invitations. Provided I’m given enough advance notice,” Ming announced in a tone that suggested this was a gift of tremendous value, that of her own personal time.

“Oh, all of you. You’re too much.” Alexa was overwhelmed by the offers. She thought of the decade of friendship with these women, how they had grown to admire and trust each other over the years. Six women who’d made their own choices in life. Their friendship had been a gift to Alexa, an anchor in a town where most people thought of her as hired help. And clearly, it had been a gift to them, too. “I can’t answer for Penny, but I can’t imagine why she would say no. This is an extraordinary gesture. Abigail, do you think Chase would like to get married here? Your thoughts?”