“I know, I’m sorry. I just wanted to see the backyard all finished, set up and ready to go. Unfortunately I can’t come to the party after all.”

“Oh, no,” Jess said. “I won’t hear of it! You’re not working, are you?”

“No, but as it happens, some of my family is in town, and I’m going to have to spend the weekend with them.”

“Well, bring them!”

“Oh, Jess, I couldn’t. It isn’t just some of them, it’s a lot of them. I have a big family. They do this sort of thing sometimes. My mom and dad decided to drive down, and my brother and his wife decided to come along, and another brother was planning a long weekend with his kids and…this sort of thing happens with my family. They don’t necessarily do it on purpose, but they tend to flock. You couldn’t ask that many—”

“But I could! Bring them!”

“Are you sure?”

Leigh came into the room. “Oh, Mom, maybe John could just stop by for a few minutes later and—”

“Don’t be silly. Bring them all. Half the town’s coming. Well, not half, but a grand showing. It would give your family a chance to meet Leigh.” They both glared at her. “Oops. Well, if your family happens to be here when my daughter happens to—oh don’t scowl. I don’t know what came over me.”

“Well, can I see the yard anyway?” he asked.

“Sure you can, John.” Leigh laughed. And she took him through the kitchen and down the stairs from the deck, and let him get an eyeful.

Next it was time for Mitch and Ty’s second bath and second set of clean clothes. Seemed they had been remodeling their fort out in the far back of the yard. The fort had a dirt floor and there was a lot of moss to make grass stains. Leigh welcomed a chance to give them another bath and spend some time with them, sharing a secret or two. During the bath they did a lot of whispering, giggling and splashing.

Finally it was one-thirty. The food was ready to be put out, the flowers decorated the tables and structures, the quartet had arrived, and Jess and Leigh stood together on the deck to look everything over. It was a lovely sight; peach-colored ribbons were woven through the carnation-and-rose garlands. Exotic centerpieces adorned the twelve-foot-long tables. Silver serving dishes shone against the linen tablecloths. And the sun was bright and warm.

“It’s beautiful, Mom,” Leigh said. “It would have made a good wedding chapel.”

Jess turned to her daughter. “Sweetheart, I hope you truly forgive me for being such a busybody. I’ve never done anything like that before, and I swear I never will again.”