“I think I’m happier than I’ve been all day,” Hannah said, helping herself to a toast point with smoked salmon and herb-studded cream cheese. She pointed to the neighboring section on the swiveling tower. “Are those Bill Jessup’s Misdemeanor Mushrooms?”

“You betcha!” Sally said, grinning from ear to ear as Hannah added two to her appetizer plate. And then Sally proceeded to name the appetizers in each section of the tiered tray.

“My favorite deviled eggs!” Michelle said, taking one with smoked salmon and another with ham salad. “What could be better than this?”

“Baked Brie with apple and cinnamon,” Andrea said, helping herself to a big slice.

“These olives stuffed with bleu cheese are the best,” Lisa offered her opinion.

“No, the haggis is.”

“Haggis?!” Hannah gasped, staring at Doc’s side of the Lazy Susan. “Where’s that?”

“It’s not haggis. It’s Mike’s Busy Day Pate,” Sally told them. “It just looks different because I piped it on a triangle of pumpernickel bread.”

“We only have ten minutes or so until Mother gets here,” Hannah said, glancing at her watch as they finished their martinis and Sally’s busboy arrived to take away the appetizer tray. “You’d better tell us your solution now, Doc.”

“It’s simple,” Doc said, smiling at all of them. “I’m going to kidnap Lori and drive her to the airport. We’ll board a plane to Las Vegas, first class of course, and get married at the Little White Wedding Chapel.”

“By Elvis?” Lisa asked, who had obviously heard of the Little White Wedding Chapel.

“No, by a minister. They have regular services, too. I called to find out. After the ceremony, you girls will spend the night there and fly back to Lake Eden in the morning to get ready for the reception dinner. Lori and I will stay a second night and then fly back in time for the reception.”

There was silence for a full minute as they all thought about it. It was an incredible plan. And then Sally spoke. “Does Delores know about this?”

“Of course not. Lori would never agree. I’m just going to kidnap her from her house and bundle her into a waiting limo that’ll drive us to the airport.”

“That’s romantic,” Lisa said, blinking back the moisture that had formed in her eyes.

“That’s not romantic. That’s necessary,” Hannah contradicted Lisa. “Mother’s never going to make up her mind and none of us can take any more of these changes in the wedding plans.”

“And that’s why I decided to save us all the aggravation,” Doc explained. “Your mother will be so happy by the time the reception rolls around, she’ll love anything you decide to do. Just put up with her in the meantime and know that the final decisions are entirely yours. Can you do that?”