“The way I remember things, you had a bit of a flirt with every fine-looking man before you plucked the one you were after.”

Kathy’s eyes went bright with humor. “What’s the point of being young and foolish if you do otherwise?”

Because it was one of the things worrying her, Mollie managed a wan smile and let her old friend settle back into chattering.

Mollie was certain that her oldest daughter was having a great deal more than a flirtation with Shawn Gallagher. That wasn’t such a shock, not really, but the fact that Brenna wasn’t talking of it with her was both a shock and a concern. She’d raised her girls to know there was nothing they couldn’t share with their mother.

She’d known the night her Maureen had fallen in love, as the girl had come in flushed and laughing and full of the wonder of it. And when Kevin had asked her Patty to marry, she’d known the minute her girl had come into the house and thrown herself weeping into her mother’s arms. That was the way with them, Maureen laughing over joys and Patty weeping over them.

But Brenna, the most practical of her children, had done neither, nor had she, as Mollie had expected, sat down and spoken of what had changed with Shawn.

Hadn’t she left that very morning saying that she would be staying over with Darcy that night and not quite looking her mother in the eye when she lied? It hurt, knowing your child had the need to lie to you.

“Where have you gone off to?”

“Hmm?” Mollie focused on Kathy’s face again, shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t seem to keep my mind on things these days.”

“It’s no wonder. You’ve one daughter married only months ago, and another planning her wedding. Is it making you blue?”

“A little, I suppose.” Because she’d let her tea go cold and Kathy’s cup was empty, Mollie rose to pour hers down the sink and refill both cups with fresh. “I’m proud of them, happy for them, but . . .”

“They grow up so much faster than ever you think.”

“They do. One minute I’m scrubbing faces, and the next I’m buying wedding gowns.” To her surprise, helpless tears rushed to her eyes. “Oh, Kathy.”

“There, now, darling.” She took both of Mollie’s hands and squeezed. “I felt the same way when mine left the nest.”

“It’s Patty’s doing.” Sniffling, Mollie dug a handkerchief out of her pocket. “I never cried with Maureen except at the wedding. Thought I’d go mad from time to time as my Maureen wouldn’t settle for less than perfection, and her idea of it changed daily. But Patty, she gets weepy if we talk about what flowers she’ll have. I swear to you, Kathy, I live in fear that the child will bawl her way down the aisle to poor Kevin. People would think we’ve a gun to her head, forcing her to take her vows.”