“That’s fine,” Andrea assured her.
Rory disappeared into the kitchen, returning five minutes later with a dish with cake samples. Rory tasted as per Kerry’s instructions.
“I think I’m going to go with the chocolate and lemon,” Rory decided.
“Great. Excellent choices,” Kerry commended. “Have you hired a caterer for the event yet?”
“Um…no?”
“Well, I know the perfect catering company. They’re very professional and reasonable too.”
“Okay. I’ll have to discuss it with James, but you can give me their number so I can share it with him and Jenny, my wedding planner.”
“Sure thing,” Kerry agreed. “So, guys, I was thinking that for our next family get-together, we should maybe do something away from the house,” she suggested.
“That’s a good idea,” Andrea agreed.
“What were you thinking?” Cora asked, equally interested.
“A beach picnic at Double Bluff Beach.”
“I’m in,” Andrea agreed.
“Me too,” came Cora’s answer.
“What about you two?” Kerry asked, looking over at Rory and Julia. When they hesitated to reply, she added. “Relax. There will be other young people your age there.”
“I’m in,” they replied simultaneously.
ChapterTen
“Mmm, breakfast is wreaking havoc on my senses. I feel so full, and I haven’t even had any yet,” Rory said the minute she stepped into the kitchen.
“Good morning, Sweetie,” her aunt Jo who stood by the stove with a spatula in hand, gave her a smile over her shoulder.
“Good morning, Aunt Jo,” she replied. “Everything looks and smells really good,” she complimented, looking at the spread before her. A platter of eggs, freshly baked biscuits, cinnamon rolls in a basket cooling, cooked sausages and bacon, French toast, and fruit filled the tabletop. Rory doubted anything else would hold on there. She could also smell the deep dark roast percolating.
“You really are an amazing chef. I haven’t tasted anything, and I’m already salivating.”
“Thanks, sweetie,” Jo returned with a smile.
Just then, the others came filing into the kitchen. “You truly outdid yourself today, Jo. Everything looks good,” Andrea complimented.
“When has it never?” Jo turned to look at her sister, eyes narrowed.
“Told you she’d go off,” Andrea laughed, turning to Cora was assisting their mother to her seat around the kitchen island. “That’s ten bucks.”
“You’re so annoying, Drea,” Jo huffed, earning more laughter from the others.
“And you’re too easy to rile up,” Andrea replied between laughs.
“Whatever,” Jo muttered. Ignoring her sister, she turned to their mother. “Hi, Mom,” she smiled softly.
“H-h-…hi, hon-n-ney,” Becky replied, stopping to catch her breath and plastering on a smile.
Rory noted the worried looks the sisters exchanged, her own heart filling with dread. Becky had been finding it extremely difficult to speak. In most instances, she had only been able to say one full sentence before she had to stop to catch her breath. She noticed that her grandmother had also become reserved, opting to spend more time in her room under the guise of being too tired. Rory knew, like the others, that it was more than that. It pained her heart to see her like that.
She hoped their trip to Double Bluff would raise her grandmother’s mood a bit, even if only for a day.
