Lila linked arms with Camille and, together, they moved through the crowd, each face reflecting relief and joy, a community brought closer by concern and caring. Tonight, they were more than just townsfolk—they were a family, united in their thankfulness that one of their own was safe.
Besides, they had a wedding to celebrate.
4
Lila heard a knock and moved for the door. She opened it to find both Capri and Charlie Grace standing there holding covered plates. “You’re early,” she said as she motioned them inside.
“Oh, hush! We’re right on time,” Capri said in protest as she headed for Lila’s kitchen.
Charlie Grace followed. “As for me, I couldn’t get here fast enough. I’ve had a hellish week. Our reservation system went down out at Teton Trails.”
“I heard the entire town’s internet was down,” Lila reported, taking the plate from Charlie Grace. “You guys want to sit in here at the counter or head for the sofa?”
“Sofa,” Capri and Charlie Grace answered in unison.
The group gathered up the plates, glasses, and silverware and headed for the living room. Lila carried a pitcher full of dark pink slush. “I hope you guys like strawberry daiquiris.”
Lila’s home offered a warm, inviting charm, especially evident in her living room. Despite working with a limited budget, she had transformed the space into a cozy haven. The walls, painted in a soft, sunlit beige, were adorned with a collection of thrifted landscape paintings that captured the rugged beauty of Wyoming’s outdoors.
A second-hand, plush sofa draped with a patchwork quilt added a splash of color and a touch of homeyness. A sturdy, well-worn wooden coffee table sat at the center, often graced with a vase of wildflowers Lila plucked from nearby meadows on her morning walks.
The room was lit by carefully chosen lamps found at online discount retailers, their warm glow complementing the natural light that streamed through patterned curtains at the windows.
Each piece in the room, though not costly, was chosen with care and demonstrated Lila’s ability to create a beautiful, inviting space on a budget. She had Pinterest to thank for that.
Charlie Grace took the plastic wrap off the plates. “I hadn’t heard the internet was down all over town.”
“It’s still down,” Capri told her, shoving a stuffed mushroom into her mouth. “Dang, girl. These are good.”
Charlie Grace nodded. “I’d like to take credit, but Aunt Mo deserves the praise. She found the recipe on TikTok.”
“TikTok?” Lila scowled. “I heard that phone app spies on you.”
“So what?” Capri reached for another mushroom. “I don’t have any pictures on my phone they can’t see.”
“You sure?” Charlie Grace shoulder-bumped her.
“None that I will admit to,” Capri shoulder-bumped her back, a little harder.
Lila picked up the pitcher and filled three stemmed glasses. “If the internet remains down, who’s going to remedy the situation? Reva’s on her honeymoon and won’t be back for another week.”
Charlie Grace chuckled. “I’m surprised she hasn’t learned of it and is trying to make calls from her surfboard.”
Lila took her filled glass and snuggled into the cushions of her sofa. “Somehow, I doubt that. She and Kellen have better things to occupy their time with.” She grinned.
Charlie Grace took a sip from her glass. “I can’t believe they took Lucan with them on the honeymoon. I offered to keep him. So did Aunt Mo.”
“I offered as well,” Capri said. “The float trips are winding down this late in the season. I easily could have taken some time off.”
Lila couldn’t help but smile. “I’m not surprised. Do any of us really believe she could be separated from that little guy for two whole weeks?”
Charlie Grace nodded. “Wasn’t the adoption ceremony wonderful?”
They all agreed. “I still can’t believe Reva is married and is a mommy.”
Charlie Grace stirred her drink with her finger. “I hope her new roles don’t interfere with our Friday night get-togethers.”
“Never!” Capri shook her head in protest. “We all agreed years ago that our nights are sacrosanct.” She pointed to her friends. “You’ve both been married and never let that interrupt our nights.”
