Page 43 of A Wedding in the Bay

“Really well.” Josie smiled, helping her sister by spooning batter into the second pan. “We’ve just about got everything ready. I’m so excited.”

There was a brief moment of silence, and then Paige asked quietly, “Is Mom still planning on coming?”

Josie glanced at her sister and her heart went out to her. Paige was frowning a little, and Josie guessed that her sister was feeling the kind of sinking feeling in her stomach that she herself knew all too well. “I’m not sure,” she said softly. “I haven’t heard from her in a while.”

Even though their mom had agreed to come to the wedding, Josie wanted to make sure that Paige didn’t get her hopes up too much.

“Well, at least she hasn’t said no,” Paige said, smiling a little too briskly.

Josie reached out and gave her sister a hug. “All we can do is wait and hope for the best.”

Paige nodded, lingering in their hug. She took a deep breath and smiled again, more sincerely this time. “You’re right. Let’s get back to work.”

Before long, the cupcakes were safely tucked inside the oven, beginning to give off a rich, sweet aroma.

“Want to help me with the frosting?” Paige asked, grinning. Her spirits seemed to have lifted again, and Josie was glad.

“I’d love to. Let’s dye it a fun color. How about pink?”

“Oh, I love that! I learned how to make really vivid colors in one of my classes. I’ll show you.”

Soon the frosting was made—and dyed a bright, delightful pink—and the cupcakes came out of the oven to cool. The sisters finished the remaining party preparations, such as setting out games and lighting scented candles, and then they frosted the cupcakes, talking and laughing as they worked.

“There,” Josie said with a sigh of satisfaction as she placed the last cupcake down on the serving plate.

“Wait!” Paige said. “I have an idea—do you have raspberries?”

“Oh! Yes, I do—you mean to put on top?”

Paige grinned. Josie hurried to get the raspberries out of the refrigerator, and together they placed a raspberry on top of each cupcake. There were just enough, and the effect was charming.

“They look darling,” Josie said in approval, and at that moment her apartment buzzer rang again. She hurried over to the intercom. “Come on in!” she called, and pressed the button to let her guest inside.

Less than a minute later, the first guest proved to be Alissa. She hurried into Josie’s apartment and gave her friend a big hug.

“I’m so excited for this—hey, Paige!” Alissa hugged Josie’s sister as well, and as the two of them started to catch up about Paige’s school and Alissa’s baby, the buzzer rang again.

Soon Josie’s apartment was filled with her friends. They sat together in the living room, already digging into the snacks and cupcakes despite the fact that pizzas were going to be delivered for dinner soon. Each of the women tried one of Paige’s cupcakes, and everyone proclaimed them to be even better than Paige’s baking had been before.

“Paige, this is so delicious,” Olivia said, placing her hand on her heart as if she was going to faint.

“It really is,” Caitlin agreed, nodding emphatically at the young baker. “I find it hard to believe your baking could get even better, but here’s the proof.”

“Thank you,” Paige said, blushing and smiling.

They started to play a board game and were soon laughing and talking excitedly. When the pizzas arrived, they took a break from the game to eat at the table, and each of the women gave a short toast, wishing Josie happiness in her coming marriage.

When dinner was over, they returned to the living room and continued their game. Everyone had a second helping of Paige’s cupcakes, and before long, they started another board game.

Josie’s heart felt full as she looked around the room, listening to the voices of her friends. In that moment, she felt like the luckiest woman in the world.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Bye! Thanks for coming!”

“We’ll see you guys soon!”

Paige waved with Josie from the doorway of the apartment as their friends started down the hallway toward the staircase. She glanced at her sister and saw that Josie’s eyes were shining, and her heart felt warm.

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