Page 6 of A Wedding in the Bay

“And clean off.” She laughed. “We don’t want Marsha and Willis’s friend to have to sit on a bunch of spider webs.”

“Actually, I was going to volunteer myself to take the attic chair,” he said, placing his hand on his heart nobly.

She threw another card at him.

“Hey, don’t lose those. You might need some to win.”

“I won’t need that one,” she said, grinning. She dramatically placed down a final card. “I win!” She let out a whoop as he groaned.

“Aw, not again.” He stared down at her final card for a moment, accepting defeat, and then he looked back up at her, a mischievous look crossing his face. “I’m happy to let you win, since you’re growing our baby.”

Her mouth popped open, and then she laughed. “You didn’t let me win at all! That was absolutely a fair fight.”

“You’re right.” He grinned. “A kiss for the loser?”

“As long as there’s also a kiss for the winner.” They both leaned across the table and gave each other a tender kiss. Alissa’s heart was full, and she felt that she couldn’t wait for their dinner party the following night.

Dane stood in the doorway of his home, smiling as he watched his mother’s car pull into the driveway. It was a beautiful evening—crisply cold, with a clear sky sprinkled with glittering stars. Johanna was the first to arrive for the party, and as soon as she’d gotten out of her car, she hurried up the walkway toward him.

“Oh, it’s cold!” she said, shivered as she reached his side and hugged him. “What are you doing standing out here?”

“Waiting for you.” He laughed. “What’s in the bag?” He took a tote bag from her hands since it looked heavy.

“My famous strawberry Swiss roll cake,” she declared proudly.

“Oh, great.” He grinned, remembering fondly the taste of the cake his mother had often made for celebrations. He shut the door and turned to her. “How are you doing, Mom?”

“My goodness, you make it sound like you’re worried about me! You saw me two days ago.”

“I know, but I didn’t really get a chance to talk with you then. I’m just wondering how you’re settling in. I know Blueberry Bay isn’t as busy as New York, and you don’t have as many friends here yet.”

“But they’re true friends here,” she said, tapping him gently on the shoulder with her finger and smiling. “That makes all the difference in the world.”

“So you’re doing well, then?” He grinned at her.

“Never been better.”

“Hey, Johanna!” Alissa approached the front entryway, waving at her mother-in-law. “Glad you’re here!”

“Hi, sweetheart!” The two women shared a warm hug. “Did you see the latest episode of our show?”

“Yes!” Alissa exclaimed eagerly. “I loved it—didn’t the Johnsons’ new kitchen look incredible?”

“Oh my goodness, yes,” Johanna gushed. “I never would have thought that navy cupboards could look so good, but it was just spectacular.”

“That’s because they balanced it with those splashes of yellow,” Alissa said.

Dane chuckled as he listened to them discuss their favorite series. It was clear that the two of them had bonded over the show, and it was something they loved to discuss with each other. The three of them walked into the kitchen together as Alissa and Johanna continued to chat excitedly about the latest developments in the remodeling show.

“Do you need any help getting things ready?” Johanna asked once they reached the kitchen. “Setting out plates of food?”

“Sure.” Alissa hurried over to the charcuterie board she’d just finished arranging. “Let me just bring this into the living room, and you can follow me with those two sauce dishes.”

“Oh my!” Johanna exclaimed when she saw the charcuterie board. “That’s absolutely a work of art.”

“I agree,” Dane said, admiring the way his wife had arranged meats, cheeses, olives, crackers, and various other snacks in an aesthetic pattern. “That looks wonderful, sweetheart.”

“Well, thanks.” Alissa grinned. “Dane, can you follow us with the tray of mugs? I’ve got a make-your-own tea station all set up, I just need the mugs.”

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