Page 62 of Unforgotten

And there it was. Yet another consequence of her being unable to cope with life for several years. They’d all put their lives on hold while she got her bearings.

To be honest, she still wasn’t very comfortable with a crowd around her. But she would handle it for her father. After all, she’d gone to the county fair to see Candace. She could help her mother host a birthday party too. Especially since she had her bedroom here. If she needed to, she could always go there and escape for a moment.

“You doing okay, Bethy?” Lott said in a low tone.

That right there was what broke her heart. Lott was her little brother. Memories of when she had taken care of him for almost a year flooded through her. Bethanne had been nine and Lott six when their mother had had a miscarriage and had been so sad. Bethanne had made their breakfasts and lunches and got them both to school every morning. One particularly bad night, he’d crawled in bed next to her and she’d rubbed his back, promising that one day everything would be happy in their home again.

And it had been for a while too.

Adopting a light tone, she said, “I’m gut. Don’t worry about me.” Winking at their mother, she added, “You should be taking notes anyway, Lott.”

“Why is that?”

“Chances are good that Melonie is going to be thinking about her wedding day. You’ll have to glean what kind of gathering she’s going to want.”

He frowned. “You think Mel is going to be thinking about that?”

“Jah.”

“How do you know?”

He looked so suspicious, she giggled. “Because that’s what women do. Women of a certain age who are engaged, that is.”

“Hmm.”

“Don’t worry, son,” Mamm said as she patted his back. “You might not be the only person in the backyard thinking of future celebrations.”

“Who else would be?”

“I’m not going to say, but it might surprise you.” Their mother had adopted a singsong tone.

“Mamm!” she exclaimed.

“No worries, Bethanne. Now let’s get to work. Will you greet all the ladies who are bringing dishes?”

“Of course.”

“There’s going to be a lot of dishes to organize,” her mamm warned.

“I know, which is why I asked Candace to help me.”

Her mother brightened. “That was a good idea, dear. Between the two of you, everything will be organized.”

“Does that mean you don’t need me?” Lott asked, sounding hopeful.

“No, it does not. You’re going to need to help me decorate, set out chairs, and prepare the firepit.”

“I’m on it.”

Four hours later, Bethanne was staring at the massive amount of bowls, platters, and covered containers lining the dining room table. Beside her, Candace was writing notes.

“What do you think? Should we call people to the buffet by tables or let them go up whenever they feel like it?” her cousin asked.

“Mamm said almost a hundred people will be coming.”

“I know. If we call each table up and have me, Melonie,and one other girl serve, we can move everyone in an organized fashion.”

Bethanne was stunned. “How in the world do you know how to organize such things?”

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