Page 18 of Wedding Bells in Silverwood

“So, yeah,” Viola said into the phone. “I know it’s last minute, James, and it’s the holiday season, but is there any chance you might be able to spare a few hours to work the event?”

“You won’t believe this,” James began, “but I actually can help out. My folks went out west to visit my sister in California, so I’m family-obligation free.”

“That’s perfect. Thank you so much, James. I can text you the details.”

“Works for me. It’ll be great to see you again. I always knew you’d make it as a chef.”

Viola winced.This must be what imposter syndrome feels like. “That’s so nice of you to say. Thanks. I’ll see you then.”

“Bye.”

She sighed as she set down the phone. Putting a checkmark next to James’s name, she forced herself to invite the good feelings in and stop panicking.

It’s working. I’m doing it. I just have to have faith in myself.

The sound of her mother’s wheelchair caused her to turn.

“Hey, Mom.”

“Hi, honey. Were you on the phone?”

“Yeah, I had some calls to make. I’ve got three people so far to help me with the catering job.”

Evelyn intertwined her fingers and held them under her chin. “Oh, Viola, that’s wonderful.”

Viola cringed.

“What?” Evelyn leaned forward. “What’s wrong?”

Viola stood and placed her hands behind her aching neck, stretching it out. “A couple of things, I guess.”

“Honey, you can talk to me. What’s bothering you?”

“Well, for one, I feel like I’m abandoning you.”

Evelyn shook her head. “What? Viola, no. Why would you say that?”

“Because this wedding is going to take a lot of my time. I know Oliver can be here to help you out when I can’t be here, but between working at The Gingerbread House and organizing the catering, I’ll rarely be around at all. And I don’t want to do that to you.”

“Viola, come here.” Evelyn rolled nearer to the table and patted the nearest chair.

Viola pressed her lips together and took a seat.

“You are not abandoning me.” Evelyn took her hand. “If anything, I’ve kept you rooted to one spot for far too long.”

“No, you di—”

“Yes. I’m not naïve. I know you had to put all your dreams on hold for me. I never meant to force you into that position.”

Viola squeezed her hand. “No, Mom, of course not. I don’t blame you. It’s not your fault this happened to you.”

“But it was also not your responsibility to cast everything aside to take care of me.”

“I wanted to. And these last few years? I think it brought us even closer than we were before. I wouldn’t have traded that time with you for the world.”

“I’m glad we had all this time together, too.” Evelyn sighed. “But now you’ve got an opportunity to jump into the thing you’ve been waiting to do since you were a little girl, and there’s no way I’m going to stand in your way—no pun intended.”

Though guilt and uncertainty threatened to crush her stomach, Viola felt her shoulder muscles loosen. “Thank you, Mom.”

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