LITMIR.BIZ

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makes me look like a raccoon.” But Bess closed her eyes.

      “Sit still.” Dolley worked on her eyes, adding more eye shadow along with the liner. “There.”

      Bess blinked, worried she would cry and muss Dolley’s work. “I look...” Like someone else. Her eyes were bigger, greener. “I bow to your superior hair and makeup skills.”

      “You should.” Dolley hit her hair with another spritz of hair spray. “Get dressed.”

      Bess pulled on a chiffon dress similar to the ones her sisters wore. Abby and Dolley had convinced her to wear the strapless design. Slipping on sparkly heels, she tugged on the short skirt. “Well?”

      Dolley whistled. “You’re hot. Let’s go help Mamma.”

      They headed to the Mamie Eisenhower room in the main house. Bess knocked.

      Abby, wearing the same yellow dress but with straps, opened the door. “Finally. Come see how pretty Mamma looks.”

      Mamma’s golden-red hair gleamed and her blue eyes sparkled. The worry from years of struggling with Fitzgerald House no longer marred her beautiful face. Her tea-length ivory dress with a full skirt made her look so young.

      Bess pinned a spray of white dendrobium orchids on the side of Mamma’s hair. “You’re gorgeous.”

      “I feel foolish.” Mamma twisted her hands until Bess caught one and held it. “We should have gone to the courthouse and skipped the folderol.”

      “Absolutely not,” Dolley protested. “Martin better be good to you, or he’ll answer to us.”

      “He’s very good to me.” Her mother blushed. “But at my age, I shouldn’t be planning such a wingding.”

      “Nonsense, you have daughters in the business.” Bess kissed her cheek. “I need to check the ballroom.”

      “Wait.” Abby popped the cork on a champagne bottle. “We’re celebrating before everything gets crazy.”

      Bess held glasses while Abby poured. Dolley moved around the room, taking pictures of the bride.

      “Is that a new camera?” Abby tried to hand Dolley a glass.

      “I bought it on eBay for a steal.” She flashed the hefty camera at them.

      Bess waved a hand around the group. “Set it up so we can all be in the picture.”

      Dolley did, then joined the family.

      “To you, Mamma.” Bess raised her glass. “Be happy.”

      Mamma’s eyes filled with tears. She held up her glass. “To my girls. May you all find the happiness I’ve found.”

      They touched their glasses and chimes rang out. “The Fitzgeralds.” The flash went off as they laughed.

      The champagne fizzed on Bess’s tongue. “Ooh, this is nice.”

      “It should be.” Abby grinned. “Gray bought a couple of special bottles.”

      Bess tipped the bottle to read the label. “Dom Pérignon?” She took another sip and let it slide down. She could drink this all day. “I love it.”

      “First Gray sends his family’s plane to pick us up and now this.” Mamma held up her champagne. “Private jets and drinking stars. This is the life.”

      They laughed and drank until there was a knock. Marion, the B and B’s head of housekeeping, stepped in. Her dress was a shimmery copper and set off her beautiful brown skin.

      “You look stunning.” Mamma hurried over and gave Marion a hug.

      “There’s a glass for you, too.” Abby filled a final glass.

      “We’ll have to hurry, Judge Geneva’s here.” But Marion tipped her glass to Mamma. “I’m happy for you.”

      Mamma beamed. “Thank you.”

      “Now we need your daughters to get married.” Marion sipped. “There should be babies here.”

      Marion and Mamma linked arms and looked over at them.

      Abby raised her hand. The diamond on her finger twinkled. “I’m getting there.”

      Bess and Dolley looked at each other and shook their heads.

      “I’m too busy to date.” Bess shrugged.

      Dolley laughed. “I’m having too much fun.”

      “You should never be too busy for love.” Mamma’s eyes filled. “It’s worth the risk.”

      Bess wasn’t interested in taking risks, at least not for love.

      “No tearing up.” Abby took Mamma’s hands. “We’ll all cry.”

      They finished their champagne and hustled Mamma to the library. Bess handed small spider-mum-and-orchid bouquets to her sisters and a larger one to Mamma.

      “I should check the ballroom.” Bess headed to the door.

      Another knock. Gray stuck his head in and whistled. “You all look beautiful.” He came over and took Mamma’s hands. “You are a stunning bride.”

      Mamma blushed.

      “Are you ready?” he asked.

      Mamma straightened her shoulders. “Yes.”

      Gray opened the library doors to the courtyard.

      White chairs fanned out from the arbor where Bess had intertwined bright yellow spider mums with more dendrobium orchids. The gardens edging the patio danced with late-summer color. White daisies nodded to black-eyed Susans. Bright zinnias and marigolds added sparks of color against lush green foliage and her small palm trees. The trio of August Beauty gardenias lived up to their name. Petunias in yellows, reds and pinks, along with vines of sweet peas and kidney weed, cascaded from tall bronze pots.

      The judge, Martin and his sons took their places. The guests quieted. The fountain splashed in the background while a harpist played “Ode to Joy” accompanied by twittering birds.

      Dolley glided down the white satin aisle first.

      Bess kissed her mother’s cheek. “I love you, Mamma.”

      “I love you, too.”

      Bess moved down the aisle next, smiling. Daniel’s parents, Samuel and Debbie Forester, sat next to each other. Nathan, Daniel’s twin brother, waved. Daniel nodded. No smile. What a surprise.

      Resentment surged through her like a pulsing sprinkler. Not today. Today was Mamma’s day. She took her place next to Dolley and waited for Abby to come down the aisle.

      Finally, Mamma stepped out of the library. Everyone stood. Bess’s eyes filled.

      Mamma glowed as she walked toward Martin. He held out his hands for her, love lighting his face. Underneath the arbor, Mamma and Martin vowed to love one another. A butterfly landed on top of the trellis as they kissed.

      Bess’s tears broke free.

      Abby handed her a tissue.

      To the intimate group of witnesses, the judge said, “I’m pleased to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Martin and Mamie Robbins.”

      The guests surged to their feet, applauding.

      “Mamma’s no longer a Fitzgerald.” Bess caught Abby’s and Dolley’s hands. Having her mother change her name seemed so final.

      She and her sisters moved down the aisle behind the couple and hugged and kissed them.

      Photos were taken. Congratulations called out. Bess headed to the stairs.

      Mamma called, “Bess?”

      “Do you need something,

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