LITMIR.BIZ

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      “Mom.” Eleanor had told her mother only that she was bringing someone she was currently seeing. She definitely hadn’t gone into detail about their sexual status. “It’s fine. Daniel is only staying for tonight. He has to head back to the city tomorrow.”

      Her mother made a face as if the word city was distasteful. Probably because she associated Denver with Eleanor’s business, something else she found distasteful. Her mother still clung to the belief that a woman’s first priority should be securing a husband and having children.

      Eleanor had done half of that and had failed. Since then she hadn’t been eager to repeat the experience.

      Her business, however, was a nice replacement. Way less pain and heartbreak. More control and financial benefit. As far as Eleanor was concerned, if she never got married again, it wouldn’t be the most tragic thing to happen to her.

      Because the most tragic thing had already happened.

      Her mother was obviously not pleased by that attitude. It meant fewer grandchildren.

      “Oh. Well, let’s hope you’re still in Eleanor’s life for the wedding.”

      “I promise to do everything I can to make sure I’m back for that. In the meantime, this will be the first weekend Eleanor’s been away from her company in some time. I hope she has time for some relaxation.”

      “Of course it will be relaxing,” Marilyn stated, turning to Eleanor. “She’ll be with family. Now, speaking of, your father’s sister and brother want to talk with you. I suggest you start with them. Since your father’s been gone, they claim to feel left out of your and your sister’s lives. I’m making every effort to change that with this wedding.”

      Eleanor didn’t miss the emphasis on the word this. Five years later and she was still being punished for her elopement to Max. One would have thought, considering what she went through with his death, she might have been forgiven.

      But her mother had a long memory.

      “Yes, Mom. I’ll head over to them shortly.”

      Marilyn left them, and Eleanor could hear her greeting some new guests as they came through the front door.

      “She really does love to play the hostess,” Daniel noted.

      “Yes, she does. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to make small talk with my family, so they can get as much gossip out of me as possible. Most of them want to know how much money I’m making. Truly, they are not even subtle about it.”

      Daniel laughed. “I think I’ll stand in this corner and drink myself silly. Mike already promised he would drive me to the B and B.”

      “Yes, poor Mike. He and Allie live together on his farm in North Platte, but now my mother is making him pay for a room. It’s so impractical. But Marilyn’s house, Marilyn’s rules.”

      “Hmm,” Daniel said. “A strong-minded woman. Sounds like someone else I know.”

      Eleanor gasped. “Are you comparing me to my mother? Daniel Reynolds. That’s grounds for murder!”

      He laughed again. “I believe you have small talk to make.”

      “I’m on it.”

      Eleanor had no problem with mingling. Unlike Allie, Eleanor was used to being the center of attention every day at work. Daniel had been accurate. This really was going to be her first real break from the office since its inception almost three years ago. An office that had started with her, then Selena, now housed an IT staff, a customer service department, an advertising and sales department and a buying department comprised mostly of part-time, stay-at-home moms. Eleanor also had a bookkeeper, but now even Shelly was complaining she needed help to keep up.

      Yet another hire. Of course that meant the company was growing, which was a good thing, Eleanor told herself.

      The point was she dealt with dozens of people, of varying personalities, all day long. Working a room, making people feel comfortable, listening to them was all part of her daily routine. After an hour of small talk, she managed to find her way to Allie and Mike.

      Allie’s smile was in place, but Eleanor could see the tension in her shoulders, the strain in her face.

      “How are you holding up?” Eleanor asked.

      “I’m fine. I’m great. This is amazing.”

      “Allie, seriously? This is me you’re talking to.”

      “Seriously. I figured out the best way to get through all of this is just to accept it. Mom wanted a party. Mom gets a party. Then in less than a year, after the actual wedding, all of this will be over.”

      Eleanor could feel the anger rising. “Allie, your wedding isn’t something to get through. It’s supposed to be about what you want. What you both want?”

      Mike chuckled. “Wait a minute. You mean I’m a part of this? That’s news.”

      Allie rolled her eyes. “Mike. Please. I need you on my side. This is hard enough as it is.”

      Mike, Eleanor thought, was the prototype of a Nebraskan farmer. Medium height, stocky, strong build. He wore a beard that he didn’t always maintain—much to Marilyn’s dismay—so it was hard to know if he was handsome or not.

      Allie thought he was, though. Allie thought Mike was the single best man in the universe.

      Eleanor knew because Allie looked at him like Eleanor used to look at Max.

      “Allie, I’m on your side,” Mike told her. “Always. And I’m trying to do everything you’re asking. But Eleanor’s not wrong. This should be about us and what we want. You know what we didn’t want? This party. You know what I don’t want? Having to go out with every male relative you have as part of my bachelor party. Your uncle’s been hinting at strippers all night. I’m not looking at naked women with your creepy Uncle Bob.”

      “Uncle Bob is not creepy,” Allie whispered.

      Eleanor nodded and mouthed, Sooo creepy.

      “Guys, I know you’re trying to help. But you’re not. You,” Allie said, pointing at Eleanor, “don’t know what Mom has been like.”

      “I don’t know my own mother?”

      “You don’t know what she’s been like about this wedding. Everything has to be different than last time. Everything you didn’t do, I have to do, and it all has to be perfect. She’s scheduled no less than five dress fittings. Seriously? How many times do I have to see if a dress fits?”

      Eleanor tried to swallow her irritation. She felt the guilt, but it was unreasonable. She didn’t want her sister to suffer because of her elopement, but at the same time this was her mother’s doing, not hers.

      “Why did you agree to it? You are a grown woman, about to get married. Why can’t you say no to her?”

      “Because I’m the only one who cares about making her happy,” Allie fired back. “And she knows it. Why can’t you ever say yes to something?”

      “I’m here, aren’t I?”

      “Yes and already complaining.”

      “Time out,” Mike intervened. “This is getting heated, and people are starting to notice. We all promised to play nice.”

      Eleanor checked herself. Mike was right. This party, which was stressing her sister out already, wasn’t the place to challenge her to say no to their mother. And, she had to admit to herself, maybe she wasn’t as unaffected as she thought she could be.

      It’s not like any of this would bring back particular memories.

      There had been no engagement party. No bachelor party. No large ceremony. No family and friends.

      Just her and Max in front of a judge in a small

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