Free The Lake Season by Hannah McKinnon Page A

need to help your sister narrow her choices.”
    â€œ Whose choices?” Iris mumbled.
    â€œExcuse me?”
    â€œNothing.” Iris dumped the pile of veils onto a nearby settee.
    â€œHere, now isn’t this lovely?” Millie tossed a fingertip veil over Iris’s head, where it promptly snagged on her ponytail. “Dear, what is going on with your hair?”
    â€œMom.”
    â€œFine, just turn around.” Millie pursed her lips. “Yes, that’s a possibility.” She shoved another in her hand, this one dotted in pearls. “Next.”
    â€œShouldn’t this be up to Leah?”
    â€œLeah doesn’t know what she wants,” Millie replied, fussing with the edges. Iris glanced sideways at her mother. She’d always thought herself the sole possessor of such an opinion. Now she wasn’t sure whether to rejoice in a newfound teammate or abandon the field given the company.
    While her mother sorted through the remaining pile of veils on the settee, Iris lifted the blusher to check her phone.
    No messages .
    â€œWhat about this one?” Millie set a French birdcage veil on her own head, turning admiringly in the mirror.
    â€œMom!”
    â€œWell, what else am I supposed to do? You’re hardly cooperating.”
    Iris plopped down on the couch.
    â€œIsn’t Stephen wonderful?” Millie asked, taking the veil off her head. She patted the sides of her hair into place, not waiting for Iris’s response. “We’re so fortunate to have him joining the family.”
    As opposed to Paul? Iris wondered. Though she could hardly argue that point now.
    â€œYeah, he seems great. But isn’t this all happening sort of fast?”
    Millie turned to face her. “What do you mean?”
    â€œWell, she’s only known the guy for less than a year, right?”
    Millie frowned. “A year is a long time, Iris. I knew your own father for less before we became engaged.”
    â€œI know. But it was different then. Besides, they haven’t been together for all that time. He’s been in Seattle, and she’s been living here up until a few months ago.”
    Millie shook her head. “Stephen travels a lot for his foundation, so it wouldn’t have made any difference where Leah lived. They made great use of the time they had.”
    â€œYeah, in places like Vail. And Capri. Vacations , Mom. And never for more than a week at a time. What do they know about their compatibility when it comes to the mundane stuff? Like who takes out the trash, or who pays the bills? Have they even had their first argument yet?”
    Millie crossed her arms. “Iris, I know you seem to be going through a difficult time right now, but I really don’t think you should be displacing your personal issues on your sister.”
    Iris wanted to disagree, but they were interrupted.
    â€œLa-dies!” Miss Patty rounded the corner in a flowing tent of a dress. “Your bride is ready.”
    Iris found it ridiculous the way Miss Patty detained them outside the dressing room, but when the peach curtains parted, she couldn’t contain her gasp. There on a carpeted riser, like the tiny ballerina in a childhood music box, perched Leah.
    â€œOh, sis.” Any misgivings Iris had had were tossed aside. “You look—”
    â€œStriking,” Millie interjected, and Iris couldn’t disagree.
    â€œDo you like it?” Leah turned before the mirror in exactly the sort of gown Trish had predicted. It was a silk organza sheath, perfectly fitted to Leah’s trim physique, highlighting every elegant curve of her figure.
    â€œIt’s lovely. You’re lovely,” Iris choked, swiping at a stray tear.
    Millie nodded, dabbing her own eyes.
    Miss Patty extended a box of tissues to the women. “I figured these would be in order.”
    Iris grabbed a wad, wondering if Miss Patty swept through her shop with a tissue box in hand every