Free Letters and Lace (The Ronan's Harbor Series) by M. Kate Quinn Page B

it when they’d called. Double damn Benny for starting this mess and agreeing with their advice, and worse, for looking pretty darned good in faded Levi’s.
    Sarah and Gigi sat at the large island in The Cornelia’s kitchen, photographs of flower arrangements fanned out in front of them. Hannah burst into the room, hands outstretched, her face a mask of distress.
    “Pumpkin, don’t scrunch your forehead you’ll get premature wrinkles,” Gigi said.
    “Daddy wants Tina to be my flower girl!” She plopped herself onto a counter stool, groaning as if her foot was caught in the jaws of a bear trap. “Seriously.”
    Sarah shared a quick glance with Gigi. “Hannah, let me pour you some tea.”
    “I don’t want tea, Mother.” She was like a grouchy twelve-year-old, the stubborn child that still managed to surface from time to time.
    Sarah made her tea anyway.
    “Why should I have to have Tina in my wedding? She’s only three. You know what a pain that’s going to be?”
    “It’s your wedding, honey bun,” Gigi soothed. “If you don’t want a toddler in your wedding party, that’s up to you. Besides she’s so young. Is this kid even housebroken yet?”
    “Um, Gigi, dear, that would be potty-trained, not housebroken.” Sarah was now convinced that she might have two cranky adolescents on her hands. “Tina’s not a beagle.”
    “I know, but still…” Hannah piped in. “You haven’t had to spend any time with her. She’s a spoiled brat. Daddy and Piper let her get away with everything. It’s ridiculous.”
    “Here, drink this.” Sarah placed the mug of tea in front of Hannah, ignoring the theatrics.
    “Maybe you can discuss this with your father. You know, tell him your concerns.”
    “Nope.” She sipped her tea. “He won’t listen. Whatever Piper and Tina want is gold. I’m doomed.”
    Sarah hated that Hannah felt like the outsider when it came to Gary and his new family. It shouldn’t be like that. Hannah should have equal say in matters that concerned her.
    But the last thing Sarah could do was to tell her daughter to put her foot down and deny the request. Experience told her it would start an argument that would only escalate and might never end.
    Besides, she needed Gary to stay the hell out of her way—especially now that there was this little matter of someone trying to sabotage the wedding event. No. She’d keep her opinion out of it.
    “Hannah, maybe you can appeal to Piper. At least ask her to be extra watchful of Tina that day.”
    “Or, maybe get the kid a leash.” Gigi closed her mouth abruptly when Sarah shot her a narrowed glare.
    “Okay, not a leash, per se,” Gigi said. “But, you know they have those things that look like a leash. You see kids tugging at the end of them in the mall. You could get a satin one, maybe.”
    “Hannah, I suggest you talk with Piper.” Sarah said. “She’ll make sure Tina behaves.”
    “Oh, like that’ll happen. The kid’s a prima donna, Mom.”
    She placed her elbows on the table and leaned forward, fixing her eyes onto Sarah. “I want my wedding day to be perfect. I mean, my career’s nowhere. At least I can have a beautiful, flawless wedding day. Is that so much to ask? Can you understand that, Mom?”
    Sarah’s heart skipped with a thud. Yes, she understood. And, she’d make sure that’s just what Hannah got.
    “Let’s go over the centerpiece ideas.” Gigi rearranged the fanned photos on the table top. “Then I’ve got to get back to the shop.”
    Sarah could tell her daughter’s heart wasn’t in the effort. Hannah sat slumped over the pictures while Gigi and Sarah gushed over them. It was maddening. Sarah had the errant thought that if this little bride was going to behave like a teenager, maybe she’d send her to her room like the good old days.
    They decided on low, square vases brimming with hydrangea blossoms—arrangements that promised to add just the right touch to the splendid day.
    Sarah walked Gigi to the