was.”
“I’m sorry, Chuck. All this probably brings back sad times for you, too.”
“It does, but don’t worry about me. What did the attorney say?” He sounded rushed. “You’re going to sell the greenhouses and the house, right?”
Joy was about to respond when she heard his office phone ringing. “You’re still at the office?”
“Yeah. Dad and I are working late. Listen, I gotta take this. I’ll call you tomorrow. Can’t wait till you get back and we can have Thanksgiving together. Love ya.”
Thinking back to this afternoon and the heat of Adam’s anger, she realized she might be doing Chuck an injustice. Sure, he wasn’t all that romantic, but he was there for her. He’d called to check on her. He would call tomorrow after the funeral. She could count on him.
She picked up the peanut butter jar and noticed it was organic, low sugar. She found a knife and sat at the table to eat crackers and peanut butter. It wasn’t cracked crab or medallions of beef like she’d have with Chuck. The clock ticked loudly. She got up and went to the thirty-year-old side-by-side harvest-gold refrigerator and found a carton of milk.
“Organic.”
She glanced at the table, at the chair where her grandfather always sat. She half expected to hear him say, “I love you, pumpkin. Don’t ever forget it.”
JOY GUESSED THAT as far as funerals went, her grandfather’s was well attended. Father Michael’s eulogy revealed his deep friendship with her grandfather. Joy had written a short piece, but when she got to the pulpit to read it, she spoke from her heart instead, admitting her fault in not returning to Indian Lake to see Frank, remembering how their Thanksgivings in New York were her happiest moments. It was difficult not to tear up, not to lose her words in her chaos of emotions, but she made it through and thanked everyone for being present for Frank. As she walked back to the front pew, she saw many compassionate, familiar faces. Faces she’d forgotten.
Afterward, on her behalf, Father Michael had invited everyone to Frank’s house for a luncheon.
Now they all stood three deep, around the dining room table, admiring the bounty. Joy had covered the table with her mother’s Irish linen cloth. Olivia and Julia Melton had set up the buffet while Joy and the rest of her friends had been at Saint Mark’s. Huge crystal bowls held seafood salad, chicken salad with red grapes and walnuts, a pasta salad and a green salad. A large hammered pewter tray held two large planks of grilled salmon topped with capers and lemon slices. A honey-baked spiral ham and candied yams filled the end of the table. On the sideboard were plates, napkins and silverware.
A second, round table, skirted in white linen, was set up with hot and cold drinks.
Sarah hugged Joy before introducing her husband.
Joy shook his hand. “I’m very pleased to meet you, Luke. Sarah was such a good friend to me in high school.”
“Then you two should pick up where you left off,” he said, putting his arm around Sarah and kissing her cheek. “Best is the word to describe her.”
Joy watched as Sarah smiled up at Luke. He touched her cheek and kissed her lips. They couldn’t take their eyes off each other.
Joy got the distinct feeling she was intruding, but as she moved to the drink table for iced tea, she saw Maddie Strong, who had been another close friend in high school. “Maddie? How wonderful to see you!”
Maddie hugged Joy. “I’m sorry it’s under these circumstances, but I’ve missed you, Joy,” she said, not letting go of Joy’s hand. “So much has happened since you left, but you look like not a day has passed.”
Just then, Dr. Nate Barzonni walked up and slipped his arm around Maddie. “Joy, it’s good to see you,” he said, smiling. “I’m sorry it took this…to bring you back. I have to say, New York looks like it’s working for you.”
“She looks fabulous,” Maddie agreed.
“So do you,” Nate whispered in Maddie’s ear, but it was loud enough for Joy to hear.
“The lovebirds are at it again,” Gabe Barzonni said as he walked up with his wife, Liz, and their three-and-a-half-year-old son, Zeke.
“Look who’s talking.” Maddie chuckled. “You said you were bringing Joy some wine. Where is it? I brought cupcakes for everyone.”
Gabe grinned mischievously and shot his thumb over his shoulder. “It’s in the kitchen. Olivia is uncorking a couple bottles.”
Joy glanced from Nate to Gabe. “So, Gabe, you’re not running the family farm anymore?”
“Nope. I gave it up when I fell hopelessly in love.” He kissed Liz soundly on the mouth.
Liz shook her head and placed her hand on his broad chest. “The truth is, Gabe always wanted to be a vintner. He fell for me and my grapes.”
“Not a chance,” Nate said, butting in. “That’d be like me saying Maddie plied me with cupcakes.”
“Hey!” Maddie retorted. “I did.”
Nate put both his arms around her. “Did not.”
“Did, too.” Maddie laughed and kissed Nate.
Joy excused herself and continued around the table, receiving condolences from Nate and Gabe’s mother, Gina Barzonni. Joy had always liked her when she was in high school. Joy was stunned to discover that Gina had recently married Liz’s grandfather, Sam Crenshaw. She shook hands with Rafe Barzonni, congratulating him on his marriage to Olivia Melton. “She’s amazing, Rafe. She put all this together in one day.”
“And wait till she shows you the photographs. She took photos of your table and the flowers. With your permission, maybe—and she’d do this as a friend. She thinks the world of you, by the way. If you’d want some candid shots of the guests, she’d snap a few. Nothing intrusive. Memories, you know? It’s up to you.”
“Really?”
“She’s gone pro. And been published in a few magazines. I’m really proud of her,” he said, looking from Joy into the kitchen, where pretty Olivia was walking out with a silver tray filled with Maddie’s delicious cupcakes.
“I owe her a great deal for all her help.”
“She was happy to do it for her friend, Joy.”
“Yes, Grandpa was an amazing man.”
He leaned a bit closer and said, “I meant you.”
“Oh.”
As Rafe walked over to his wife, Mrs. Beabots walked in with Adam, who was holding the hand of a little boy.
Mrs. Beabots walked straight up to Joy and hugged her tightly. “Joy, I’m so happy to see you. Though losing Frank is hard for all of us.”
“He was a good friend to you.
