Page 15 of The Wedding Gift
“Come on out and talk to me in the sitting room.” The presents could wait five minutes if Mindy needed some help.
The door squeaked when Mindy threw it open. “Are you sure? You’re the guest of honor today. I thought I was going to get married, but I was a fool.”
“I’m sure. Just wait for me.” Darla rushed through washing her hands and hurried out into the sitting room.
Mindy looked absolutely miserable when she glanced upfrom the sofa. “I made my daddy cry. I’ve never in my whole life seen tears roll down his cheeks.”
Darla sat down beside her. “I heard about Andy Miller wanting you to go to California with him.”
Mindy pulled a tissue from the box on the end table beside her and dabbed at her eyes. “I had my bags packed and was going to leave with him yesterday. He told me he was going to marry me on the way, and that he would make me a movie star.”
“And then Bobby found out?” Darla asked.
Mindy nodded. “I thought he’d yell at me or threaten Andy, but he took me into the living room, opened up Mama’s laptop, and…” She hid her face.
“He showed you exactly what kind of star Andy was going to make you, didn’t he?” Darla handed her another tissue and patted her on the shoulder. “I was fooled by his charm when we were in high school. He can lay it on thick.”
“My daddy made me watch that horrible thing for five whole minutes. The entire time he just stood there and cried. Then he said that he couldn’t bear to think of his baby girl doing something like that,” she said between sobs. “How could I have been so stupid?”
“Don’t feel like that. Instead, just be grateful that you found out what kind of guy he was before you left townwith him,” Darla told her. “Now dry your eyes and freshen up your makeup and come on out to the party. Put this all behind you and move on with a wonderful life.”
“Is that what you did when he ran out on you?” Mindy asked.
“Pretty much,” Darla answered. “After that first month anyway. In circumstances like this, Granny says that I can have fifteen minutes to throw a hissy fit, and then I have to put on my big-girl underbritches and get on with my life. You’ve had your fifteen minutes, Mindy.”
The young lady tucked her long black hair behind her ears and forced a smile. “Thank you. Maybe someday I’ll find a good man like your Will Jackson.”
“I hope so.” Darla stood up and lowered her voice. “And if I locate another one like him, I’ll kick him over your way.”
Mindy giggled. “If I had a big sister, I’d want her to be just like you.”
“Hey, you’ve got six little sisters, including one in my class named Macy who adores you, so you be the smart, responsible big sister for her.” Darla eased out the door.
Sarah and Marilyn were on either side of Will when she made it back to the fellowship hall. Sarah motioned toward the chairs, and she and Marilyn headed that way. Will came over to Darla and draped an arm around her shoulders.
“Are you all right?” he asked. “You were in there a long time.”
“Mindy Tisdale needed some help,” she whispered.
Will walked with her over to the two empty chairs and waited for her to sit down before he did. “I heard that Andy slunk out of town after Bobby had a talk with him yesterday. Mindy dodged a bullet from what I hear about that guy. I can’t imagineyouever dating someone like him.”
“I was young and stupid,” Darla said.
“You’re going to be writing thank-you cards for weeks,” Sarah told them when she handed Darla the first gift. “This is even bigger than my shower. Marilyn and I will be glad to help you with them this week in our downtime.”
“What downtime?” Marilyn asked. “Mama’s got a schedule for us every single day starting after church tomorrow. You’re the lucky couple that gets to go to your jobs all week. We’re going to be making centerpieces and decorating.”
“I thought the Wildflower folks were taking care of the decorations,” Darla said.
“They are, but Mama has some ideas for little special things, like putting up small pictures of our grandparents and folks who aren’t with us anymore on a memory table. Like Mama’s folks and Aunt Lucy, and Granny’s sister, Great-Aunt Linda,” Sarah explained.
“It’s the fancy centerpieces that are going to take so much time,” Gloria said. “But those sweet folks at the Wildflower venue don’t have another event this week, so they said we could work out there. That will give us so much more space than trying to do them in the house.” Gloria smiled as she brought a gift from the table and handed it to Will.
“This is bigger than Christmas,” Will said.
“Yes, it is,” Darla said, glancing over at her mother. “And as soon as school is over every day, I’ll be out there to help y’all. And if you don’t need me for anything else, Will and I can work on the thank-you cards.” She ripped the paper from a crystal ice bucket. “Oh, look, Will! We don’t have to use the bathroom trash can to chill the wine in anymore.”
Laughter filled the fellowship hall, and several women began talking about what they used for an ice bucket.