Page 124 of The Wedding Favor

“Oh, honey, it’s okay. We won’t hold that against the kid.” Ali put her arms around Mae. “I’ll visit when they baby comes. I know your mom and Iris will.”

“Chris doesn’t even know yet,” she said, her voice muffled. “I was going to tell him when he came back to help with the move.”

“I won’t tell a soul,” Ali said, her voice rough with emotion. “I’m sorry for the things I said. I don’t know what I’m going to do when you leave. I think it’s been getting to me and I guess I haven’t been handling it well.”

“Okay, then, maybe I should just duck out and let you two talk through this,” I said slowly.

“Wait, Iris.” Mae stood. “I’m sorry. I’ll try to be less… me.”

“No, don’t do that. I just want you to let me be more… me.” I met her gaze. “That means I’m going to make some decisions you aren’t going to like.”

“Right.” She sniffled. “Can I still give you my opinion?”

“Not unless I ask.”

She blew out a breath. “I’ll probably screw up and tell you anyway.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

“Come give me a hug.”

“You look weird crying,” I said as I let her pull me in, remembering all the times when I was little and she was the one who held me when I fell, wiped away my tears, or rubbed my back when I was sick. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she whispered in my ear.

FIFTY-ONE

“The middle of the story was always my favorite.”

—excerpt from the unpublished memoir,

Darling, I Must Say by Gloria Hayes

Two days before the pageant, I arrived at Shady Cove and took the elevator up to the third floor to visit Gloria.

I didn’t like this floor. Everything about it felt like a hospital: the smell, the endless beeping of monitors, the looks of quiet grief that came with waiting for someone you loved to get better or pass on. Gloria didn’t belong in a place like this. But she was here, nonetheless. I approached her door and heard voices. I knocked softly and was surprised to see that it was Abe who answered.

“Oh, what are you doing here?” I asked.

“I thought it would be good for Hallie to come and see Gloria…” One last time.

I drew in a sharp breath. “How’s she doing?”

“She is doing just fine,” Gloria said. “Get over here and stop talking about me as if I’m already dead.”

“Gloria.” I adjusted her blanket and noted how much thinner and gaunter she seemed, since even yesterday. “What’s going on?”

She rolled her eyes. “Really, darling. We all know what’s happening here.”

“Does that mean you’re going to die?” Hallie asked, her voice a whisper.

I pulled in a breath sharply. Abe moved next to me, his shoulder brushing mine. His hand found mine and our fingers tangled.

“Yes,” Gloria said casually like someone had asked her if the sky was blue. “I’ve lived a very long life. Time to make room for you young ones to take my place.”

“I don’t want you to go,” Hallie said.

“I’m afraid I can’t change that. But I hope you’ll remember me every now and then. In fact”—she pointed at a green box on the table—“that box is for you. Go on and get it.”