Page 53 of Cut The Cake

“Thank you. I’m sure their flight will land soon.” Why hadn’t Kay called to let her know about the delay?

On the other end of the line, the receptionist cleared her throat. “I’m sorry, but we’ll have to add a surcharge for the extra time.”

“Of course.” She didn’t even flinch. Whatever the cost, her cousin would cover it. “I’ll make some phone calls. Just don’t let the drivers leave. It’s important that my party makes it here today.”

“Will do. Is there anything else I can help you with?”

There wasn’t, and Jenny ended the call. She considered her next move on another trek around the sidewalk. Frequent checks of the news and social media assured her there’d been no plane crash. With that worry put to bed, she punched in the number for Kay’s home in Beverly Hills. She froze when someone answered on the second ring.

“Karter residence.”

“Aunt Maggie?” What was her aunt doing in California? Why wasn’t she on the plane? Or better yet, getting settled into her suite in the Captain’s Cottage? Unease churned in Jenny’s stomach. She braced for answers she’d probably hate. “What happened? Why aren’t you here?”

“I guess you haven’t spoken with Karolyn?” Aunt Maggie made a dismissive noise. “That girl. She never changes. Has to do everything at the last minute. You, you’re the opposite. Everything planned out in advance. Usually with a backup in case something goes wrong. How you two both grew up together and turned out so differently, I’ll never know.”

“Both approaches have their pluses and minuses.” Hers tied her to a rigid schedule, though lately, she’d discovered the world wouldn’t end if she ignored her To Do list long enough to go for a walk in the park. Out of habit, she defended her cousin. “Kay has her good points. She has more talent in her little finger than most people have in their entire bodies.”

“True enough. She put those skills to good work, and look where it’s gotten her. She’s done quite well for herself.”

That was an understatement if she’d ever heard one. But it didn’t explain why she and Karolyn weren’t headed to Dress For A Day for her cousin’s final fitting. “Aunt Maggie, your flight?”

Instead of answering, her aunt continued to ramble. “You may not be an actress, but I always thought you’d go places, do things with your life. I guess you’re content working for Kay, though?”

The back-handed compliment landed like a lead weight in Jenny’s stomach. She pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it. Had her aunt really meant to say she’d failed to live up to her potential? She swallowed. “I thought you wanted me to work for Kay, Aunt Maggie. You asked me to help her out right after graduation.”

“I didn’t mean forever, dear.”

Well, no, but … Tears stung her eyes. “I owe you and Kay so much for all you’ve done for me. Helping out was my way of paying back.”

“Sweetheart. You don’t owe me, or Kay, a thing. You never have. When your parents died, I wanted you to come and live with me. It was like …”

Jenny heard the strain in her aunt’s voice and gripped the phone tighter.

“It was like having a little bit of my sister with me again.”

Oh!

Jenny stared hard at the horizon. All those years ago, a freak train wreck had changed her life forever, but she’d never considered how much her aunt had lost that night. “I—I don’t know what to say.”

Aunt Maggie’s voice firmed. “One of these days, you’re going to strike out on your own. When you do, I’ll be one of the first to cheer you on.”

“I appreciate that, Aunt Maggie. Maybe more than you know.” A thready sigh shuddered through her. She’d need time to absorb everything she’d learned from her aunt. Sometime this weekend, she’d make an opportunity for the two of them to sit down and have a longer chat. Right now, though, a series of appointments and events stretched across the next twenty-four hours like stepping stones across a pond. Only, Kay was in serious danger of missing the first step that would culminate in her walking into the grand ballroom of the Captain’s Cottage tomorrow and exiting a short while later as Mrs. Chad Grant.

“So where is my talented, disorganized cousin?” Hoping Kay’s plane was even now circling the airport, Jenny crossed her fingers.

“Hang on. I’ll get her.”

She’s still in California!

The realization struck another blow to her stomach. She doubled over, her carefully built schedule imploding like a building on the set of a disaster flick. At the very least, the fitting and appointments at Perfectly Flawless were out. Would the bridal party even arrive in time for the rehearsal dinner? She checked her watch. If Karolyn left for the airport within the hour, they could still run through the ceremony before their dinner reservations.

“Oh, Jenny. I’m so glad you called.” Talking a mile a minute, Kay blurted, “Ever since the news of our engagement got out, reporters and photographers have camped out on the street outside the gates. It’s like a zoo here, only I’m the one on display! Can you make them go away?”

She could no more control the paparazzi than guess what stunt her cousin would pull next. Tired of Karolyn’s shenanigans, she spoke through clenched teeth. “I’m in Heart’s Landing. Where you sent me to plan your wedding. Which, in case you’ve forgotten, is happening to-mor-row. Only, I’m short a wedding party. Why are you still in L.A. when you’re supposed to be here?”

“Right. About that.” As if her cousin had clamped a hand over the receiver, the voice in Jenny’s ear grew distant and muffled. She tapped her foot until, at last, Kay picked up the conversation where she’d left off. “Chad and I decided we’d fly in tomorrow with the rest of our guests.”

“Wait! What? No, Kay.” Hating the whiny sound of her own voice, Jenny pulled the phone from her ear and counted to ten. Staring up at the sky, she decided it was probably a good thing she wasn’t close enough to grab her cousin by the neck. As it was, she could barely speak. “The rehearsal is this evening. The rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. And—”

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