Page 36 of A Nantucket Wedding

“Well, she said the veins aren’t so bad now, but by the date of our wedding, they’ll look like worms crawling up her legs—that’s Poppy’s image, not mine. So you can see why she would want a floor-length gown.”

Alison sat very quietly. Thoughts crowded her mind, many of them not very complimentary. “I guess I assumed that you would talk with Ethan and Poppy about what to wear, since they’re your attendants.”

“Of course. But Ethan and I are wearing tuxes. I can’t ask my daughter to wear a tux.”

“Of course not. But I’ve looked at wedding magazines. I’m sure I’ve seen wedding photos with the attendants wearing various lengths of dresses. Why don’t I talk to the consultant in New York. Then I’ll call Poppy, or maybe we can Skype and talk it out.”

David went silent. After a minute, he said, “I hope, and I know you hope, that our children can become, if not friends, at least friendly.”

“Good grief, David, of course I do. I thought our families got along really well this weekend.”

“So changing the gowns to long isn’t a deal-breaker then.”

“Adeal-breaker? Do you mean you’ll call off the wedding if I don’t accede to your daughter’s wishes about what I should wear to my wedding?” Alison couldn’t prevent an emotional quiver from lacing her voice.

“No, no, of course not. I misspoke. I shouldn’t have said deal-breaker. I just meant…well, Poppy suggested we put our wedding off until after her baby is born. If I’d known she was pregnant, I would have incorporated her due date into our larger schedule. It’s not as if you and I are in a hurry, right?”

“True. But we have booked the hotel and sent out Save the Date cards. In September the weather will be perfect for our wedding and for guests coming to and going from the island. Your assistant has done a lot of work already, and we need to considerallthe family. I’m sure we’ll be able to find a solution to the gown problem.”

“Right.” David nodded. “You’re right.”

“And if we wait until after Poppy has her baby…well, the Wauwinet closes in the winter. We’re looking at next spring.”

“You’ve got a point,” David admitted, and he didn’t look happy when he said it.

“I’m exhausted,” Alison said.And I’d like to punch a hole in the wall,she thought, but smothered her anger. “Let’s talk to the girls this week. We’ll get it settled.”

“Sure.” David turned off his bedside lamp and slid down onto his pillow.

Alison did the same. And she was the one to lean over and kiss David good night. And then they both turned on their sides, lying back-to-back, staring at the dark.

From: Alison

To: Jane and Felicity

Subject: Wedding frocks

David said Poppy’s worried about wearing a knee-length dress at our wedding because she has terrible varicose veins from her pregnancy. Says that by September, the veins will look like worms crawling up her legs. She would like to wear a long gown and she wants us all to wear long gowns so she isn’t the odd man (woman) out.

Advice? We all want this to be a happy family event.

Love, Mom

From: Felicity

To: Jane and Mom

Subject: Worms

I know how she feels. I don’t get varicose veins, but toward the end of my pregnancies, my hair got thin and oily and I got blotches on my face that went away after the baby was born. Does she get blotches on her face?

I’m thinking about possible alternatives to short/long gowns.

xo Felicity

From: Jane

To: Mom and Felicity

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