Page 81 of A Nantucket Wedding

“When I die,” David finished for her. “That’s true. But still, you and your family will be well provided for. As for English Garden Creams, you will be the engineer of its future success or failure.”

“If,” Poppy said, “you ever allow me to take the reins for the company.”

“Ah. A new topic of conversation.”

At that moment, the waiter appeared, setting their plates down in front of them, smoothly introducing each dish. For Alison, Bay of Fundy salmon. For Poppy, a spring green omelet with vegetables and goat cheese. For David, steak frites.

David raised his wine glass. “Bon appétit.”

Poppy ignored her food. “Dad, you said when you got married, you’d turn the company over to me. To my management. I have some really good ideas for change that I’d like to implement, and I don’t want to have to spend time explaining them to you or arguing about them. You’re either the CEO or I am.”

David cut a bite of steak and took a moment to enjoy it. “Excellent,” he announced. “Poppy, Alison, have some frites. I won’t be able to eat them all.”

“You’re stalling,” Poppy said.

David put down his knife and fork. “My darling and beloved daughter, do you really think it’s wise to take over the operation of our company by yourself? Now? Heather has informed me that you’ve missed a tax deadline, and botched a few contracts, and unfortunately lost an account.”

“Oh,Heather!” Poppy huffed. “And it wasn’t an important account.”

“All our accounts are important. The point is, Poppy, I’m still here, still capable, and still willing to continue to head our company while you take the time to enjoy your baby. And we can gradually make the transition from me to you with less stress on both of us. We can work together.”

With much of the fight gone from her voice, Poppy grumbled, “Yousaidyou wanted to step down.”

“I did. I know. And I meant it. But as you know, Alison doesn’t mind waiting a year or so for our honeymoon travels, and that year will give you and me time to make this very significant adjustment to our lives. Not to mention to the company.”

Poppy bit her lip. For just a flash of a moment, Alison thought Poppy might put her thumb in her mouth. She looked like a little girl who’d been caught making a few minor mistakes, and Alison could only imagine how Poppy’s chagrin was wringing David’s heart.How in the world could an important company be run by a family?Alison wondered.

The same way a family was run, she decided, by a world of schedules and teamwork, laughter and anger, misunderstandings and kindnesses, by hard work and hurt feelings and forgiveness, all held together by love.

“I could do that,” Poppy at last conceded. “I’d like to do that, really. Itishard with a new baby.”

“So, we’ll give ourselves a year?”

“Agreed.” Poppy extended her hand and David shook it.

For a while they all paid attention to their food, which was delicious. The wine was soothing. Alison felt the atmosphere around their table changing, as if storm clouds were rolling away, as if the sun was shining again.

“But,” Poppy said.

Alison wanted to roll her eyes, but kept staring down at her plate.

“I still don’t think it’s right for Heather to be doing the wedding arrangements.”

“That’s not up for negotiation,” David said calmly. “It’s underway. It’s done.”

“Fine.”Poppy sulked for one last time, and then heartily dug into her omelet.

Throughout lunch, Alison’s phone had been vibrating almost constantly.

“I’m got to check my phone,” she told David and Poppy, and took up her purse and went down the hall and into the ladies’ room.

Jane had called and left messages several times. Alison clicked on the most recent message.

Jane sounded rattled; she was talking fast. “Mom? Mom, I’ve been trying to reach you. I’m about to board a British Airways flight to Manchester and then I’ll take a train to Wales. A mountain rescue group has called to tell me Scott’s missing. They think he might have fallen. Listen, I talked to Felicity, she knows everything I know. I’ll phone you both when I have anything new to report. Love you.”

Alison’s heart jumped in her chest.No,she thought. Not Scott. He was reserved and quiet, but Alison thought Jane and Scott had a satisfying marriage. Adrenaline kicked into her bloodstream. Fight or flight. But what could she do? Nothing. She couldn’t dismiss this problem and pretend everything would be fine, and she could do nothing to solve the problem, she couldn’t fly over to Wales and search an entire mountain.

She did the only thing she could do. She closed her eyes and bowed her head and prayed.

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