CHAPTER 26

At nine o’clock on the morning of her wedding, the bride-to-be was putting the finishing touches on a ginger cookie cut in the shape of a star. Avery was amazed that Lexie had not only gorgeously decorated close to fifty cookies without stopping, painstakingly piping on sugared icing by hand, but that she’d been utterly calm while doing so. Wearing jeans, a peasant blouse, and a cute little apron, Lexie carefully and systematically moved from tray to tray, holding her piping bag just so. She looked every inch the baking expert she was.

The dining room at the LMK had been cleared for the wedding that evening, and before the folding chairs were moved in for the ceremony, Buster had moved two long utility tables into the room so that everyone would have plenty of space to decorate their cookies. Twenty women were clustered around the tables, happily using icing, sprinkles, and silver dragées to decorate the hundreds of cut-out cookies that Lexie and her staff had baked the night before. The place smelled heavenly of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, and everyone’s cookies looked so beautiful. Everyone’s except for hers.

Glancing down at her pathetic attempts at decorating, Avery sighed. The dozen cookies she’d decorated so far were all looking a little messy. At least she’d managed not to get any of the sticky icing on her clothes. Not that she had on anything fancy—just jeans and a slim sweater—but at least she wouldn’t have to wear the evidence of her failure. Even Emma had a better eye than she did. Standing next to her at the table, her sister had made an entire plate of Christmas trees, complete with tiny dragée ornaments and white flocking.

“Want some help?” Lexie asked, coming up beside Avery.

“Please.” She needed all the help she could get. The small woman took the piping bag from her hands and adjusted it before squeezing out a test dollop onto the paper-covered table. “You’re amazing. I don’t know how you can do all of this right before your wedding. And you’re so relaxed! Aren’t most brides completely overwhelmed with wedding stuff on the big day?”

Lexie glanced around before bending down to pipe some icing onto one of Avery’s cookies, transforming it from a sugary mess into a pretty pattern. “Don’t tell anyone,” she said in a whisper, “but I am a little nervous. Not about marrying Seb, but about everyone watching. Baking helps me to calm down. Besides, everyone knows that I hold my cookie-decorating party the weekend before Christmas. There’s no way I was going to cancel it and ruin everyone’s fun. Plus, the fact that we’re going to use some of these as wedding favors makes the work all the sweeter.” She looked up and gave a little wave to her mom, an older woman whom she strongly resembled.

Avery felt a little pang in her chest as she thought about her own mom. Christmas had always been such a special season for them all. She, Emma, and their mom would always make a huge batch of cookies, just like this. “Your mom seems really happy.”

Lexie grinned and sprinkled some edible sparkly dust onto the icing. “Yes. The moment she and my dad met Seb, I knew they’d get along.”

“Is this the first time they’ve actually met?” Avery asked, trying to wrap her mind around marrying someone Kate and Emma didn’t know.

“In person, yes, but Seb called to ask their permission to marry me, so they had a chance to talk on the telephone before this.”

“That’s really nice.”

“My dad’s pretty traditional, so I think he appreciated the call.”

“I’m sure he did. So what are you wearing tonight?” Avery asked. How would Lexie’s artsy style translate into a wedding gown?

Lexie gave her a secret smile. “A surprise.”

“I’m sure it’ll be fabulous. And how’s business going?”

“LMK Catering? Great. We have so many events booked, Seb and I have decided to take our honeymoon in February. Planning a wedding on short notice is one thing, but planning a honeymoon on the same short notice? Forget about it.”

“Oh, you made my cookies look so pretty!” Avery exclaimed, noticing that Lexie had fixed all twelve of them.

Blushing modestly, Lexie handed the piping bag back to Avery. “You did the tough stuff. I just embellished.”

“Hardly. They look so much better. At least this way I feel like I’ve contributed a little something to the wedding. And to Kate. She asked me to take a few cookies back to her.”

“I’m sorry your aunt couldn’t make the party, but I’m glad she’ll be coming tonight. That is, if she’s well enough.”

“She’s so determined to make it to your wedding, I don’t think wild horses could stop her. We’re going to let Julie Kensington be the final judge.”

“Smart to make it a doctor’s decision, rather than yours and Emma’s.”

“We thought so.”

At that moment, the piping bag that Cameron Stahl was using started oozing icing out the back end and all over the table. The beautiful, dark-haired woman looked horrified as the pool of sticky icing got larger. “Oh, gotta help Cam,” Lexie said, rushing off to her friend’s side.

What a dynamo! Avery wished she had half as much energy. She decorated another half-dozen cookies before deciding to call it a morning. Handing off her piping bag to Babs, she excused herself to the bathroom, where she washed her hands and patted her hair back. It had been a smart move to wear her hair up in a twist; otherwise she’d have gotten icing in the long strands for sure.

It was warm inside the restaurant, and Avery was feeling a little bit overwhelmed by all the activity. She stepped into the kitchen to take a breather, and just as she was debating whether to return to the cookie-decorating area or to step outside for some fresh air, Cameron came in, holding her arms out in front of her.

“Avery, could you please help me?” she asked. “My hands are too sticky to even open the bathroom door.”

“Sure,” said Avery, walking back to the bathroom and opening the door for her. “Here you go.”

“Oh, thanks,” she said, slipping into the room and flicking on the faucet.

“I have a favor to ask you,” Avery said when Cameron emerged. “Cole asked me to show you this old key I found. He said you might know something about it.” She’d brought it along today with the intention of showing it to Cameron. She took it out of her pocket and held it out.

“May I?” Cameron asked.

“Yes, please.”

Cameron took the key and turned it over in her hand. “This looks extremely similar to the one Lexie has.”

“Right. Cole told me she found it in her root cellar.”

Cameron looked up sharply. “Yes,” she said tersely.

“What did Cole not tell me?” Avery asked, realizing from Cameron’s tone of voice that she’d stepped into a minefield.

The elegant woman glanced around to confirm no one else could hear them. “I don’t want to upset Lexie,” Cameron whispered, a crease between her brows. “She was attacked in the restaurant’s cellar by her stalker ex-boyfriend. She found the key trying to get away from him.”

Avery gave a horrified gasp.

“She’s okay,” Cameron said quickly. “But it’s awful to think about.” She turned the key over again. “May I ask where you got this one?”

“I found it in the Inn’s cellar, wedged into one of the old dirt walls.”

“Hm. Curious. If you don’t mind parting with it for a few days, I can show it to my uncle in Boston. He’s a well-known antiquities dealer and he looked at Lexie’s for me, so he can probably confirm whether they’re part of a set.” Cameron was back to her usual, professional self.

“Sure. Please do that,” Avery said.

“Great,” she said, pocketing it. “I’m going back to sample my handiwork. Want to join me?”

“In a minute.”

“Okay. See you back in there.”

Cameron left and Avery took a few more moments to compose herself, breathing in deeply. She was glad she’d come to the decorating party—despite her lack of artistic skills, it had been a lot of fun. Plus, she really felt like she was becoming a part of the Star Harbor community. People who had once been passing acquaintances were becoming friends. Julie and Cameron had invited her to visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston after New Year’s, which she’d been keen to see for a long time. And Babs had all but insisted that she join in the weekly rummy game at her house. Between that and rehearsal with the chamber music group, her social calendar was going to be pretty full, even after the holidays. That is, if she decided to stay on after Kate got better.

More than a month had slipped by since she’d returned to Star Harbor and she hadn’t made a decision about her future. Maybe she should take a cue from the women in town. Lexie pursued her dreams with one eye toward the future and one eye on the present. She didn’t let anything or anyone stop her from doing what she wanted, including Sebastian. It was her wedding day, for Lord’s sake, and she was decorating cookies for no better reason than because it was what she wanted to do. And powerhouse Cameron had two boutiques under her belt and a host of social obligations to boot. Capable Julie had opened her own medical practice this year and already had a full roster of clients. Even Emma was doing something amazing—changing the way Star Harbor viewed its library with all the new programming she’d brought to the table.

Avery leaned against a wall and sighed.

She didn’t miss Boston, but she did miss having her own life. Making sure Kate’s health was on track was important, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy her in the long run. Still, she knew she needed to be in Star Harbor, for now and for the indefinite future. Spending so much time with Kate and Emma had made her realize that one of her top priorities was—and always would be—her family.

There was no real reason why she couldn’t be like her friends, having both her personal and professional life in Star Harbor.

Determined, Avery pulled out her phone to call the Falmouth rehabilitation center that Julie Kensington had told her about. Using the web browser to find the number for Falmouth Family and Children Services, she dialed it.

“Hi, this is Avery Newbridge. Could I please speak with Theresa Vasquez?”

“She’s not here right now, but she’ll be back on Monday. May I take a message or transfer you to her voicemail?” a young woman said.

Of course she wasn’t working. It was Saturday, after all. “Ah, voicemail would be great, thanks.” Avery waited a moment until the prerecorded message came on. When the beep sounded, she spoke as clearly as possible. “Ms. Vasquez, this is Avery Newbridge. I was referred to you by Doctor Julia Kensington. I’m calling about the open social worker position, and I’d love to schedule a time to speak with you. My availability this week is good, so please give me a call at (617) 555-9371. Thank you very much, and I look forward to talking with you soon.”

She’d done it. Letting out a deep breath, she felt calmer than she had since leaving Boston. Doing something—anything—to take charge of her life was good for her. Now if only she could take charge of her emotions as easily.

“There,” Theo said as he straightened Sebastian’s tie. “Perfect.” His twin was sharply dressed and he looked unbelievably happy, which to Theo was the most perfect thing of all.

“Thanks, bro,” Seb responded, turning to check himself out in the full-length mirror on the door to the bathroom. “And thanks again for letting us use your room. Lexie didn’t want me to see her dress before the wedding.”

“No problem.” All of the Grayson brothers were getting ready in the room. Val was slipping on his jacket near the bed, and in the bathroom, Cole was combing his hair, humming under his breath.

Val finished adjusting his jacket and walked over to Sebastian. “Seb, I have something for you.”

“What is it, man?” Seb asked.

“Here.” Val removed a box from his pocket and opened it up. “Mom’s wedding ring. You’re the first of us to get married, and I know she would have wanted you to have it. I should have given it to you earlier, but I didn’t have the time.”

For a second, Seb looked stunned. He took a moment to collect himself before speaking. “I—I can’t take it.”

“You can and you will,” Val said firmly.

Seb shook his head. “No. I got Lexie a ring of my own. This one is yours. It’s always been yours.”

“He’s right, Val,” Theo said softly. “It belongs to you.” Of all the brothers, Val was the one who’d kept their mom afloat after their father’s death. He’d been her rock, and theirs, too.

Cole piped in from the bathroom. “Agreed.”

Val opened his mouth and shut it again, realizing he was outvoted. Then he closed the box and slipped it back into his pocket. “I’ll just hold onto it, then.”

“Do that,” Seb said. “For when you find the right woman.”

A faraway look passed over Val’s face for a moment, but it disappeared just as suddenly. In a flash, it was gone. Was Val actually seeing someone? The thought of his older brother having a secret lover didn’t shock Theo. Val had always played his cards close to his chest. But before he could try to puzzle it out, it was time to leave.

They walked over to the LMK in silence, the crunching sound of crisp snow following them. Before he knew it, they were inside, and the wedding—simple and understated—was underway. Father Phillips and Rabbi Goldberg were jointly performing the ceremony.

Lexie looked gorgeous in a vintage ivory gown, and Seb looked handsome and unbelievably proud. If Theo were marrying someone as incredible as Lexie, he’d be pretty pleased with himself, too.

Come to think of it, he did have someone like that. The idea of making Avery his own stirred his imagination. He could just picture it: Avery coming home from work and greeting him at his writing desk. He’d tell her about the best and worst parts of his day—his triumphs, his struggles—and she’d do the same. Then he’d loosen her hair and let it cascade down. They wouldn’t be able to keep their hands off each other as they ate dinner. And as evening fell, they’d make love, content with each other and the life they’d carved out together.

He looked for her in the gathered audience. There she was, sitting in the third row, one hand clasping Kate’s. She was wearing a green dress that emphasized her bright hair, which she’d left long and loose for the occasion. Later, when they pushed the chairs back to make room for dancing, Theo would hold her close, her body pressed against his, the shimmering strands of her hair between his fingers.

Forcing himself to pay attention to the ceremony, he caught the end of the vows.

“…  and I promise that I will always be there for you, wherever our careers may take us. Lexie,” Seb said, gazing into her eyes. “You are my life, my other half, in the kitchen and out. I love you and I always will.”

Lexie was crying now, so Sebastian gently kissed her.

“Ah, Sebastian,” Father Phillips said, “I haven’t pronounced you man and wife yet.”

“That’s right,” Rabbi Goldberg said with an answering smile. “If you’ll just be patient, my colleague and I will finish the ceremony.” He gave the new couple a blessing in Hebrew, the rector gave them one in English, and together the two members of the clergy pronounced them married.

The rabbi stepped back from the couple. “And now you may kiss the bride again.”

Seb did. An indecent kiss that lasted far too long. The small crowd roared with approval as Lexie threw her arms around his neck.

“Ladies and gentlemen. I now present Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian Grayson,” Father Phillips said when they finally broke away from one another. Over Lexie’s protests that she was keeping her name, Sebastian escorted her back down the aisle and into the kitchen.

Theo still had to make a speech with his brothers, but the bulk of his duties as a groomsman were done, so he made a beeline for Avery. Her hair made her easy to spot. She was in the corner with her back to him, talking with her aunt, Julie Kensington, and Cameron Stahl.

Extricating her from the others would be easy, and then he’d have her all to himself. All night long.