Vegas Vows, Texas Nights. Charlene Sands

      “Here’s your herbal tea, Mama.” Katie handed her mother a mug and took a seat beside her on the living room sofa in the home Katie and her sister had grown up in on Blue Jay Avenue. The neighborhood was close-knit, just on the outskirts of Boone Springs, about a ten-minute drive from the bakery. She’d come here as soon as she’d unpacked her bags.

      “Thanks, honey. I love the pomegranate and blackberry mix.” Her mother blew on the steam and then sipped delicately. “Mmm. Tastes so good going down.”

      “It is good,” she said, concerned over her mother’s health.

      Diana Rodgers had tired eyes that told of sacrifice and lack of energy. Her body was a bit broken from ill health. At the age of fifty-eight, she’d suffered a minor heart attack that had taken her away from the teaching job she’d loved. Taking an early retirement had never been in her plans. She’d been a single mother most of her life, working hard at the grammar school with special needs kids. But the job was stressful, and Diana often took her work home with her, a habit her cardiologist couldn’t condone.

      “So why aren’t you joining me in a cup?”

      “I will a little later. Right now, I just want to hear how you’re feeling.”

      “You’ve only been gone three days, hon. I appreciate you coming over as soon as you got home, but I’m the same as I was before you left.” Her mom waved her hand. “Enough about me, how was your trip?”

      “It was…nice.” Katie had trouble mustering up any enthusiasm. Oh, and one little detail I forgot to mention… I married Lucas Boone. “Drea and Mason enjoyed it very much. I think everyone did.”

      Her mother moved around in her seat a bit and her mouth twisted as it did every time the Boone name was mentioned. “Too bad Drea had to fall in love with him.”

      “Mom, Mason’s a nice guy.”

      “He’s rich and feels entitled, just like all the Boones.”

      She meant Luke.

      That sick feeling in Katie’s stomach acted up again. “Drea’s happy and that’s all that matters.”

      Her mother sipped her tea. “So, what did all you gals do at the bachelorette party?”

      Katie shrugged. “The usual things. We saw the sights, ate like there was no tomorrow, had a spa day, went to a concert, and then on the last night the entire group got together for a party at a nightclub.”

      There. She’d given a short, encapsulated version of her long weekend. Enough said.

      “You had to deal with Luke?”

      Before she could answer, Shelly walked into the house, dropping her shoulder bag on the edge of the sofa. “What about loser Luke?”

      Katie’s heart started pounding. Shelly was still bitter. “Hi, sis. What are you doing here?”

      “Checking in with Mom, just like you.” Her sister, dressed in nurse’s white, walked over to give her mother a kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Mom. How are you today?”

      “Feeling pretty good. Your sister made me some tea. Would you like a cup, sweetheart?”

      “Thanks, but I’m fine. Just thought I’d stop by here first, before heading home and changing clothes. Dr. Moore asked me and a few colleagues to attend his seminar tonight. I have to leave soon. So, what about Luke?”

      “Nothing,” Katie said.

      “Your sister had to plan Drea’s bachelorette party with him.”

      “We didn’t plan the bachelorette party together. He was in charge of entertaining the groomsmen. All we did was coordinate the party at the end of the weekend together.”

      “Ugh,” Shelly said. “Poor you.”

      “It wasn’t that bad.”

      “I feel sorry for any woman who gets involved with him,” Shelly said flatly. “I should’ve known better.”

      “He wasn’t ready for marriage,” Katie said. God, they’d had this conversation for years. It was truly beginning to grate on her nerves. Shelly never was one for letting go. She’d never forgiven their dad for divorcing their mother. She’d never accepted their father’s new wife. Clearly, a broken engagement, even if it was three days before the ceremony, was much better than a divorce later on.

      “Why are you defending him?” Shelly asked.

      “Maybe I just want you to move on with your life, Shel. Maybe I’m not defending him so much as I’m looking out for you.”

      Shelly sighed. “Okay, got it. Easier said than done.”

      “It’s so nice to have both of my girls here with me today,” her mother said softly.

      “I wish I could stay longer,” Shelly said. “But I’m meeting everyone at the hospital in an hour.”

      “That’s fine, honey. You go on to the seminar. I’m proud of the way you girls are so conscientious about your work. That means you, too, Katie.”

      “I know, Mama.” Her mother had always told her how proud she was of what she’d accomplished at the bakery. Her business was on solid ground now but it hadn’t always been that way. Her mom had faith in her, had always given her support. “I’ll stay and visit with you a bit longer.”

      “Wonderful.” Shelly gave her a rare smile.

      Her sister had had a rough time facing her friends after the marriage debacle and then to have her “almost” groom leave town for years, leaving her with no hope, no way to reconcile her sadness, no way to rant and rave at him. That was probably the greatest injustice. Shelly had never gotten the closure she’d needed.

      After Shelly left, Diana got up to take her teacup to the kitchen. “I made soup, your favorite, chicken and dumplings. Will you stay and have some with me?”

      “Sure, that sounds yummy.”

      Katie was beat, tired and nervous, but having comfort food and her mother’s company would distract her from the giant mistake she’d made in Las Vegas last night.