All of Me

CHAPTER SIX

  Before Tess started her café, she would have told anyone that Wednesdays would have been the quietest day of the week. But that was before she found out about all of the midweek activities in Bozeman. Between the library, the bridge club and the genealogy club she had a steady stream of regular Wednesday customers.

  By eleven o’clock that morning they’d sold most of their muffins. She was busy making another batch when Annie handed her the phone.

  “I need to keep serving in the café. I think it’s Connie. She sounds upset.”

  Tess took the phone out of Annie’s hand. “Connie? Is everything all right?”

  “I’m sorry to call you at work, but I didn’t know how to get hold of you.”

  “That’s okay. What’s happened?”

  “Mom’s not well. Dave and I are getting married at five o’clock tonight in the hospital chapel. If you can still make it, we’d like you and your friends to be there.”

  “Oh, Connie. I’m so sorry about your mom. Of course we’ll be there. What about your dresses?”

  “I haven’t really thought that far ahead. I dropped the bridesmaids’ dresses off at a friend’s house. She was going to do the alterations for us. My best friend can’t get here until tomorrow and we don’t know…”

  Connie didn’t need to finish what she was going to say. Tess felt a lump form in her throat. “I can help. Do you have a dress to wear?”

  “A bridal store is making my gown. I don’t know if they’ve finished.”

  Tess grabbed a pen and piece of paper out of a drawer. “Would you like me to sort out the dresses?”

  “Could you? Dave and I are busy calling all of our friends and family. I’ll give you my sister’s phone number. Denise will be able to help. Thank you for doing this for us.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll give you a call as soon as I’ve got the dresses.” Tess wrote down Denise’s phone number and said goodbye. The next person she called was Kate, her part-time assistant. Tess knew she’d need Kate to come in early if she was going to help Connie.

  Annie poked her head around the kitchen door. “Is everything okay?”

  Tess shook her head. “Connie’s mom isn’t doing too well. They’ve brought the wedding forward to tonight. Are you able to come?”

  “Sure. We’re not bowling tonight. What do you want me to do?”

  “Could you look after the café with Kate until we close? The wedding’s at five o’clock in the chapel of Bozeman Deaconess Hospital.”

  “What about the bridesmaids’ dresses? Connie wouldn’t have had a chance to make any alterations.”

  Tess slid the uncooked muffins into the oven. “I’m going to give Connie’s sister a call. Between us, we should be able to work something out.” She had one other person to contact before she rang Denise. “I’ll give Logan a call, too.”

  “No need,” Annie said. “He’s sitting in the café. I’ll call Molly and Sally.”

  “Thanks.” Tess undid her apron and dialed Denise’s phone number. In less than six hours, Connie would be walking down the aisle.

  With a little help from her friends, Tess was going to give Connie and Dave something special to remember.