Aubrey had been asking her the same question since seven-thirty that
morning. Grace decided the only reason she hadn't run out of patience
with her daughter was because she felt just as anxious and eager as a
two year old herself.
"Maaamaaa."
At the deep frustration in Aubrey's voice, Grace had to swallow a
chuckle. "Let me see." Grace tucked the clear wrap tidily around the
bowl before she turned and studied her little girl. "You look pretty."
"I have a bow." In a purely female gesture, Aubrey lifted a hand and
patted the ribbon Grace had threaded through her curls.
"A pink bow."
"Pink." With a smile, Aubrey beamed up at her mother. "Pretty Mama."
"Thanks, baby." She hoped Ethan thought so. How would he look at her?
she wondered. How should they behave? There would be so many people
there, and no one--well, besides the Quinns--no one knew they were in
love.
In love, she thought with a long, dreamy sigh. It was such a marvelous
place to be. She blinked when little arms wrapped around her legs and
squeezed.
"Mama! Ready?"
Laughing, Grace hauled her up for a big hug and kiss. "All right. Let's
go."
no general in the hours before a decisive battle ever ordered his troops
into action with more authority and determination than Anna Spinelli
Quinn.
"Seth, you set those folding chairs up under the shade trees over there.
Isn't Phillip back with the extra ice yet? He's been gone twenty
minutes. Cam! You and Ethan are putting those picnic tables too close
together."
"Minute ago," Cam said under his breath, "they were too far apart." But
he walked backward, hauling the table another foot.
"That's good. That's fine." Armed with bright red, white, and blue
striped cloths, Anna hurried across the lawn. "Now you can move the
umbrella tables, nearer the water, I think."
Cam narrowed his eyes. "You said you wanted them over by the trees."
"I changed my mind." She scanned the yard as she spread the tablecloths.
Cam opened his mouth to protest, but caught Ethan's warning shake of the
head in time. His brother was right, he decided. Arguing wasn't going to
change a thing.
Anna had been on a tear all morning, and when he said as much to Ethan
as they moved out of earshot, it was with the irritation of the baffled.
"We're talking about a practical-minded, organized woman here," Cam
added. "I don't know what's gotten into her. It's just a damn picnic."
"I guess women get that way over things like this," was Ethan's opinion.
He remembered the way Grace had refused to let him take a shower in his
own bathroom just because Cam and Anna were coming home. Who knew what
went on in a female mind?
"She wasn't this bad over the wedding reception."
"I expect she had her mind on other things then."
"Yeah." Cam grunted as he picked up one of the round umbrella