Give Me Tonight(52)

"If you like it, it's yours."

"I love it," Addie exclaimed animatedly, and they both chuckled as she scooped it up and went over to the mirror to hold it against herself.

"It'll be beautiful on you, with that honey-colored hair and those pretty brown eyes," May observed, her face glowing with pleasure.

"Why do you look so happy?" Addie demanded with a laugh. "I'm the one who's getting the dress."

May came up to her and gave her a quick hug from behind. "I'm your mama. I'm always happy when you are, sugar. Haven't I told you that before?"

A queer sensation went through Addie as she saw their two faces in the mirror. For a split second she saw a child posing in front of that same mirror in finery borrowed from May's closet, and then the image disappeared, leaving her shaken. "Yes, you have," she whispered.

"Adeline, what's wrong?"

Slowly Addie turned to look at her, and something inside clicked into place, like the missing piece of a puzzle. Suddenly May looked familiar to her, in a dif­ferent way from before. Addie was stunned by the dearness of that face, the ache of love that had taken hold of her heart in just an instant. The sight of May's concerned expression brought forth another image, much clearer than the first. Addie could see herself as a little girl, tearful and guilt-ridden, seeking May's forgiveness. Mama, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry . . .

"I just remembered something," Addie said husk­ily, her gaze becoming distant. "A long time ago I borrowed something of yours without asking. A gold bracelet, wasn't it? And . . . I lost it, didn't I?"

"That's all forgotten."

"But it did happen," Addie pressed.

"Yes, but it's not important now."

But it had happened.

Remembering that was enough to make Addie be­lieve. I've just got to be her daughter. May is my mother. I know she is. Her eyes stung, and she wiped at them fiercely. Her throat ached as she tried to speak.

For so many years I've wanted you . . . never even hoped . . . no reason to hope.

May held her arms out and gathered her close, her expression clouded with confusion. "What? What's wrong?"

Addie rested her head on that soft shoulder, trembling with emotion. "Nothing. Nothing at all, Mama."

The land surrounding the Fanins' main house swarmed with people, animals, and vehicles. The house seemed more like a hotel than a home, large enough to accommodate countless guests and visitors. After the barbecue this afternoon and parties tonight, the wedding would be held tomorrow morning, fol­lowed by a dance and two days of festivities.

"I didn't expect there'd be this many people," Ad­die whispered to Caroline, who laughed dryly.

"Looks like Mrs. Fanin invited a few hundred of her closest friends. I suppose she thought a turnout smaller than this would've made her look stingy. Look-over there on the veranda. She's makin' a point of receivin' everyone. How would you like to coo over five hundred people in a row? That's what I call hos­pitality. "

Peter and Russell helped the women out of the car­riage, while Cade caught sight of a friend and ran off to join him. Addie averted her gaze from Russell's as she took his hand and stepped down to the ground. Before she could turn away, he stopped her with a quiet warning.

"I'll have my eye on you most of the time. Don't let me catch you anywhere near that Johnson boy. And I mean that, Adeline."

"I thought a cease-fire had been called."

"It has. But that doesn't mean the war's ended. And I don't want you to give anyone of those fence-cutters so much as a howdy-do. Got that?"

"It's not my war."

"Yes it is. You're a Warner."

She nodded shortly and turned away from him, join­ing May and Caroline as they went to greet Mrs. Fanin.

"Mah goodness, how long it's been!" Mrs. Fanin exclaimed in a syrupy drawl, her dark eyes almost dis­appearing as she bestowed a brilliant, crinkling smile on them. "Oh, Adeline, how beautiful you are! I 'spect we'll be at your weddin' next, won't we?"

Adeline smiled uncomfortably. "I don't know about that—"

"And, Carolahnn . . . you, in this heat . . . we'll have to sit you down with a cool drink right away. May, Ah just cain't believe how sweet your two girls ah. Y'all must let me show off some of the gifts Ruthie has received."

"What did we give her?" Addie whispered to Car­oline as they followed Mrs. Fanin into the house.

"Crystal artichoke plates."

Addie couldn't smother a grin. "Nice to know we gave her something really useful."

Caroline, who had helped May pick out the plates, lifted her nose in the air. "Ruth already has everything she needs. Most important, Jeff's younger brother for a husband. "

Immediately Addie's smile disappeared. "Caro, if you see Jeff around, tell me. I've got to explain some things to him."

"You're askin' for trouble, little sister. And you don't need to explain anything to him. He already knows why you haven't returned his notes or gone to meet him."

"Just tell me if you see him," Addie said impa­tiently.

After admiring and exclaiming over the tables loaded down with Ruth's wedding gifts, Addie and Caroline managed to escape to their rooms in order to take brief naps and freshen up before the barbecue. May re­mained by Mrs. Fanin's side to help her receive the rest of the guests.