A Good Measure, page 27
“Just a few quick ones,” Maeve said. “You’ll be all right.”
“But Cash is playing Sinatra . . . I can hear it.”
“Don’t be such a little kid,” Maeve teased.
Chase sighed, and while they waited for the photographer to set up, he and Liam chatted with Quinn and Ezra, and afterward, Chase was glad they’d taken the time for pictures because the images the photographer captured as the sun set on the farm were stunning—the sky was every color, from mango to cobalt to deep purple—it was as if God had painted the palette just for them; Chase even pulled Quinn into a picture with Rosie, and her adopted calf, Tucker—it looked just like the one they’d taken when they were kids.
Finally, they made their way to the barn, and Reverend Peters—because Cash was reluctant to speak into the mic—introduced the new couples and invited them to dance to the first song, “At Last” by Etta James.
Afterward, an elegant buffet dinner was served, Bonni and crew pulling out all the stops and serving several of her signature dishes—from field greens with beets and goat cheese, sprinkled with candied pecans, to homemade rolls and a variety of bread; from filet mignon with chimichurri sauce to cedar-planked salmon with dill sauce; and from roasted red potatoes with rosemary to quinoa and scallion salad as well as grilled tender asparagus. Bonni had also assured Libby that, later in the evening, they would be happy to assemble and serve the strawberry shortcake and luscious whipped cream Libby had made from fresh cream that morning so she didn’t have to worry about a thing. They also set out the lovely basket of Susan Peters’s beautiful wedding cookie favors.
As the rush of dinner slowed, Cash—who’d been sitting with his mom and Mrs. Finley—both of whose cheeks were rosy from wine, and Reverend and Mrs. Peters (and with Marmalade sitting on his feet, happily eating filet mignon tidbits he slipped her)—returned to his post and invited Maeve and her dad to come out to the dance floor. Ames smiled and squeezed Payton’s hand under the table and, as Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable” drifted from the speakers, she whispered, “He’s doing such a good job!”
Payton nodded, smiling proudly, and as they sipped their wine, they watched Maeve dance with her dad and realized there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Next, Cash invited Gage and his mom to the floor to dance to the song he’d chosen—Louis Armstrong’s “It’s a Wonderful World.” Finally, just as the song ended, Cash looked around for Chase, spotted him, nodded knowingly to acknowledge their prediscussed plan, and reminded Mrs. Tennyson to remain on the dance floor. Gage stayed with her until her youngest son approached with the sweet smile she loved so much, and then Cash began to play Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me,” and Chase solemnly searched his mom’s eyes. “Thank you for everything, Mom,” he said, his voice choked with emotion. “Today has been so special. I can’t thank you enough for always being there for me, no matter what.”
“Oh, Chase,” she said, searching his eyes. “You have no idea how much I love you and I couldn’t be more proud. You are an amazing man and I’m so thankful you’ve found such a good person to love . . . and to love you back. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
“I love you, too,” he whispered, his eyes glistening.
Just then, Cash lowered the volume and invited Liam—who was leaning against the wall—to come to the dance floor. At first, Liam shook his head, but then, at the crowd’s insistence, he set his beer on a table and made his way over. Chase grinned as he gave his mom’s hand to him, and when Libby danced with her new son-in-law, she saw tears in his eyes and gently touched his cheek. “I’m so happy you’re joining our family, Liam,” she said. “Now I have six sons again!”
Liam nodded and tried to stop the tears from spilling down his cheeks, but it was no use, and when the song ended, she held him for a long time.
“Okay!” Cash—who was suddenly emboldened by the two beers and two peach Bellinis he’d had—said deeply into the mic. “Let’s get this party started!” He switched the CD and turned up the volume, and the familiar rhythmic drumbeat of Leon Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” began to rock the rafters of the old barn, and everyone, including Ellie and Harper, hit the dance floor. Chase grabbed Liam, making him smile, and Cash watched wistfully, feeling a little left out, but then Quinn came up behind him and pulled him onto the dance floor, too. They joined right in, and Cash looked over and saw his mom and Mrs. Finley dancing as if no one was watching, and when they suddenly kissed, he raised his eyebrows and pointed and Quinn looked over, her eyes growing wide. “Wow!” she shouted. “Maybe we’re gonna be related, too!”
“Maybe!” Cash said, laughing.
The song neared its end, and Cash left Quinn in the capable hands of her new boyfriend and went back to his post, but when he picked a slow song from their childhood, Elvis’s “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You,” Chase appeared at Quinn’s side and eyed Ezra. “Sorry, pal, but this one is mine!” Ezra nodded, and Chase pulled Quinn out to the center of the dance floor to the song from their prom. “I’m so glad you came,” he said. “It means so much to me.”
“I’m glad I came, too,” she said.
“Ezra seems like a really nice guy.”
“He is a really nice guy,” she said, “but if it wasn’t for you, I probably wouldn’t have met him.”
Chase frowned. “How’s that?”
Quinn smiled and pulled him toward the door. “Come outside,” she said, and then she motioned for Liam to follow them. They walked over to stand near the bonfire Matt and Grayson had started and watched the sparks flying into the summer night. “Here’s your wedding present!” she said, pulling a card from her bag and thrusting it into his hands.
“What is it?” Chase asked.
“Open it,” she said, her heart pounding.
He slipped the card out of the envelope and frowned. “You’re giving us an incubator?!”
“Yes, I am!” Quinn said, laughing. “I’m going to be your incubator.” Chase and Liam eyed her quizzically, and she smiled. “You have to come up with your own egg, though, because there’s no way I’m letting you raise a child of mine!” she teased. “But I will give your baby a warm safe place to grow . . . and I’ll even give up drinking for nine months—which is probably going to be the hardest part . . .”
“Are you kidding me?!” Chase interrupted, sounding elated while at the same time, shaking his head. “This is crazy . . . and way too generous! Are you sure?”
“Absolutely!” she said. “We go back a long way, Chase . . . and I would do anything for you.”
“This is above and beyond, though,” he said, and then he looked at Liam. “Can you believe this?!”
Liam smiled. “It’s an incredible gift!” He shook his head. “I don’t even know what to say . . . thank you so much!”
“It is,” Chase said, but then he frowned, “but why would you do something like this when you’re just starting a new relationship of your own?”
Quinn nodded. “Ezra knows about it. He’s the customer I told you about who works for a company that specializes in surrogacy, and after you told me you wanted to start a family, I asked him about it, and we talked for a long time. He thought it was amazing that I wanted to do this for you.” She laughed. “In fact, I think that’s why he asked me out, so it’s really how we started dating, and the fact that he wants to go with a girl who wants to be a surrogate mom makes him pretty special, too. He even said twins are possible.”
“This is unbelievable,” Chase said, laughing. He pulled her into a hug. “Did you tell your mom?”
“I did and she thinks it’s crazy, but she thinks it’s beautiful, too.” She smiled. “By the way, did you see her dancing with Mrs. Childs?!”
“We did,” Chase said, laughing and looking over at Liam. “We had a feeling there was something going on between them, but we weren’t sure until we saw that kiss.” He shook his head. “I still can’t believe you’d do this, Quinn, but I’m so grateful . . . we are so grateful, and . . .” He looked at Liam. “We’ll have to talk about twins, but definitely not if it is a higher risk for you,” he added, searching her eyes, “which it probably is.”
Quinn shook her head. “I’m sure I’d be fine, and it would save you from having to find another surrogate someday. Besides, Ezra will be keeping an eye on things, and I have a wonderful doctor, who I will ask, too.”
Chase nodded, and then Ellie and Harper came out and called, “Everyone is looking for you!”
“We’re coming!” Chase called back, and as they started walking to the barn, he said, “It truly is serendipitous how things work out sometimes. Here you are, willing to give us so much of yourself, but in doing so, something good has happened for you, too.”
Quinn nodded. “My mom always tells me to believe in the power of prayer, and I know she’s been praying for me to meet someone, but you’re right, when you give of yourself, good things come back to you in unexpected and amazing ways.”
Chase put his arm around her and kissed her forehead, and as they walked into the barn, Cash was just bringing Marmalade back from getting busy. “Chase,” he called excitedly. “My mom said if you’re still looking for a home for Marmalade, I can keep her!”
“Wow! That’s awesome, Cash—I think you’re the perfect person to give her a good home.”
Cash grinned and looked down at the little white dog sitting on his foot. “I think she’ll be happy.”
“I think she will, too,” Chase said. Then he looked over at Liam and Quinn and smiled. “See? Serendipity.”
Cash returned to his post with Marmalade and reached for the next CD. A moment later, unmistakable slow guitar strumming filled the barn, and all the Tennyson boys grabbed their drinks and headed to the dance floor to sing along to the famous Garth Brooks song, “Friends in Low Places.” Libby stood by the door with Ames and Payton and watched as their kids started dancing. “What a wonderful wedding,” Payton said.
“It is,” Ames agreed. “We are all so very blessed.”
Libby nodded. “Gram used to say, ‘The music of life lies not in your circumstances or in external things, but in your soul’ and she was right.”
“She was,” Ames agreed, “and this old soul wants to keep on dancing.” She laughed and pulled them both back out to the dance floor. The three old friends joined in, dancing and singing along, and remembering all they’d been through together. Through thick and thin, loss and heartache, triumph and tragedy, they’d always been there for one another, and they always would be. Finally, Libby slipped away to watch—she wanted to etch this beautiful summer night of celebrating life with her two dearest friends and her beloved family into her mind forever. “No matter what comes, Lord,” she whispered, “I will always choose joy.” As she said this, she felt a small hand slip into hers and she looked down to see Ellie standing beside her.
“Gran, come listen,” the little girl whispered.
Libby followed her outside, and a moment later, they heard a faint who-who-who cooks for you . . . and then, a much closer reply. “It’s a pair of barred owls—they’re talking to each other,” Ellie said. “Did you know they mate for life?”
“I didn’t know,” Libby said, squeezing her hand. “I haven’t heard a pair of owls since I was a little girl.” Then she remembered the encounter she’d had that morning. “Guess what I saw today.”
“What?” Ellie asked eagerly.
“A wood thrush.”
The little girl’s eyes grew wide. “You did?!”
“Mm-hmm . . . and I have a story to tell you.”
Ellie grinned. “Okay! Well, Bonni just put out a basket of all different kinds of tea . . . and they’re serving your strawberry shortcake so you can tell me while we have some.”
Libby laughed. “There’s nothing like a cup of tea and a good story, is there?”
“There isn’t!” Ellie said, pulling her inside.
Epilogue
One year later . . .
“HERE WE ARE!” MATT SAID, PULLING THE PASSENGER VAN HE’D BORROWED from a friend into an empty spot in front of the airport terminal.
Ellie—who was serving as copilot—looked back at the eight chatting ladies. “Ding! Ding! Ding! Welcome to Nashville International Airport! Next stop, Jackson, Wyoming! Be sure to check under your seat for all personal belongings—phones, purses, boarding passes, and any other items that might have fallen between the seats.”
Ames looked up from searching under her seat for her phone and laughed. “I really think we should bring Ellie! She would keep us all in line and help us not get lost . . . or lose anything!”
“It’s not too late,” Ellie cried hopefully. “You can fit me in one of your suitcases!”
Matt feigned dismay. “What about me? I need your help on the farm.”
His daughter rolled her eyes. “You could manage without me for ten days.” And even though she would’ve loved going on the trip with all the ladies, she knew it would be good for her grandmother to go with her friends. Initially, when Libby had first mentioned “going on a bus tour with the ladies,” her family had barely paid attention, but when she called Chase and asked him to start looking at travel packages, they’d just about fallen over, especially Ellie, who couldn’t believe her grandmother was actually going on a trip!
One week later, Chase had called back with an amazing package and said he’d even managed to finagle both senior and group discounts. The women would fly from Nashville to Jackson Hole, and from there, over the course of ten days, they’d visit five national parks: Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Zion, and the Grand Canyon, and their last night would be spent at the luxurious Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, from where they would fly home the following morning; and when Libby told all the Guild ladies about it, everyone wanted to go.
Now here they were, clambering out of the van, wearing new outfits and sunglasses, and as Matt commandeered a cart and loaded their luggage onto it, Ellie reached for her grandmother’s hand. “Gran, make sure you take lots of pictures of any birds and wildlife you see, especially the raptors—you know, eagles, falcons, hawks, osprey . . . but I’d also love to see pictures of bison and elk. And don’t forget, juvenile bald eagles look a lot like golden eagles so try not to mix them up.”
“I’ll do my best,” Libby said, pulling her into a hug. “Meanwhile, you keep me posted on baby watch.”
“Oh, I will!” Ellie said, beaming. “You and Mrs. Finley, because I’m sure she’ll want to know, too!”
“What’s that?” Ames said, hearing her name as she searched her bag for her boarding pass.
“Grandma wants to know when Quinn has Chase and Liam’s baby.”
“Oh, yes! I want to know, too! That was one thing we didn’t plan on when we planned this trip because we didn’t realize how soon Quinn would be pregnant . . . and now she’s due in less than two weeks!”
“I know,” Libby said, shaking her head. “I’m really glad they decided to have just one. I think twins would’ve been overwhelming.”
“I agree,” Ames said, triumphantly producing her boarding pass.
“You know, you could have that right on your phone,” Ellie said.
“And knowing how to do that is another reason why we should be bringing you,” Ames said, laughing.
Ellie grinned, and Libby—who was still thinking about the baby, continued. “God certainly works in mysterious ways, doesn’t he?”
Ames nodded. “He certainly does.”
“You always say God’s timing is perfect, Gran,” Ellie piped, “so there must be a reason it’s all happening at the same time. We just have to keep the faith.”
“You’re right, as usual!” Libby said, putting her arm around her granddaughter.
Payton walked over, smiling as she slid her phone into her pocket. “Cash just texted and said he and Ned and Marmalade drove past the coffee shop and it’s as busy as ever.”
“That’s good,” Ames said. “I knew Jen and her husband would do a good job.”
“Do you miss it?” Libby asked.
“Not for a second,” Payton replied. “Not when I can go on a trip like this with my dearest friends.” As she said this, she put her arm around Ames, and Libby smiled. She was very happy her two oldest friends had finally found the courage to be together—it was long past time.
Just then, her phone rang and she looked at the name on the screen. “It’s Chase,” she said, frowning. “I wonder why he’s calling so early.”
“Maybe he wants to make sure we made it to the airport,” Ames offered.
“Maybe,” Libby said, putting her phone to her ear, and as she listened to her son’s excited voice, tears filled her eyes. Ames, Payton, Ellie, and Matt all gathered around, and the five other women, sensing something was going on, grew quiet and watched. Finally, Libby smiled, her tears spilling over as she looked at all their faces. “It’s a girl!!!” she whispered, and then she eyed Ames and smiled. “Baby and mom are fine, and Chase and Liam are flying out this afternoon!”
“Woo-hoo!” Ellie shouted, jumping up and down. “We have another girl on our side!”
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NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author NAN ROSSITER loves to weave together stories about the complicated relationships to which all readers can relate—motherhood, sisterhood, friendship, marriage, and romance. She draws from her own life experiences to create authentic situations that mirror the trials and triumphs we all face. Compassionate, real, and funny, her books take readers on emotional journeys that often include heartbreak and joy but also include threads of faith, a furry friend or two, and an uplifting ending. Nan’s books have been highly acclaimed by reviewers from Publishers Weekly to Booklist. Her novel Summer Dance was the 2018 winner of the Nancy Pearl Award.
