The Wedding Party by Robyn Carr Read Free Book Online Page B

behind her. “Dennis and I have decided to get married,” Charlene said, skipping any preamble.
    Pam didn’t make it very far into the spacious office before she sank into a deep and comfy leather chair. Speechless.
    â€œThis can’t possibly be a surprise,” Charlene said.
    â€œCan’t it be…?”
    Charlene, businesslike, began taking papers out of her briefcase and placing them in separate stacks on the desktop. “To the contrary. Some would even saythis is way overdue, that we should have done it years ago. After five years, it seems almost like a mere formality.” Indeed, on the very night they had made the decision, nothing special set it apart from any other night they spent together. Except maybe the changing of a tire in the rain, which Dennis accomplished while Charlene held the flashlight.
    â€œI guess I thought—” Pam didn’t finish.
    â€œYou thought we didn’t need marriage?”
    â€œWell…that’s what you always said.”
    â€œAnd it’s still true. We don’t need marriage, but wanting it is a different story. To make our commitment complete.”
    â€œThat’s lovely.”
    â€œYou are the absolute first to know. I haven’t even told Stephanie yet, or my mother. Lois thinks I’m completely hopeless, so she’s going to flip, and Stephanie…Well, I haven’t talked to her since yesterday.” And in thinking about that conversation some of the glow threatened to fade from Charlene’s features. She would have to call Stephanie and tell her about her grandmother; they were very close. But as for the marriage plans, she could wait. In fact, Charlene was still smarting a little from Stephanie’s words and didn’t look forward to calling her at all. “But I wanted to tell you immediately,” Charlene said to Pam. “Because I’d like you to stand up for me, if you will.”
    â€œIf? Of course I will! But what about Stephanie and Lois? Won’t they get their noses out of joint if I—”
    â€œNo, no, no,” Charlene insisted. “This is all going to work out fine. And I want you with me on this.Like you’ve been with me on everything. I couldn’t have built this practice without you, Pam.”
    â€œI don’t know what to say.”
    â€œSay you will.”
    â€œOf course,” she said, flattered. “When is this going to happen?”
    â€œI don’t know. In a few weeks. I have about four major crises to work out before I can think about the actual event, but once I get things under control, I’ll make some arrangements. Something very small, very quiet, very quick.”
    Pam smiled lazily. “Quick? Are you pregnant?”
    â€œHa-ha.”
    â€œAnd you are doing this quickly because…?”
    Charlene stopped shuffling papers, put her briefcase under her desk and took a seat. “Now that we’ve decided, we’re anxious to have the formalities out of the way. But there is another matter that concerns me. My mother is experiencing some memory problems. Some confusion. I’d hate to call it dementia, but until she sees a doctor, I have no other terminology.”
    â€œSo the call from the grocer was the real McCoy,” Pam observed.
    â€œI didn’t want to admit it. I was hoping he was just overreacting, but she was confused. It’s possible she really couldn’t find her way home from the store and had to be rescued by a bag boy. I have no better explanation because she can’t remember much about the incident.”
    â€œMy goodness, how scary,” Pam replied, as surprised now as Charlene had been yesterday.
    She nodded. “I owe Mr. Fulbright an apology. And a debt of gratitude. I hope these aren’t the early symptoms of Alzheimer’s.”
    â€œAnd that’s why you’re going to hurry and—”
    â€œThat’s a factor, not a reason. My mom has a