Montana Sky

sister’s parents are always welcome at Mercy.”
    “Not much of Jack in you.” Adele paled, appalled at herself. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be.” Willa’s eyes shifted as she spotted the gleam of sun on chrome. And her lips curved slowly. “And herecomes the next surprise.” She flicked a glance at Adele. “I hope this one’s not awkward for you.”
    “What have you done, girl?” Bess asked.
    Willa only continued to smile, and poked her head back inside. “Hey, Hollywood, come on out here a minute.”
    “What?” Carrying a cup in one hand, Tess wandered to the door. “We’re playing parlor games. How many words can you make out of ‘honeymoon’? I think I’m ahead. There’s a basket of bath stuff riding on it.”
    “I’ve got a better prize for you.”
    Tess looked over, cleared her fuzzy eyes enough to recognize Nate’s rig as it pulled up. “Don’t wanna talk to him now. Arrogant cowboy lawyer. Just tell him I’m . . . Oh, Jesus bleeding Christ.”
    “Don’t you blaspheme at a wedding shower,” Bess ordered, then popped up with a mile-wide grin as the side door of the rig opened and a vision burst out. “Louella Mercy, as I live and breathe, you’re a sight for sore eyes.”
    “I’m a sight, period.” With a braying laugh, Louella raced forward on red stiletto heels and embraced her staggered daughter. “Surprise, baby.” She kissed Tess, smudged away the smear of lipstick from her cheek, then whirled to catch Bess in a bear hug. “Still kicking butt around here?”
    “As best I can.”
    “And this must be Jack’s youngest.” She twirled to Willa, squeezed hard enough to crack her ribs. “Lord, you look just like your mama. Never saw anyone to match Mary Wolfchild for straight good looks.”
    “I—thanks.” Dazzled, Willa only stared. Why, the woman looked like a glamour queen and smelled like a perfume counter. “I’m so glad you could come,” she added, and meant it. “I’m so glad to meet you.”
    “That goes double for me, honey. Could’ve knocked me over with a feather when I got your letter inviting me out.” Keeping an arm tight around Willa’s shoulders, she turned and beamed at Adele. “I’m Louella, wife number one.”
    A little stunned, Adele stared. Was the woman actuallywearing a gold lamé blouse in the middle of the afternoon? “I’m Lily’s mother.”
    “Wife number two.” With another earsplitting laugh, Louella embraced Adele like a sister. “Well, the bastard had good taste in women, didn’t he? Where’s your girl? Must take more after you than Jack, as Tess tells me she’s pretty as a picture and sweet as they come. I’ve got presents.”
    “Should I take them in for you, Louella?” At the base of the steps, Nate stood grinning, Louella’s wriggling pocket dogs in his arms.
    Focusing on him fully for the first time, Tess all but writhed in horror. “Oh, God, Mom, you didn’t bring Mimi and Maurice!”
    “Of course I did. Couldn’t leave my precious babies at home all alone.” She took them from Nate and made kissy noises. “Is this a prime hunk, ladies?” She gave Nate a proprietary kiss on the cheek and left a clear imprint of her lips behind. “I swear my heart’s been going pitty-pat ever since I laid eyes on him. You just take everything right on inside, sweetie.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He shot Tess a quick, amused look before he turned back to unload the rig.
    “So what are we all doing out here?” Louella demanded. “I hear there’s a party going on, and I could sure use a drink. You don’t mind if I take a look around the place, do you, Willa?”
    “Not at all. I’d love to show you around myself. Nate, Louella’s things go in the room next to Tess’s. The pink room.”
    “Wait until Mary Sue sees you,” Bess began as she led Louella inside. “You remember Mary Sue Rafferty, don’t you?”
    “Is she the one with the buck teeth or the one with the lazy eye?”
    Carefully Tess set her empty cup on the porch rail. “Your idea?”
    “Mine and Lily’s.” Willa beamed. “We wanted to surprise you.”
    “You did. You definitely did. And we’ll have a nice talkabout it later.” Tess grabbed Willa by the shirtfront. “A nice, long talk about it.”
    “Okay. I’m going to make sure she gets that drink.”
    “Your ma sure packs for the duration.” Nate hauled the last of five suitcases out of the back of the rig. Each one of them weighed like a yard of wet concrete.
    “She packs nearly