Pennies From Heaven (The Bella Novella Collection Book 3) by Janice Thompson Page B

realized I only had an hour before I had to pick up the older kids from school.
    Jenna turned my way with a smile. “It’s so good to be back on the island. I’ve missed it so much.”
    “The chaos of Splendora too much for you?”
    “Nah. Just miss my old stomping ground, that’s all. And I’ve missed you.” She put her hand on my arm and gave me a smile so warm it completely melted my heart. “Are you hungry?”
    “Starved.”
    “Me too.” She took the boxed cake from Scarlet, paid her, and then we headed back through the opening to Parma Johns, which teemed with even more customers than before.
    As the overpowering scent of garlic wrapped itself around us, my stomach growled. Jenna, on the other hand, looked a little green around the gills.
    “You okay?” I asked.
    She seemed to startle at my question? “Hmm? Oh, sure. Maybe I’ve waited too long to eat. It sounded good to me, too. . .until I smelled it. Then I started feeling a little nauseous.”
    “Really? Pizza never made you sick before. You sure you’re not lactose intolerant like Pop?”
    “Never have been before. Anyway, I’ll eat some pasta while you have your pizza. I just wanted to talk to you about the mess going on in Splendora.”
    “Trust me, I’ve heard all about it from Lily.”
    Jenna groaned. “I have a great idea. Instead of talking about the goings-on back home, let’s just have some girl-talk, okay?” She looped her arm through mine. “I really miss that, Bella. A lot.”
    Okay, then. We’d have girl-talk. Still, I couldn’t help but notice she’d called Splendora home. My BFF was now firmly rooted in the country, far, far from Galveston Island. For some reason, that knowledge caused a wave of sadness to wash over me.
    Not that I had time to be sad for long. Within minutes we’d ordered our food and taken our seats at the counter. From that point on, our conversation shifted to weddings, family stories and Galveston goings-on. Jenna seemed to eat it up.
    In fact, she seemed to eat up. . .everything. The girl ate all of her pasta and half of my meatball pizza.
    Very, very suspicious.

 
    CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Qu'est-ce que je ferais sans toi?
    Translation: What would I do without you?
     
    The next couple of weeks whirled by, the clock moving so fast I could hardly keep up. The morning before Lily and Cec’s wedding I awoke at seven a.m. to bright, sunny skies. So, Justine was right this time. The weather would play nicely. No last-minute surprises. Good going.
    About ten minutes later I received a call from Cecil in Splendora. “Um, Bella?”
    “Cecil. Getting excited?”
    “Yes. But, Houston, we have a problem.”
    “Technically I’m in Galveston, not Houston.” A yawn escaped and I tried to stifle it. “But that’s beside the point. What’s going on, Cec?”
    “It’s raining.”
    “What?” I sat up straight in the bed. “Are you serious?”
    “I am. It’s not a hard rain, but it’s a rain. We’re working on the backdrop this morning, getting it in place, but if I put it out in the rain it’ll be warped before the reception tomorrow afternoon. You know?”
    “Is it too late for me to get my tent guys out there to cover the garden area?”
    “Well, let’s hold off another hour or so. Praying this will lift. According to the weather report—”
    “Don’t talk to me about weather reports,” I interrupted. “It’s pointless.”
    “Well, according to the weather reports this will lift in another hour or so. Hopefully we’ll have clear skies this afternoon. And if we’re fortunate, the sun will dry the grounds quickly.”
    I prayed he was right. By ten o’clock I’d gathered my whole family together at the Rossi home so that we could caravan north to Splendora. I needed their help putting the chapel in order for tomorrow’s Parisian ceremony.
    I couldn’t help but notice the Laz for Prez signs had been removed from the front yard of my parents’ place. I’d have to remember to thank Uncle