Harley led us to the sitting area next to the sliding doors that opened into the firepit area in the patio. “Why don’t we all just sit here, then, while we wait for Helena and Shane?”

I made to sit next to Katy, who’d selected one of the benches, but Harley had taken a seat on the two-seater love seat opposite the bench and looked expectantly at me. I couldn’t ignore her pointed look so I blew a breath out and sat next to her.

Annie had said she would bring the tray of glasses and pitcher of ice water that Harley had set out, so she was trailing behind all of us.

Harley leaned over to whisper into my hair, “What is going on with you, baby?”

I kept my arm down, instead of drawing it up around her shoulders the way I wanted to, and mouthed, I’ll tell you later, ok?

Her eyebrows were still knitted together when she turned away from me as Annie set the tray down and started pouring water into glasses, exclaiming about all the last-minute changes the wedding planner was asking to make to the reception area.

About fifteen minutes later we saw Harley’s dark blue Merc GLA pull into the garage. When Annie and Katy saw Shane crawl lazily out of the driver-side door, and saunter back to the sidewalk, apparently heading to where Helena might have parked, they exchanged a look.

As Shane and Helena walked into the grassy area that separated the firepit and patio from the sidewalk, with Shane struggling with a couple of bags, and Helena hanging onto her arm, Katy leaned forward to whisper to me, “Are they together?”

I laughed a little, and shook my head, “No, they’re just good friends. But Shane must have done something so she’s probably carrying Helena’s bag as restitution. She’s always getting into trouble about one thing or another …” my voice trailed off as my friends walked to within hearing distance.

I stood up and opened my arms out to both of them. We exchanged hugs and kisses. I was sincerely glad to see them, but when they started waggling their eyebrows at me and then glancing over at Harley, I quickly gave them a cut-throat sign to signal that that line of teasing was off limits for the moment. My sharp glances at both reinforced my message.