Page 170 of Head Room

“Would you want a delay in knowing?”

It was a sneaky question.He knows I don’t like delays in knowing anything.

He pulled out his phone and talked to Frank while I updated the colonel.

I’m guessing other newlywed couples use the drive to the reception for other purposes.

****

Needham and Thelmawere walking into the museum at the same time we were, with a small, beautifully wrapped package.

“Hey, you already gave me a present,” I said to Needham.“Best one ever.”

I caught Thelma and Tom sharing a look that would match a soundtrack of a blended indulgent and annoyed,Journalists.

“That was for you,” Needham said.“This is for Tom.”

“From me,” Thelma added sternly, but her smile belied it.

Mom snagged us then to form the official receiving line, and I discovered being on this side of the line was fun, because everyone who came through was someone either you or the person you love wanted to be here today.

Same thing for the reception.

I wanted to spend time with everyone simultaneously.

That wasn’t possible.But seeing conversations that mixed and mingled guests — like Bonnie and Matt in animated discussion with Jack Delahunt, Aunt Gee swapping recipes with my aunt.Tom’s sister laughing with two of my brothers, Dell sitting with Mrs.P — it was even better in another way.

And then I spotted my mother talking to Shelton.

I’ll be honest, I turned around and found Tom.

I was not prepared to witness those two interplanetary powers intersecting.

Later, I pulled Hannah Chaney off cake duty as the cake eaters dwindled.

That didn’t endear me to the cake maker and server, who you might recall wasn’t fond of me to start.

On the other hand, it was too late for her to poison it, even if she wasn’t restrained by her regard for Tom.

Besides, it was worth it to connect Hannah with Zeb, suggesting she ask him about growing tomatoes.

They made arrangements to go to the nursery in Cody for plants.It was a little late in the season, he warned, but he had a couple smaller varieties that should work real well for her.

And kids loved popping whole cherry tomatoes in their mouths.

I predicted a bumper crop for the Chaneys — tomatoes, not kids.Though maybe those, too.

Iris declared me a genius, because Zeb now had a fascinated audience and she could stop pretending interest in the garden except harvesting the goodies.

A woman after my own heart.

I wasn’t done with my reception good deeds.

I cornered Richard.

“Which is your favorite podcast, Richard?”

He side-eyed me suspiciously before saying, “I keep up with news and general knowledge — quirky how-do-things-work, likeFreakonomics.”