“You’re early.”
“I’m always early.”
“I know.”
She stepped back.
Looked at his jacket.
“Grandma’s jacket.”
Walter touched the lapel.
“You remember?”
“She picked it out because she said all your other jackets made you look like a substitute math teacher.”
Walter laughed.
“That woman had very specific opinions.”
Lily looked around him.
Then toward the nearby tables.
Her expression changed.
“Where is it?”
Walter knew immediately.
“What?”
She frowned.
“Grandpa.”
“You know what.”
He hesitated.
“I brought it.”
Lily’s face brightened.
“I knew it.”
“Where?”
“Later.”
Walter said.
“Why later?”
“Go enjoy your guests.”
“I am enjoying my guests.”
She looked around.
“Where’s the pie?”
Walter tried to smile.
“It’s put away.”
“Why?”
Before he could answer, Melissa appeared.
“There you are.”
She said brightly.
“Lily, the photographer needs you and Ethan near the fountain.”
Lily ignored her.
“Mom, where’s Grandpa’s pie?”
Melissa’s smile froze.
“What pie?”
“The apple-cranberry pie.”
“Grandma’s.”
Walter watched her.
Melissa recovered.
“Oh.”
“That.”
“Yes.”
“That.”
Lily replied.
“He brought it?”
Melissa laughed lightly.
“He did.”
“Of course he did.”
Something about her tone made Lily’s eyes narrow.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
“Where is it?”
“We put it aside.”
“Where?”
Melissa glanced toward Walter.
“He can bring it home later.”
Lily stared at her.
“He made it for me.”
“There are seventy people here.”
Melissa whispered.
“And a catered dessert table.”
“We’re not putting a homemade pie in the middle of it.”
“Why not?”
“Because it doesn’t belong there.”
Walter stepped in.
“Lily.”
“It’s fine.”
“No.”
Lily looked at him.
“It’s not.”
Walter lowered his voice.
“Today is too important for an argument about pie.”
Her expression softened.
“That is exactly why I wanted it.”
Walter said nothing.
Melissa touched Lily’s elbow.
“The photographer is waiting.”
Lily pulled her arm away gently.
“Where did you put it?”
“Lily.”
“Mom.”
“Where?”
Melissa sighed.
“Under the service table.”
Lily stared at her.
“Under the table.”
“For safekeeping.”
“With boxes?”
“It was covered.”
Walter said quickly.
“It’s fine.”
Lily looked from Melissa to Walter.
Then noticed something else.
“Where’s your car?”
Walter’s stomach tightened.
He did not answer fast enough.
Lily’s face changed.
“Grandpa?”
Daniel had walked over now.
“What’s going on?”
Lily turned.
“Where did you put Grandpa’s car?”