Let Me Call You Sweetheart Chapter 7, Page 65

Dottie, rushed over and introduced Catherine and Virlinda who she just hired to work for her at the Apparel shop, to Dee.

"Dee, this is Catherine, who just arrived the first of the year, from England. She is going to retire here in Hope Valley. She always wanted to work her dream job of being a window dresser, so this will be a monthly job for her now doing our window display. That way she can have a little pocket money."

"Welcome to Hope Valley Catherine, I'm glad you're here to help Dottie and to meet more lovely ladies." Dee smiled warmly.

"Dee, it's my pleasure. You sure have a handsome, impeccable fiance!" Catherine smiled.

"Catherine, your accent is so fun to listen to in these parts. Glad you could join us!" Dee nodded.

"This is Virlinda, she is the one responsible for remodeling my shop! Dottie lavished praise, "It turned out so lovely!"

"Oh you are very talented Virlinda, I suspect you'll be busy here with the expanding of businesses and new homes. What a wonderful town we have here, welcome!" Dee greeted Virlinda.

Rosemary came over and joined in, "That's not all Dee, do you remember the ladies who came to your engagement party?"

"Yes, I do. Nathan thought they might be my college friends." Dee said.

"They're here too. Apparently they are friends of Catherine and Virlinda." Rosemary explained. "I hope you don't mind, they are part of the social committee that Fiona suggested. Emily and Minnie know them from their coffee and tea gatherings here in the cafe. Soon they'll be having fun showing us new things! Let me introduce you." Rosemary walked to the next two tables and met some of the social committee.

"Teresa will be teaching us crafts and we all can't wait. Diane over here, will get us back in shape with exercises, which we all need. Jane the one cracking all the jokes, is going to show us the new dance steps that are all the rage now. Wait until you learn the samba and the shimmy! Debbie will show us how she makes fancy cakes, so I have a feeling she and Emily will hit it off! Joyce is the lady who took the cat, Scratch, in for Christy. Marge will be leading a Bible Study, and Janice is going to help get some moving pictures shown here. The rest of them couldn't make it, but I believe one will help with the library" Rosemary told Dee.

"Welcome ladies! I can see you will be a wonderful group for our little town! It's great to have you here! Please come to our wedding reception. I'm sure you'll enjoy it!" Dee invited them.

As soon as all the rest of the ladies arrived, Minnie asked them to please help themselves in the kitchen to the chicken casserole and goodies. "There's punch in the punch bowl too." Emily poured the tea and coffee at their tables. Everyone was having such a great time just chatting and laughing. It was so much fun.

Emily sliced the cake and brought whatever flavor they asked for. Of course her cakes were the talk of the town just like predicted. Dee was not used to being the center of attention, but Dorothy and Rosemary made sure she would sit in the middle of the room to open her presents.

"Now remember," Elizabeth grinned, "if you break a ribbon, you will have a baby!"

"Oh, I will keep track of those!" Emily laughed.

Dee was so overwhelmed by the thoughtful presents. There were gifts for her and Nathan's new home. A homemade beautiful quilt for their bed embroidered with their initials from Rosemary. Framed pictures of family from both mothers. A set of matching towels, dishcloths, and aprons from Minnie. A complete set of dishes which matched from Molly. Glassware and silverware from Faith. Pots and pans from Fiona. A set of serving dishes with little chickadees painted on them from the social committee. (She was relieved she didn't have to use the mixed up dishes of Nathans) A crystal candy dish and vase from Dorothy. A lovely journal with room for photos from their honeymoon from Elizabeth. A beautiful blue negligee from Dottie with matching slippers, that got lots of oohs and ahhs from the ladies which caused Dee to blush bright red especially since Allie was invited.

"Oh my, ladies, you outdid yourselves! I don't know what to say, you are too generous! Thank you!" Dee exclaimed.

"I counted three broken ribbons my darling!" Emily excitedly shared. "I'm looking forward to that coming true!" Laughter was filling the room again.

"Now ladies, we have some games to play." Rosemary instructed. "Everyone write down one of your favorite moments of Dee. Put your memory in this basket. Then Dee will read each one and you all have to guess who the memory belongs to."

Sharing their memories proved very interesting and surprising. The second game Rosemary had all the guests sit in a circle and pass around the bouquet from the buffet table. When she stopped the music from the phonograph, whoever had the bouquet was eliminated. The last lady sitting was Faith. "Now you are the next bride!" Rosemary cheerfully announced.

"i sure hope so. Carson and I were talking about a spring wedding!" Faith shared.

The afternoon party sped by and all the ladies left joyfully.

"Dorothy," Dee put her arm through her sisters, "thank you for having this party with Rosemary! It was so much fun!"

"I'm glad it turned out so well," Dorothy answered, "but thank Rosemary for that."

Rosemary heard her name and came over to the sisters. "Well, this turned out just splendidly, didn't it?"

Dee hugged Rosemary and thanked her, "You are the best at this Rosemary! How can I thank you?"

"My pleasure Dee! I love being an event planner! I'm so glad it turned out so wonderfully."

"I wonder what's going to happen at the bachelor party tonight?" Dee asked out loud.

"Try not to think about it. There will be plenty of Mounties there." Dorothy assured Dee.

"That's what I'm worried about." laughed Dee.