“We were talking until some creepy stalker interrupted!”
I gasped. “I am not creepy!”
She gave me a hard stare. “It was a little creepy. You may as well have donned a set of binoculars.”
I whacked her arm playfully. “You would have done the same thing!”
She nodded. “But I would have been a lot more subtle!”
“OK, OK, you’re getting off track on purpose. Go talk to him and find out what he was going to say that night when you almost plummeted to your death.”
Leaning against the counter, she folded her arms, while I brewed chamomile tea and took the last of Georges’s Christmas cookies from the tin.
“I must admit, seeing him drive up to the house earlier was a jolt to the system. I didn’t expect him to follow me here. I could get lost staring into his eyes, and I need to keep my wits about me.”
I sighed. “So, why keep him at arm’s length?”
Her lip wobbled ever so slightly. “Self-preservation. I thought it might be better to make a clean break of it. There’s no getting around the baby thing. I can’t stop him wanting a family, it would be wrong to even try. Shouldn’t I let him go so he can find someone who does want the whole American dream?”
“Amory, the least you can do is let him talk without running away this time.”
“Yeah, I guess.” She took in a shaky breath and turned her glistening eyes to mine. “I just don’t want him to see the moment when my heart literally breaks, that’s all.”
“Why would he?”
“Because if he says that’s what he wants – a family – not now, not tomorrow, but in the future, I will have to say goodbye. And I love him, Clio. But I can’t change who I am. And it just isn’t right to stand in his way if he wants kids.”
“Oh, Amory, who knew you were really such a softie on the inside? Tell him that, show him how you feel. True love always finds a way. It does!” I said to her skeptical face before reaching out to hug her.
“OK,” she finally said. “Let me talk to him.”
I handed her a tray with tea things and watched her walk forlornly down the hallway.
If he wanted to start a family and Amory was adamant she didn’t want to be a mother, how on earth could they reach a compromise? Worry gnawed at me for my friend. I only hoped she’d be truthful with Cruz, and lay her soul bare. Only then could they move forward…
It was the day of the expo and I was jittery with nerves. Kai hadn’t been able to get back here in time to clear the chapel; clearly at such late notice it was impossible for him, so that cast a pall of angst over the day. Ned had said the brides could peek in, but how long exactly was a peek? Surely they’d want to pretend to walk down the aisle, to get a feel for it, but I worried about something happening, someone tripping, any little accident that would plunge me into hot water, because I didn’t have permission and that would veto any insurance. I knew the chapel was safe, that there were no tripping hazards, but it would be just my luck that a freak accident happened and I wasn’t sure it was worth the risk.
I’d snuck in there earlier this morning after the florist had placed flowers everywhere and taken a range of pictures, the fairy lights creating that perfect air of magic and romance against the rustic wooden pews and pulpit. Maybe I could get away with showing the brides pictures on the big screen in the theater room instead. Safety first and all of that.
“Can you set that up in the lobby, please?” I asked a man wheeling a light machine that would send shooting stars up and down the ceiling. Just one of the options our brides might go for. Some liked super-glitzy elements to their weddings, others more low-key options. We’d tried to cater to them all.
Amory walked into the room and clipped on an earring shaped like a Christmas tree as carols echoed around the room. This was going to be one beautiful festive day, even the sun was shining – making the freshly fallen snow glisten outside. The sleds were parked near the slopes, and hot cocoa would be waiting for anyone who wanted to sip as they walked around the grounds in the snow. The ice-skating rink surface looked like glass. Most of the brides-to-be wouldn’t want to participate in the winter activities outside, but we still wanted everything to look ready, as if they or their guests could head out for a fun-filled day at any time. Staging at its finest.
She said, “The florist has just finished the front salon and he’s on to the centerpieces on the tables in the ballroom. The place smells divine.”
I nodded as Micah came bouncing in, his full-wattage grin firmly in place. “What? What’s that face about?”
He flashed a piece of paper. “Kai managed to get a one-day approval from Old Ned. You may waltz your brides down the aisle today, if need be.”
Words froze on my tongue. “What?” I managed. “How? Ned wanted to inspect the chapel, didn’t he? And Kai, our registered builder, was supposed to be on-site…”
“Ned came out early this morning and took a quick look around. It helped that Kai had used Ned’s brother-in-law for the structural work. When Kai figured out they were related, he called Ned and explained about the quality of his tradespeople, and just so happened to mention his relative’s name, and how we’d probably use him for the renovations of the chalets if all went well with the bridal expo…”
I shook my head in awe. “God, he’s clever! So Ned won’t want his brother-in-law to lose potential future work at Cedarwood?”
“Bingo,” Micah said, grinning. “Ned still wants to meet Kai and go over it all with him properly, but you have one day to wow your brides. And for the record, I told him Kai was running errands and wouldn’t be in until later.”
“Wow, Micah. You guys are amazing. Thank you!” My stomach somersaulted with glee.
I read the document and smiled when I saw the loop and swirls of Ned’s signature. A one-day reprieve and just in time! Now I could get properly excited.
We went painstakingly through our list of suppliers, and where they’d set up their wares to show them in the best light. We hoped our brides would fall in love with the quality and detail and leave everything to us. A one-stop wedding shop.
“Canapés first up!” Amory said. “Then we’ll introduce them to our vendors.”
“Yes, and then we take them for a dance lesson in the great hall.”
“The instructor’s coming at eleven. Then they can wander the estate and check out the chapel before we regroup for lunch.” Whew, there was a lot for them to do and see.
“I hope we get some bookings after all this work.” I took another large gulp of coffee and marveled at both Amory and myself being out of bed and organized so early. Outside, Micah and Isla laughed as they finished festooning trees with fairy lights. They really were so in love, it was hard to look away.
