Page 66 of Save the Date
“Hi, Patricia.”
“Hi Cara. I just thought I’d touch base and make sure that you’ve got things well in hand for the wedding. Is the caterer a definite, because if not, I’ve got Carlos on notice to hold the date for me.”
“Yes,” Cara said. “Fete Accompli is a done deal. Layne’s signed the contract, and I’ll send it over to you and Gordon for your signature. And when that’s done, you’ll need to put down a deposit.”
“I understand,” Patricia said. “When can we schedule a tasting, for the menu for the reception? Cullen says he always suggests the bride’s family have a tasting at least a month before the wedding, so they can tweak anything they don’t like.”
Cara found herself grinding her back molars. Patricia Trapnell was determined to micromanage this wedding, whether Brooke wanted her to or not.
“Cara?” Patricia’s voice was sharp. “Are you still there?”
“I’ll talk to Layne about that, and get a couple possible dates, and we’ll set that up based on Brooke’s availability.”
“Brooke’s availability. That might be never,” Patricia huffed.
“I’ll ask her mother to let her know it’s a priority,” Cara said, unable to resist getting in a dig.
Which apparently went right over Patricia’s head.
“Libba Strayhorn tells me that they’re thinking of having the old barn redone to have the after-party out there,” Patricia said. “Is that a good idea? I mean, a barn? Where horses have been?”
“I toured the barn with Libba,” Cara said. “The horses haven’t been kept there in years. And Libba’s going to have it completely cleaned out and restored. We’ve done flowers for parties in barns and all kinds of unique settings in the past couple years. It’s actually not all that unusual an idea. And this will give Brooke and Harris an opportunity to relax and mingle with their friends in a much more casual atmosphere.”
“Couldn’t they just as well do that in the house? Where there’s air-conditioning and running water?”
Now it was Patricia’s turn to get in a dig. Which Cara, in turn, decided to ignore.
“Was there anything else, Patricia?”
“Hmm. Just going down my list. I assume you’ve gotten a firm commitment from the photographer? Cullen says she stays booked for months and months in advance. I know we’ll want to give her a list of shots we want taken, before and after the wedding. And Gordon is hoping to have Brooke sit for a portrait in her wedding gown.”
“Yes. Meredith has assured me she has us on her books for July sixth. I’ll let her know about your request for a portrait, but that’s something you’ll need to take up with Brooke, since I’m assuming it needs to be done well before the actual wedding day.”
“I’ll do that,” Patricia said. “Or rather, I’ll have Gordon do it. Brooke somehow doesn’t seem to receive any of my phone calls, emails, or texts.”
Big surprise,Cara thought.
“All right then,” Cara said briskly. “I’ll just get back to my flowers. Thanks for calling, Patricia.”
After she’d disconnected from the call, Cara looked at the phone with distaste. This, she thought, was what she was in for, over the next five weeks. Weekly, if not daily, contact with Patricia Trapnell. When all was said and done, Cara was sure, she would have more than earned her wedding-planning fee for this event.
***
Cara went back to her catalogue and her sketches for the Trapnell wedding, and Bert worked efficiently through the phone orders, putting together hospital and birthday arrangements, answering the phone, and then going through their flower stock, to see what needed reordering.
The room grew warmer and warmer. They drank what seemed like gallons of water, and Cara silently checked online, pricing room-sized window air conditioners—one for the shop, and one for her apartment.
When the phone rang around three in the afternoon, Bert glanced over, crossed his eyes, and ignored it.
“Lillian Fanning,” he told Cara. “If she’s paid her bills, I don’t see why we have to talk to her again.”
“Maybe she wants us to do flowers for another event,” Cara said crisply, reaching for the phone. “Which is why I don’t want us screening calls. You never know…”
“I know that woman, and with her, it’s never pleasant,” he shot back.
“Lillian,” Cara said, her voice radiating warmth she didn’t actually feel. “So good to hear from you again. Are you all rested up from the wedding excitement yet?”
“Mostly. Bill and I just got back from two weeks in Bermuda. The weather was nice, but the service! I can’t think why anybody would go there a second time.…”
