"And Parker needs a computerized security system so she can monitor all the public areas of the house."
Parker waited a beat. "I think you've spent that net profit increase several times."
"Spending money's the fun part of earning it. You be Parker, and that'll keep us from going wild. But I really think we ought to do at least some of those things, and put the others on the list for as soon as possible down the road."
"Being Parker then, I'll say the cooler makes sense. See what you can find. Since we'd need to talk to Jack on how to work the cooler into your space, we can ask him to give us an idea how to add on to Mac's studio, and refit the mudroom."
She made more notes as she spoke. "I'd thought of the furniture buy already, and I've started researching the cost there. I'll get projections so we know where we stand on all of this, then we can decide which makes the most sense first."
Nodding, she flipped over to the next order of business.
"Now, upcoming events that will help pay for our hopes and dreams. The commitment ceremony. They got their vows and the script for the ceremony to me today. Friday evening ceremony with, after a coin toss, Allison, now known as Bride One, arriving at three thirty, and Marlene, now Bride Two, at four. Bride One takes Bridal Suite, Bride Two Groom's Suite. As they share a MOH, she's going to float between the suites. Bride One's brother is BM, so we'll use the second floor family parlor for him, and the FOBs, as needed. BM will stand on B-One's side during the ceremony, MOH on B-Two's."
"Wait." Mac held up a finger as she keyed the details into her laptop. "Okay."
"These ladies know exactly what they want and stick to a plan, so they've been extremely easy to deal with on my end. MOB-One and siblings of B-Two aren't particularly happy with the formalization of this relationship, but are cooperating. Mac, you may have to work to get the shots the clients hope for that include them."
"No problem."
"Good. Emma, flowers?"
"They wanted unconventional, but feminine. Neither wanted to carry a bouquet, so we've gone with a headpiece for Allison and flower combs for Marlene. A halo for the MOH who'll carry four white roses. They'll exchange single white roses during the ceremony, right after the lighting of the unity candle. And each will give her mother a rose. White rose boutonnieres for the men. It should be very pretty."
Emma scrolled over to arrangements as she sipped her Diet Coke. "They wanted an airy, meadowy look for arrangements and centerpieces. I'm using a lot of baby's breath and painted daisies, Shastas and gerberas, branches of blooming cherry, wild strawberries, and so on. Minimal tulle, and garlands I'm doing like daisy chains. Bud vases for the roses during the reception.
"A lot of fairy lights and candles, Grand Hall and Ballroom, with a continuation of the natural look for arrangements. It'll be simple and very sweet, I think. If one of you can help me transport, I can do the setup solo."
"I can do that," Laurel told her. "The cake's the vanilla sponge with raspberry mousse filling, topped with Italian meringue. They wanted simple flowers there, too, echoing Emma's. I don't need to add those to the cake until around five, so I'm clear for setup. Otherwise, they want assorted cookies and pastel mints."
"We have the standard Friday night itinerary," Parker added, "excluding bouquet and garter toss. Rehearsal Thursday afternoon, so if there are any glitches, we'll deal with them then. Saturday," she began.
WHENEVER EMMA THOUGHT OF HER PARENTS, HOW THEY MET, fell in love, it ran through her mind like a fairy tale.
Once upon a time there was a young woman from Guadala jara who traveled across the continent to the great city of New York to work in the business of her uncle, to tend the homes and children of people who needed or wanted their homes and children tended. But Lucia longed for other things, a pretty home instead of a noisy apartment, trees and flowers instead of pavement. She worked hard, and dreamed of one day having her own place, a little shop perhaps, where she would sell pretty things.
One day her uncle told her of a man he knew who lived miles away in a place called Connecticut. The man had lost his wife, and so his young son had no mother. The man had left the city for a quieter life-and, perhaps, Lucia thought, because the memories were too painful in the home he'd shared with his wife. Because he wrote books, he needed a quiet place, and because he often traveled, he needed someone he could trust with his little boy. The woman who had done these things for the three years since the sad death of his wife wished to move back to New York.