She planned to surprise Jack with a twist on their usual Monday night date.
On the way out she stopped by the main house and tracked down Parker in the office.
Parker paced, her headset in place, and rolled her eyes when Emma came in.
"I'm sure Kevin's mother didn't mean to be critical or insulting. You're absolutely right, it is your wedding, your day, your choice. You're entitled to . . . Yes, he is very sweet, Dawn, and extremely well behaved. I know . . . I know."
Parker closed her eyes, mimed strangling herself for Emma's benefit.
"Ah, why don't you let me take care of this for you? It would take the stress off you and Kevin. And sometimes an outside party is better able to explain and . . . I'm sure she doesn't. Yes, of course. I'd be angry, too. But-But . . . Dawn!" Her tone sharpened just a fraction, enough, Emma knew, to shut down whatever rant the bride might be on. "You have to remember, above anything else, any detail, any complication or disagreement, the day and everything about it is for you and Kevin. And you have to remember, I'm here to see that you and Kevin have the day you want."
This time Parker shot her gaze to the ceiling. "Why don't you and Kevin go out and have a nice dinner tonight, just the two of you? I can make a reservation for you wherever . . . I love that restaurant." Parker scribbled down a name on a pad. "Say seven? I'll take care of that for you right now. And I'll speak to his mother this evening. By tomorrow, everything will be fine. Don't worry about a thing. I'll talk to you soon. Yes, Dawn, that's what I'm here for. Good. Great. Mmm-hmm. Bye."
She held up a finger. "One more minute." Once she'd contacted the bride's choice of restaurant, wrangled a reservation, she pulled off the headset.
Parker took a breath, let out a short but enthusiastic scream, then nodded. "Better. Much better."
"Dawn's having a problem with her soon-to-be mother-in-law?"
"Yes. Oddly, the MOG doesn't understand or approve of the bride's choice of ring bearer."
"It's really not her-"
"Which is Beans, the bride's Boston bull terrier."
"Oh, I'd forgotten about that one." Emma's brow creased. "Wait. Did I know about that one?"
"Probably not, as she only told me a couple of days ago. The MOG thinks it's silly, undignified, and embarrassing. And said so in very clear terms. The bride's decided her future mother-in-law is a dog hater."
"Is he wearing a tux?"
Parker's lips twitched "At this point, just a bow tie. She wants the dog, she gets the dog. So I'll ask the MOG to have a drink with me-as such matters are best done in person and with alcohol-and smooth this over."
"Good luck with that. I'm heading into town. I'm going to surprise Jack, cook him dinner, so I won't be back until morning. But I'm also going to see if you and Laurel left any sexy summer clothes anywhere in Greenwich."
"There may be a halter top left. Possibly one pair of sandals."
"I'll find them. I'm going to the market, and by the nursery. Is there anything you need? I can drop it back by in the morning."
"Are you going by the bookstore?"
"I'm going to town; what would my mother say if I didn't drop in?"
"Right. She's got a book I ordered."
"I'll get it for you. If you think of anything else, just call my cell."
"Have fun." As Emma left, Parker looked at her BlackBerry. Sighed. And picked it up to call Kevin's mother.
DELIGHTED TO HAVE A FEW HOURS OUT AND ABOUT, EMMA stopped at the nursery first. She gave herself permission to just wander and enjoy before settling down to the business of selection.
She loved the smells-the earth, the plants, the green-so much she had to order herself not to just buy some of everything. But she promised herself she'd take another swing through in the morning and pick up a few more plants for the estate.
For now, she debated on pots while envisioning Jack's back porch entrance. She found two slim urns in a rusted bronze color she decided would be perfect flanking his kitchen door.
"Nina?" She signaled to the manager. "I'm going to take these two."
"They're great, aren't they?"
"They are. Can you have them loaded in my car? It's right out front. And the potting soil? I'm just going to pick out the plants."
"Take your time."
She found exactly what she wanted, sticking with deep reds and purples with a few sparks of gold to set them off.
"Gorgeous," Nina commented when Emma pushed her cart through toward the cashier. "Strong colors, great textures. And that heliotrope smells wonderful. Is this for a wedding?"