"Vows isn't going to be able to handle or host your wedding, Linda. We don't have any dates open in June. In fact, we're booked through the summer and fall."
"Parker, you're a businesswoman." Linda spread her hands. "I'm offering you a major event, the sort that will bring this business of yours a great deal of attention, and certainly future clients. Ari knows important people, so I mean major clients. As I've got my heart set on having the wedding here, in the home of an old friend-one I still miss-we'll compensate you for the short notice. How much do you estimate it would take to have a date open up in June. Say, the third Saturday?"
"You're right, I'm a businesswoman." Parker watched Linda smile in satisfaction. "I'm in the business of providing services for our clients. We have a client for the third Saturday in June. We've signed a contract with that client. When I give my word, I keep it. You really should consider having your wedding in New York. I can, if you like, give you names of other wedding planners."
"I don't want names. I said I wanted my wedding here. It's important to me, Parker. I want to be married somewhere I feel at home, where I have a connection, to have people I love and trust looking after the details. I want-"
"Tears won't work on me." Parker's voice turned cold as Linda's eyes filled. "And I don't care what you want. You're not getting married here. So." She got to her feet. "If that's all, I'm busy."
"You always thought you were better than us, looking down like you're so much more important. A Brown of Connecticut. What are you now, renting out your big house, scrambling around serving drinks and running other people's errands."
"I'm a Brown of Connecticut, following a time-honored family tradition and earning a living." She picked up Linda's coat, offered it. "I'll show you out."
"When I tell Ari how you've treated me, he'll put you out of business. You won't be able to run a kid's birthday party in this place. We'll ruin you."
"Oh, Linda, you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that because it allows me to say something I've wanted to, for years. All the years I've watched you undermine and emotionally manipulate my best friend. All the years I've watched you alternately smother her or ignore her, as it suited your whims."
Shock leached color from Linda's cheeks. "You can't speak to me that way."
"I just did. Now I'll finish. You're not welcome in this house. Actually, you've never been welcome here, but tolerated. That ends now. You'll only be permitted to walk in this door again if Mac wants it. Now get out of my house, get in your car, and get off my property."
"And to think I wanted to do you a favor."
Parker stood in the doorway, watching while Linda slid into her car. By the time she'd driven halfway home, Parker estimated, she'd believe that. She'd tried to do them a favor. She waited until the car gunned down the drive, then grabbed a jacket for the walk to Mac's studio.
Mac met her at the door. "Parks, I-"
"Don't apologize to me. You'll piss me off." She glanced at the studio space, noted the backdrop, the floor pillows. "You've got the engagement shoot. Soon," she realized with a glance at her watch. "I'll be quick."
"How'd the consult go?"
"We didn't get the job."
"Did she cry or yell?"
"A little of both, with bribes and insults."
"It's amazing. She's amazing. She really believes everyone's world should revolve around her." Weary of it, Mac pressed her fingers to her eyes and rubbed. "Within the hour, she'll have turned this around to she was only asking as a favor to us, to try to boost the business. She was secretly relieved when we couldn't manage the job, probably because it was too big for our business."
"She was already on the way there when she walked out the door."
"It's a skill. Maybe it'll last this time. The marriage, I mean. It's pretty clear the guy's got money, and plenty of it."
"Bright side? She'll be moving to New York."
Mac paused. "I didn't think of that. That whizzed by me. That's a very bright side." Still Mac sighed and moved in to drop her head on Parker's shoulder. "Oh God, she tires me out."
"I know." Parker wrapped her arms around Mac in a hard hug. "Be okay," Parker ordered.
"I will."
"You want to come for ice cream after the shoot?"
"I might."
"There're the clients. I'll get out of your way."