Vision in White (Bride Quartet #1)(74)

While she finished the security check, she considered ducking out one of the side doors to avoid the meeting. But that would just piss the rest of them off, and they'd come after her.



       
         
       
        

She didn't want another confrontation, another emotional scene. Over my quota already, she thought. So she'd be a good girl, do the postevent roundup, get through the briefing for tomorrow's proposal.

Better anyway, she decided. Less time to think. Thinking was far down the list of activities she wanted to pursue.

It didn't surprise her to see Laurel setting up tea and finger sandwiches. Vows meetings traditionally included food and beverage of some sort.

"Nice event," Laurel said casually. "Nobody punched anybody in the face. No booting in the shrubbery, and as far as we know, no one used any of the facilities for inappropriate sex."

"Sunday events tend to be tame." Emma slipped out of her shoes and stretched.

"You forget the Greenburg-Fogelman wedding."

"Oh, yeah. That had all of the above, and more."

Unable to sit, to settle, Mac wandered to the window. "It's starting to snow. At least it waited until we were clear."

"Which we are," Parker said as she came in. "Cleaning crew's starting on the Ballroom. Mrs. Seaman may want another look around tomorrow, so we need to shine. Laurel, menu?"

"An assortment of mini pastries, coffee, tea, fresh orange juice. To be followed during my presentation-which is the final-with the cake tasting. We'll also have an assortment of chocolate with the B and G's names or monogram in gold. I've used various styles. I've got both photographs and sketches of cakes-wedding and groom's as well as some suggestions should they want to do guest cakes-the same with options for the dessert bar. I have gift boxes of the chocolate to give to the bride and her mother, and a couple extra in case someone else comes along. I'm covered."

"Okay. Emma?"

"The bride likes tulips, and indicated she wanted them as her signature flower for the event. I'm going garden wedding, since it's an April affair. I'll have masses of tulips-clear glass vases, varying shapes and sizes in here. And roses, of course. I'm putting together arrangements-spring colors, scents. Plus boutonnieres. White tulip with a little sprig of lavender to set it off. I've done three silk bouquets, designed specifically for her. And I'll have one that pushes on her tulips. Because that's the one I think she'll go with. If she goes, that is."

She paused to rub her left foot while she worked down her list. "I've also done a few varieties for attendants-spring colors again as she hasn't settled on her colors. I've got photos in addition to the samples I made. She's already seen my space and a lot of my samples and displays, but I've changed some up and tailored them to her. 

"Laurel helped me sketch out a couple ideas for the pergola area. I had this idea for dogwoods. Young dogwood trees in white urns as a backdrop. We can string them with lights. I want to suggest tussie-mussies instead of corsages for the mothers. I've made a few up to show her. I'll pack arrangements for each of them to take home."

"We've got plenty of photos of all the spaces dressed for spring weddings." Parker glanced toward Mac.

"I've culled out what I feel are the best examples for this client. And ones that I've taken on details. As we already discussed, April's iffy weather and they'll want tents."

"Silk tents."

Mac nodded at Parker. "I've read your proposal. And seen Laurel's sketches. We don't have photographs of that specific layout, but we have a few that are close. I've put together a really strong portfolio of portraits-engagement and wedding, and a separate one with photographs we've had in magazines. They skimmed over the albums when they came through-and you indicated Mom's eyes lit up at the idea of doing an art book. I'm bringing a sample of one. I'm going to take a portrait of the mother and daughter here, during the presentation. I'll go print it out, frame it, box it, and give it to Mom."

"That's great." Parker grinned. "That's excellent. For my part I have three scenarios, different styles, that take them from the rehearsal all the way through to departure. I've gone back and forth, but I've decided to lead off with the one I think is the best."

"The twenty-first-century fairy princess one," Emma said. "My favorite."

"We've already put about a hundred hours into this among the four of us," Laurel pointed out. "Every digit I have is crossed."

Emma gave a decisive nod. "I have a good feeling about this."