Picking up the portrait of his first trip west, he examined the image more closely. This might be the happiest he’d ever been. It had more to do with the photographer than about his business prospects. Elliot had always brought out a better side of him.
He replaced the picture next to the old Atlanta Braves hat on his desk, barely aware he was smiling now. Struck by inspiration, he sat back down and sent a quick message. Her response popped up moments later.
That’s perfect. Having your father’s uniform hat on the chair next to your mom’s would be a beautiful way to honor him at the ceremony and reception.
And now I’m misty-eyed.
Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. If the idea made the wedding planner this emotional, how would his sister react?
Is it too much? Will it make Sadie too sad?
No, it’s great. She loves the idea.
You’ve already talked to her about it?
You CC’ed her on the message. And we’re together in the office finalizing the seating chart.
That’s right. An emergency summit to add a few late RSVPs. He started a new message, but stopped when a reply came from his sister.
I’m lucky to have you as my big brother.
Great. Now he was developing a case of damp eyes.
A lump formed in his throat. Fortunately, Elliot’s next message relieved him of that feeling. She sent a picture of them holding the bouquet. In the background, someone was using his website on their computer.
It’s like you’re here with us. Big brother (i.e. you and your social tracker) are always watching us.
Hope to see you at the final tasting tomorrow.
Eric smirked. Those two girls were trouble. The good kind, but trouble nonetheless. Sadie needed a friend like Elliot. From what he could tell, Elliot probably needed someone like his sister, too. He was glad they’d found each other. Strange that only a few months earlier he’d dreaded the idea of the two women spending so much time together.
Stranger still, he was glad Elliot was happy. She’d never complained, but she’d been lonely after her mom’s death. And when he saw her again for the first time in years, she’d lost some of that spark she’d always had. He was relieved she still found reasons to laugh. She had the best laugh.
Eric leaned back in his chair, massaging his temples as he tried to make sense of everything. They had history. Some good, some bad. He could admit there was more of the good than the bad, no matter what he’d tried to tell himself the past eight years. After the last few months, and especially after yesterday, one thing was certain: their story wasn’t over. The least he could do was invite her out for coffee or dinner to find out how the story should end.
From The Marrying Type Transcript
Filmed: September
Airing: December
Announcer: This weekend, Sadie Warner and Adam Crawford will tie the knot. But before they enter matrimonial bliss, there’s one final step to take. Tasting the menu prepared by one of the top chefs in Charleston.
Adam: This is where Eric and I are the experts.
Sadie: Having a big appetite doesn’t make you an expert at picking out a menu.
Adam: You’d be surprised.
Announcer: Speaking of surprises, our favorite wedding planner is in for a big one at this tasting.
Chapter Nineteen
“Marriage is one long conversation, checkered by disputes.”
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
ELLIOT LOADED UP A tote bag with everything she’d need for the final menu tasting for the Warner-Crawford wedding. In addition to the sample menus and extra paper for making notes, she had additions to the list of dietary restrictions the groom’s mother had sent. Hopefully pine nuts, arugula, and truffle oil hadn’t been integral parts of any of the main dishes. Mrs. Crawford hadn’t offered up much of an explanation for why she wanted them off the menu, but she’d been adamant.
The prospect of handing over the list to the caterer was enough to make Elliot toy with the idea of calling in sick for the first time in her life. While she’d worked with this caterer for years and developed a good rapport, she was fairly certain she’d get a lecture from the head chef. Nothing set off a caterer like having last-minute menu changes.
She imagined Marissa would be thrilled if the caterer slipped some swear words into the upcoming, and inevitable, fight. She seemed to like bleeping out words on-screen.
Her stomach churned, and why wouldn’t it? She’d devoted hours to planning a high-profile wedding in front of a camera crew. It was enough to make anyone sick to their stomach with nerves.
Still, there was another part of her that was excited for today. Not because of getting to taste the menu, which was always fun, but because of who she’d be with this afternoon. Namely Eric, who’d already sent her a couple of cute, but cryptic texts. Their back-and-forth messaging had grown increasingly more flirtatious. She tried not to read too much into the subtext of the texts—or the kiss they’d shared in front of thousands of baseball fans on Sunday. Even as she rationalized the countless reasons why she had nothing to get excited about, she checked her hair in the mirror for the tenth time.
She was finding it harder and harder to keep up the disinterested act, even when the cameras were on hand. At least everything—the wedding and the filming—would wrap in a few days.
Someone knocked on her office door.
“Can I come in?” Claire asked, clutching an envelope in her hands.
“Of course.” Elliot plastered a smile on her face, rather than show her annoyance at an interruption moments before she needed to leave. “I’ve missed having you around.” Which was a big fat lie. “I’m sorry my father and sister have kept your schedule too busy to work the last few weddings.” An even greater lie. “What can I help you with?”
Rather than take a seat, Claire stood on the opposite side of the desk and slid an envelope across.
“Should I open this?” Elliot asked.
“Please.”
Using her mother’s pearl-handled letter opener, Elliot opened the envelope and removed a slip of paper.
Dear Walter, Libby, and Elliot,
I am writing to offer my resignation, effective immediately. While I have appreciated the experiences I have gained working for you the past five years, I have been offered an opportunity I cannot refuse.
Thank you for everything, and I wish you the best.
Claire
Elliot reread the short letter twice before refolding the paper and sliding it back into the envelope.
“You’re not giving us much notice,” Elliot said. “I’d hoped to have your help with the wedding this weekend.”
“I wish I could say I was sorry, but my new job starts tomorrow.” Claire folded her arms. “I might consider coming in on Saturday if you doubled my pay.”
Claire was hardly worth the salary they already gave her, let alone twice that amount. “I wouldn’t want to overwhelm you with your new job, but I appreciate the offer,” Elliot said. “My sister will be sorry to hear you’re leaving us. Have you told her?”
Claire shook her head. That figured.
Clearing her throat, Elliot traced the outline of the envelope. “Where will you go?”
“Weddings by Will.”
Elliot froze. “Will is hiring?”
“Obviously.” Elliot didn’t take exception with Claire’s sassy tone, because she couldn’t work up the energy to care. The woman wasn’t her assistant anymore. “He’s setting up his East Coast offices and wants me on the ground floor.”
“He found a local company to buy?”
“Not that it’s any of your business,” Claire said, “but yes.”
With her patience nearly gone, and an appointment to make, Elliot stood up. She offered Claire her hand and gave her biggest lie yet. “I wish you the best. Thank you for your service.”
The other woman smirked and shook her hand. Claire was barely out the door when Elliot sent a series of texts to her fath
er and Libby.
Claire quit—effective immediately.
Going to work for Weddings by Will.
Says he’s officially setting up business on the East Coast.
Who sold out?
Unable to wait for their replies, she told them where to find her and tossed her phone in the tote bag and grabbed her keys. While she processed the sudden change, Elliot left for the tasting. Her concerns about a smaller staff on Saturday and—even more alarming—the latest news about Weddings by Will would have to wait a few more hours.
SHE ARRIVED EARLY FOR the tasting to ensure preparations were in progress before the honored guests appeared. The waiter led her to the back room, where she was surprised and pleased to find Eric waiting. He glanced up and her stomach fluttered like it always did when he was around.
Pushing himself away from the table, Eric stood to greet her. They shook hands, and he held on longer than necessary.
“How are you today, Ms. Lynch?” he asked. “Slay any dragons yet?” His tone, and the slight caress of his thumb across her knuckles, sent her tummy butterflies flying.
“No evil villains, yet.” Her hand stayed firmly gripped in his. “You’re not planning to change that are you?”
He laughed and released her hand to pull out the chair next to his. “The caterers have everything in the works,” he said. “They received your confirmation email and text. They’re ready to go when Sadie and Adam get here. You’re supposed to take a seat, drink a glass of wine, and let them take care of everything.”
“Okay.” She slipped into the seat. Scanning the table, she noted an extra place setting and chair. Why had the caterer added another spot? Sadie must’ve invited a surprise extra taste-tester. If that was the case, Elliot was most definitely going to get a lecture from the catering manager. Eric poured wine into two glasses. After exchanging a silent toast they tasted the wine, a rich pinot noir.
“Where’s your camera crew?” he asked. “You usually don’t get far without having someone following you around.”
“They took some b-roll of the kitchen staff last week and plan to swoop in on us at the last minute for a few more shots.” She took another sip of the wine and noted the label. She’d have to remember this brand and year for later. “I’m told tastings aren’t the most exciting part of the wedding process.”
“This is my favorite part.”
She cracked a grin. “You always were a fan of activities that involved food.”
“I still am.” He cleared his throat and lowered his voice. “Speaking of food, I was wondering . . .”
“Wondering what?”
“Maybe, well . . .” His gaze returned to hers, and for a moment, she saw the hopeful young man who’d promised to love her forever. “When the wedding is done, would you want to meet up?”
She stared in stunned, but thrilled, shock. Was he asking her out on a date?
“Not just meet.” He tripped over his words. His fingers tapped against the stem of the wine glass as he rambled. “Would you have dinner with me? We can catch up. Spend time together. Get to know each other again. I almost asked you the other day, but I didn’t want to take any attention away from the wedding. Then I decided it didn’t matter and I should ask before we ran out of time.”
Struggling to keep up with his words, her mind raced with a flurry of questions. She managed to focus on one question—the big one. “Aren’t you going back to California after the wedding?”
“It depends.” His fingers stopped tapping, his shoulders relaxed. “My sister lives here now. I bought some property—a summer home of sorts. I figure I have time to stay until—”
A commotion at the front door drew their attention before he finished the explanation. His sister walked in with the camera crew in tow. Elliot rose to her feet. They weren’t supposed to be here yet. She opened her mouth, but lost her words when Libby followed close behind. She turned to Eric, who remained seated, but was frowning.
“Elliot. Eric. You’re here.” Sadie’s face glowed with excitement. “I’m glad your sister was able to join us, too. She called to introduce herself this afternoon because she’ll be helping with everything on Saturday.”
This was news to Elliot. She almost spoke up, but remembered the S.O.S. texts she’d sent an hour earlier. Her shock turned into awe. For the first time in recent memory, her sister was stepping up to help. While she would have appreciated a heads-up call, this was the biggest, nicest gesture her sister had ever made.
“We got to talking and I asked her to join us because I wanted to make sure we met before the rehearsal dinner.” Sadie kissed her brother’s cheek in greeting and took the empty seat on his other side. “I figured we can always use another opinion on the food.”
“Her fiancé is on his way.” Libby slipped into Elliot’s empty chair. “I hope this is okay with you, Elliot. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner. I lost track of time.”
“No,” Elliot said, smile firmly in place. Too late, she noticed she’d lost her seat. Rather than ask her sister to move, she chose another spot. “It’s fine. We have plenty of room.”
Adam walked in, distracting the bride who greeted him with a kiss. Libby leaned to hug her sister.
“Did you get my text?” Elliot asked.
“What text?”
“About Claire.”
“What about Claire?”
If Libby didn’t know about Claire leaving them in a lurch, why was she taking a sudden interest in this wedding? “Why are you here?”
“My schedule is light the next few weeks, and I figured I’d help out.” Libby picked up Elliot’s glass of wine and sipped. Giving it her silent approval, she took another sip. “You’re not the only one who makes sacrifices for our business.”
She glanced at Eric, who was still frowning in their direction.
“Given the certain awkwardness involved in this wedding,” Libby gave a meaningful look his way, “I figured you needed the extra support. We wouldn’t want you to make any big mistakes, would we?”
“Libby, I appreciate your concern, but—”
“Eric Warner,” her sister said, turning away to offer him her hand. “It’s been a while.”
“About eight years.” His shoulders remained rigid, but he shook her hand.
“You’ve done well for yourself. I hear your little company is quite a success.”
“You’ve heard?”
“Unfortunately, I’m too busy for things like social media, but I read a fascinating article about it in the Times.” Libby flashed her brightest smile.
Elliot wondered how her sister could keep speaking so cheerfully while on the receiving end of Eric’s icy glare. Maybe it ran in the family. She needed to do something to ease the uneasiness that grew steadily stronger.
“Let’s get started,” Elliot said a little too brightly. “We’ll try the appetizers first.”
The tension only worsened as the tasting progressed. Libby took over most of the conversation. With Libby settled between her and Eric, any chance of picking up where they’d left off in their conversation was completely impossible. Worse still, he all but ignored her, except to comment on the food. Maybe he was pretending nothing happened because they had an audience.
By the time the restaurant brought out complimentary coffee and desserts, Elliot’s head ached from the pressure of keeping the tasting together. She wanted to go home. When she got there, she might even pour another glass of wine and take a bubble bath. She deserved it. Her sister’s laughter echoed in her ear, and she watched Eric stiffen. Forget about a glass. She’d drink the whole bottle.
Sadie interrupted her thoughts. “Elliot, I finally met a friend of yours yesterday.”
“Who?”
“Ben Wick.”
“Did you?” Libby asked with interest. “My sister hasn’t even introduced him to us. What’s he like?”
“He’s a complete gentleman of course, and handsome,” Sadie said. “I was impressed.”
“Sh
ould I worry you’ll leave me for him?” Adam asked.
“Of course not.” She covered his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “He’s a nice man—a catch, if you would. You’re the whole package.”
Adam lifted their joined hands and placed a light kiss on her fingers. “Who is Ben Wick?”
“His parents are friends of a friend,” Libby said. “Elliot has gone out with him a few times.”
“He’ll be at the wedding,” Sadie said.
“I wonder if we’ll hear some wedding bells on that front.” Libby shot a sly grin at Elliot. “Not now, of course, but maybe down the road.”
“Excuse me.” Eric stood up suddenly. “I have a conference call with my staff.”
“This late?” Sadie asked, frowning.
“Sorry.”
“That’s a shame.” Adam stood to shake his hand. “I’d hoped you might grab a beer with me after while we leave the woman-folk to talk weddings.”
“Aren’t you being a little sexist?” Sadie asked.
“Maybe another time,” Eric said. “I’ll see you later.”
He didn’t spare Elliot a glance on his way out. Her heart sank. She wondered what had set him off. Elliot didn’t buy his excuse. Earlier, he’d said his work schedule was clear until after the wedding. She doubted he had anywhere else to be tonight. He’d used the conference call explanation before when he’d wanted to leave.
“Are you serious about Ben?” Libby asked. “Why haven’t you introduced him to Daddy and me yet? He worries when you keep the men in your life a secret.”
“I’m not dating Ben,” Elliot said. “At all. He’s actually with Heloise. He’s her date to the wedding.”
“Sounds like you made a mistake letting him go if he’s the catch Sadie says.”
The only mistake Elliot had made was letting Eric go—both eight years ago and again tonight. Staring at his empty seat, she considered running after him. What would she say when she caught up? Would he even listen?
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