by Judith Keim
“Hello, I’m David.” Justine’s father shook hands with her. He was a pleasant-faced man whose brown eyes behind his glasses seemed to take in everything at once as he looked around and then settled his gaze on her with interest. “Nice place.”
“Of course, it is, darling. We wouldn’t do anything less for our Justine,” said Olivia, all but cooing.
David gave Cami a sheepish grin. “Our princess is spoiled, but we love her.”
“She’s delightful,” Cami assured them. She’d liked Justine from the beginning. “As arranged, all the rooms in the main house here are reserved for family. Vanessa will show you to your room. Join us here in the living area for cocktails at five. The spa and the tasting room in The Barn are open for your pleasure.”
“Can’t wait,” said Olivia. “I intend to make good use of the spa while I’m here.”
“Great. And I understand your friends Lillie and Bud Tucker are arriving later today and will join you for dinner downtown.”
“Yes, most of the wedding party is arriving late tonight, so it’ll be a pleasant break before all the activity takes place.”
“We’ll be here for them. Now, Vanessa will show you to your room, and if you’d like, she can make a reservation at the spa for you.”
Vanessa took her cue. “Come this way. We’ll have your bags sent to your room. I think you’ll like it. It’s one of my favorites.”
Cami and Becca watched them leave.
“This is it,” said Becca. “Everything we’ve been working for. Let’s hope it all goes well.” Her lips curved. “This wedding makes me excited for my own.”
“Still no idea when Dan might propose?”
Becca shook her head. “No, and I’ve decided not even to hint at it anymore. My mother says I’m going to scare him off.”
“I don’t think so. I ‘ve seen the way he is with you. Maybe he’s waiting for a June wedding.”
“Maybe he’s waiting because he’s not sure,” Becca said glumly.
Cami laughed and slung an arm around Becca’s shoulder. “No way.”
###
The rest of the day passed quickly. Cami and Becca worked on a new purchase order system with their IT guy, a young kid named Ben Bachman, a student at Oregon State University. After the mess with Jonathan and his kickbacks scheme, Cami wanted the whole system updated with a few protections added.
At the end of the day, almost numb from numbers and the terms Ben had thrown around, Cami called to Sophie and headed home for a quiet dinner. There wouldn’t be another chance to relax for the next couple of days.
She planned to return to the inn later when the registration desk called to say Justine and her friends had arrived. But as the evening went on, she realized she was too tired, that it was one of the duties Vanessa was being paid for. Vanessa was a night owl; she was not.
###
When Cami awoke, the first thing she thought of was Lulu Kingsley. Maybe today she’d be able to strike up a casual conversation with her and make strides toward finding out about any relationship with her and her father. Everyone had told her to go slowly, so she’d leave it at that. Later, she’d work in more opportunities to talk to her alone.
It was a clear and sunny, perfect pre-wedding day. As she drove from her house to the inn, Cami gazed at the vineyards with satisfaction. By the end of the month, the buds would bloom. Small flower clusters would appear on the tips of the young shoots looking like buttons. A few weeks after the initial clusters appeared, the flowers would start to grow in size, and then pollination would take place. She loved that nature took care to follow the steps that helped her and other grape growers produce the best grapes for a lovely wine. Nature and man, sometimes at odds, could do wonderful things together.
When she arrived at the inn, Becca rushed over to greet her. “May I introduce you to the future Mrs. Daniel Thurston?” Beaming, her eyes liquid with tears of happiness, she held out her left hand to Cami. A solitaire diamond twinkled at her from a wide, platinum band.
“You’re engaged!” Cami squealed and pulled Becca into a warm embrace. “I’m so happy for you.”
“It was the sweetest thing ever,” gushed Becca. “We were sitting on the couch and I was telling him how excited I was about our first big wedding this year. He gave me a funny look and said ‘I hope you’re not more excited about that one than you’ll be about our wedding.’ Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.” She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “He said he couldn’t live without me.”
“Awww, that’s so sweet. The two of you are great together.”
“Will you be my maid of honor?” Becca asked hopefully.
“I’d be proud to be your maid of honor,” Cami said, touched by the request. In the last several months they’d formed not only an excellent working relationship, but a very strong friendship.
They walked toward Cami’s office. “Have you seen Vanessa?”
“No. She called in to say she’ll be in later. Justine and her friends didn’t get here until close to midnight. They’re all sleeping in this morning but will be ready for brunch at noon. The spa is reserved for them for tomorrow morning, and Lynn at Hair Styles downtown has agreed to come here to do their hair. She’s the best.”
“Fantastic! I’d better go check with Darren to see how he’s doing with everything. He hired some temporary workers, and I need to make sure they understand how we pride ourselves on excellent, discreet service.”
Cami left Becca and went into the kitchen. Darren and his wife, Liz, were there overseeing prep work. They were an interesting couple. Both were graduates of the Culinary Institute and were superb cooks, but Liz preferred to let Darren take the lead in the kitchen. Outside the kitchen, not so much.
Darren Bullard was a big man—tall, broad, and husky. Liz was of medium height, and though she was curvy, she wasn’t heavy. As a rule, the two of them quietly bickered in the kitchen, then filled it with shared laughter. It was this openness that the kitchen staff loved. There were no tirades, no throwing of dishes. Moments of foul language occurred, and then it was over. Seldom was anger directed at staff, though a private conversation later wasn’t uncommon. Best of all, the guests loved their food.
Cami watched as a team worked under Liz preparing fruit compotes, and Darren put the finishing touches on an egg and cheese casserole. One of the prep staff was mixing Darren’s homemade sausage and then forming it into patties.
“Hi, Cami,” said Liz, coming over to her. “How are things on your end?”
“Fine. The wedding party is here and will be ready for brunch at noon. Other guests will arrive throughout the day, so I want to make sure we have plenty of light snacks for them. We’re offering fruit, cookies, cheese and crackers, and tea sandwiches. Correct?”
“You got it,” Liz said.
“We’ll meet next week after the wedding to discuss any new ideas any of us has about how best to handle weddings. With all the advertising we’re doing, we’re starting to get bookings.”
Satisfied things were under control, Cami slipped out of the kitchen. If luck were with her, Lulu Kingsley would be up and about.
When she walked into the living room, Cami looked for her, but the main part of the inn was quiet, and no one from the wedding party was in sight.
Cami went into her office and went to work on the financials. Now that the slow months were past, she needed to reevaluate line items in the budget.
Vanessa showed up in the office mid-morning. “How are things going?”
Cami returned her smile. “Great. I hear you had a late night. Ready to do that all over again?”
“Sure. I’m aware the evening will continue after dinner with more celebrations. I understand a certain bar downtown is where they’re headed. I’ll be here to make sure everyone gets back safely.”
“Great. The rest of us will be up early tomorrow for the Bride’s Breakfast and the day’s other activities.” The wedding was planned for six o’clock, allowin
g daylight for photos and dinner, and the cloak of darkness for dancing under the stars.
Vanessa beamed at Cami. “Did you see Becca’s ring? It’s so beautiful! I can’t wait to get mine!”
“You’re getting that serious with Drew?” Cami asked, unable to hide her surprise. They’d been together less than three months.
Vanessa gave her a sly smile. “He doesn’t know it yet, but I want a summer wedding right here.”
Cami told herself it was none of her business and remained quiet, but inside she filled with dismay. She’d thought Drew wasn’t ready for commitment.
Becca came into the office. “The wedding party is awake and up. You wanted me to alert you.”
Cami rose to her feet. “Yes. Thank you. I’ll go introduce myself to them.” Her heart pounded as she left her office. Was she about to meet her half-sister?
Chatter and laughter were mixed in a loud chorus as Cami entered the living room. In addition to the bride and maid of honor, three young women made up the wedding party. As Cami walked toward them, she observed they looked alike with long blond or brown hair and trim bodies clothed in varying shades of color. Their assured manner as they casually lounged on the couches teasing one another indicated a background of money and privilege. Cami tried not to keep her gaze on Lulu, who appeared to be the leader of the group.
Cami walked over to Justine. “Good morning! It’s a beautiful day today, and tomorrow is supposed to be the same for your wedding.”
Justine gave her a quick hug. “Everything looks lovely. I peeked into Chandler Hall, and I think it’s going to be exactly like I wanted. Thank you.” She turned to the others. “Hey, you all, this is Cami Chandler, the owner of the inn.”
Talk quieted.
“Welcome to the Chandler Hill Inn,” Cami said, the words rolling off her tongue with familiarity. “We’re looking forward to providing you with a special weekend. Let us know if we can do anything for you. We want this to be a memorable time for Justine and all of you.”
“When does the spa open? I need a little recovery treatment from last night,” said a pretty girl with blond hair. “Too many margaritas.”
The other girls laughed.
Cami smiled. “The spa is open to all of you. Just call and schedule the times you want. Justine also has hired a limousine to take you to various wineries for tastings, so you might want to put the spa off until later.”
More laughter.
Cami’s gaze landed on Lulu. The similarities between them were shocking, even after her research. Pictures didn’t do them justice. Even though the color of their hair was different, and Lulu was much taller, they shared eyes that rounded in the same way, a similar nose, and the shape of their lips. Cami tried to check Lulu’s ears but they were covered by her long, dark hair.
Cami went over to her. “Hi! You must be Lulu. Justine said we look alike—almost like sisters.”
Lulu’s eyes glazed with frost and her facial features froze. She gave Cami a hard look. “I wouldn’t say that. I had one brother, but he died. And I have no sisters at all.”
Stung, Cami lifted her shoulders in what she hoped was a casual shrug. “I’m sorry for your loss. They say everyone has a twin in the world. Maybe you’re mine.”
“Maybe not,” Lulu said. She turned to Justine. “After brunch, let’s head out to the wineries.”
Justine sent Cami a look of apology before nodding to Lulu. “Fine. Everyone else wants to do the same.”
As she headed to the kitchen, Cami wondered at Lulu’s treatment of her. Before she reached the door, she heard someone say, “Lulu, what’s going on? You and Cami look so much alike ...”
Cami halted her steps, waiting for a reply.
“Stop it! All of you, stop! She’s no relation to me.”
Justine’s soothing voice said, “No need to get upset, Lulu. I thought it was fun to find someone looking so much like you. That’s all.”
“Well, I’ve had enough.”
The silence that followed was filled with tension.
Becca approached her. “Wow! It’s true! Lulu Kingsley looks an awful lot like you.”
“I know, but she sure doesn’t like it,”
“Maybe you two are secret sisters or something like that,” Becca said, giving her an impish smile, unaware they might be.
Cami didn’t respond, unsure how she felt about that.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Cami stood at the doorway to the dining room. In addition to the girls in the wedding party, Justine’s parents and their friends, and George and three of his friends were sharing the meal. It seemed a congenial group. George’s parents were due to arrive from San Francisco soon, and if they were as nice as Justine’s, it should be an easy wedding.
“So far, so good,” said Vanessa quietly, coming up beside her.
Cami turned to her with a smile. “I spoke to the florist. Cynthia said they’re still waiting for some of the flowers, but they’ll get them from the Flower Market in Portland this afternoon.”
“Fabulous Florals does such a great job. I think I’ll use them for my wedding too.”
Cami arched an eyebrow. “And when is that going to be?”
“Sooner than Drew knows,” Vanessa said with a laugh. “Shhh. Don’t tell him!”
Cami played along, but she was aghast. Drew must have fallen faster and farther than she’d once imagined. But then Vanessa was very attractive. “A looker,” Rafe had called her.
Later, with the brunch a huge success, their guests headed outdoors to the three limos waiting to take them on a tour of wineries.
Watching them leave, Cami turned to Becca. “Cleaning crew ready to go?”
“Yes. I’ve added two more to our usual crew, as we discussed.”
“Very good. I want the room for Congressman Kingsley and his wife to look especially fresh.”
Becca frowned and shook her head. “Guess you didn’t hear. They’ve cancelled their reservations. Something about his wife becoming ill.”
Cami sagged with disappointment. Lulu might not want to discuss how or why they might look alike, but she’d hoped to corner her father privately to have a chat with him.
###
People were returning from the wine tour when George’s parents arrived. Cami was on hand to greet them. Katherine Dickinson, tall and aristocratic, was dressed in a navy suit and heels. Her husband, Howard, a large man with a gray fringe of hair around his bald head, was wearing tan slacks, a small-checked sport coat, and a frown.
“Welcome to Chandler Hill Inn for your son’s wedding weekend,” Cami said, trying not to react to the way Katherine was giving the living room a disparaging look.
“Would’ve been much simpler to do something in San Francisco,” grumped Howard. “Probably should have hired the company jet. The drive from Portland was not easy.”
Cami bit her tongue and then said, “Well, now that you’re here, why don’t you relax? We have a nice welcome gift ready in your room, and we’re here to take care of anything you might need. If you like, I can arrange an appointment at the spa for either of you.”
Before they could respond, George entered the inn and hurried over to them. “Ah! You made it. Isn’t this place great?”
Katherine’s lips thinned. “You know I wanted you to have your wedding in San Francisco where many of my friends could join us. Our club would have been perfect.”
“Your club, not mine,” said George firmly. “This is what Justine and I wanted all along—something quiet with people we care about.”
Justine hurried to George’s side, grabbed hold of his hand, and turned to his parents with a wide smile. “I’m so glad you’re finally here. After you get unpacked and relax a bit, join us in the library for cocktails. Thank you for hosting the Rehearsal Dinner.” She laughed softly. “It won’t take us long to practice. Wait until you see how everything is set up in the garden. It’s going to be beautiful.”
Katherine’s expression softened momentarily and then h
ardened into her usual judgmental manner.
Watching the interchange, Cami curled her fingers. No one was going to ruin this wedding. Not even the groom’s parents.
“We have limousines lined up to take you into town for the dinner, so you won’t have to worry about driving these country roads in the dark,” Cami assured them.
“That will be fine,” said Howard. “Lots of winding roads.”
“A bunch of us are going swimming in the pool. Want to join us?” Justine said with a note of desperation.
Katherine’s lips curved into a smile and straightened again in such a short time Cami wasn’t quite certain it had actually happened. “No, thank you, dear.”
“See you later,” George said. He turned and, still holding hands with Justine, walked away, his head bent low to Justine’s.
“After all the trouble we went through to get here, he just walks away?” said Howard.
Katherine shook her head. “Come, dear, let’s get to our room. You can rest there. Maybe he’ll come join us.”
Maybe not, Cami thought, wondering at the way George’s parents had treated him. Families could be so difficult to deal with—too many expectations, too many agendas to please everyone. A wedding often brought out the worst in people.
Justine’s parents waved from across the room and came over to them.
“Hello, Katherine, Howard.” Olivia gave Katherine a quick hug and the men shook hands.
Olivia beamed at them. “I’m so happy you made it in plenty of time to relax before dinner. I’ve heard many nice things about Rudy’s, the restaurant you chose for the Rehearsal Dinner. It should be a lovely evening.”
“Not too much choice,” said Howard.
Cami fought the urge to roll her eyes. “I think you’re going to be very happy with the restaurant. We recommend it to our guests all the time.”
“And tomorrow’s wedding dinner will be delicious too. The food here is terrific,” said Olivia with a pleasant calmness Cami admired.
Vanessa entered the room and joined them. Cami introduced her to George’s parents. “Vanessa will take care of handling anything you need.” Cami turned to her. “Why don’t you lead Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson to their room?”