Megan rolled her eyes. “I’ll say. She finally found it on Saturday, with the wedding just over two weeks away.”
“I did cut it close,” Jennifer admitted. “But nothing really looked right. Luckily, this dress hardly needed any alteration. As soon as I tried it on I knew it was the one.”
“The same way she felt about Kyle,” Megan added.
“Meg found a great dress, too. When you’re in a bridal party, everyone always says, ‘Oh you can wear that after the wedding.’ But you know you never will—”
“But I can definitely wear this dress,” her friend said, finishing Jen’s thought for her.
“It’s a beautiful shade of rose pink. I brought you a little snip of the material, in case you want to match it to anything. Like the flowers or the napkins or something?” Jennifer began fishing around in her big purse and dug out an envelope.
“Thanks.” Liza took the envelope and placed it with her other wedding files. She had a huge collection of swatches of fabric and snips of ribbon and bits of things that were supposed to be matched to other things. She sincerely hoped the Bennets weren’t keeping close track of all these snips and swatches.
“Oh . . . and here’s the final menu. We met with Molly again last night and figured it all out.”
Jen handed Liza a folded sheet of paper. Liza already knew about the meeting and was glad the food order was finally settled. Molly had e-mailed her a few times, reporting that the Bennets were very nice but mother and daughter disagreed about nearly everything. Liza was actually relieved to see that even a seasoned pro like Molly was having a hard time handling them.
She scanned the selections and glanced up at Jennifer. “Very nice menu. This all sounds delicious.”
“I think it will be great, even though I didn’t start off wanting a lot of food and a big sit-down dinner. My parents like that sort of thing. They think it’s not a real wedding if the guests don’t leave at least five pounds heavier than when they arrived.”
“That’s what the dance floor is for,” Megan said, “to work off the calories.”
Jennifer and Kyle had already figured out the music. A jazz combo would play standards and popular tunes during the cocktail hour and while the dinner was served. Then a DJ would take over to play dance music for the twentysomething guests. It was another compromise with Jen’s parents, who seemed to be sparing no expense on the event.
“All we have left to take care of foodwise is a cake tasting at Molly’s shop,” Jen said. “Poor Kyle, he didn’t get to have much input in all these plans. I want him to at least have a chance to pick out our wedding cake.”
“Is Kyle coming home this weekend for the taste test?” Megan asked Jennifer.
“He’ll be home on June fourteenth, the Tuesday before the wedding.” Jen shook her head in mock amazement. “He’s actually taking off a few days before we get married to relax and get ready for our honeymoon. He didn’t want to take the extra time, but I talked him into it.”
“Knowing Kyle, he would have come right from the train station to walk up the aisle,” Meg said. “I’m glad he’ll be home early. He must be nervous about the wedding, too, even if he won’t admit it. He needs a few days off to decompress.”
“I thought so,” Jennifer agreed. “This way, he can really just relax until Friday night when we have the rehearsal and dinner.”
The wedding party, along with Reverend Ben, was coming to the inn on Friday, June 17, to rehearse the entire program—the order of the procession down the aisle and everyone’s readings. Then they were all going back to the mainland for the dinner in a restaurant.
Liza wished that everything could be in place by then, but the tent wouldn’t be delivered and set up until Saturday. She hoped Sylvia understood and wouldn’t get too nervous.
She would have the landscaping and the list of repairs done by then. That list of repairs . . . she hated to think of it now, mostly because it reminded her of Daniel.
“I’m trying to get every single thing done before Kyle comes back so we can spend a lot of time together,” Jen went on. “We’ll be going to the beach, of course. Our beach,” Jen added, nodding toward the beach by the inn. “But we won’t bother you, Liza. I promise.”
“Don’t be silly. I want you and Kyle to come and see me.” Jennifer was always so cheerful and upbeat, Liza always felt good after talking to her. “You can come up for cold drinks on the porch anytime.”
Jennifer smiled. Liza knew that they were both thinking now of Jennifer’s visits with her aunt.
“We’ll take you up on that,” Jennifer promised. “Oh, I almost forgot. I brought the piece of tulle, see?”
Liza wasn’t sure what she was talking about until Jennifer reached into her purse and pulled out a long piece of gauzy pink material, a soft, sheer netting.
“Oh . . . the material to decorate the chairs. This is very pretty. Let’s see how it looks.”
Liza found the photo of the chair effect Jennifer wanted, and the three women worked together to copy it. It wasn’t very hard. The strip of tulle was wrapped around the back of a chair and tied in a big bow, and then a fresh flower was slipped into the knot.
Liza found a rose in the garden and used it as the finishing touch. Then they all stood back and looked at the chair.
“What do you think?” Jen asked her.
Liza liked it, but she didn’t want to influence Jennifer one way or the other. “It’s up to you, Jennifer. It doesn’t really matter what I think. You have to like it.”
“I do like it,” Jennifer said decidedly. “I think we should put a different kind of flower in the bow, something larger with more contrast.”
“A white daisy or a spider mum would be pretty,” Megan said. “It would contrast nicely with the pink bow.”
“Yes, it would,” Liza agreed. “Do you want this on all the chairs, or just here and there?”
Please say here and there,
she thought.
I can’t imagine tying these bows on one hundred and fifty chairs . . . not counting that extra table that may need to be in the kitchen.
Jennifer considered the question, her chin in her hand. “I think . . . here and there. All the chairs would be too much. And I’ll buy all the material, Liza,” she offered, “if you get the flowers.”
That was a relief. Liza thought she’d seen this material on a website, but it would have to be ordered and who knew how long that would take. And when it arrived, it might not even be the color Jennifer really wanted.
“Thanks. I’ll order the flowers, no problem. Is that going to be the daisies or the spider mums?”
“I like the daisy idea,” Jennifer replied, making this decision much faster. “I’m more of a daisy person.”
“Yes, you are,” Liza agreed with a smile. “We won’t have the chairs here until Saturday afternoon. If you bring the fabric on Friday to the rehearsal, we’ll be fine.”
“Wow . . . I can’t believe we’re almost ready. There must be something I’m forgetting,” Jennifer said.
Liza felt the same way. But she wasn’t going to admit it to the bride.
She had even woken up in the middle of the night, suddenly sitting up, wide-eyed, thinking there was something she’d forgotten to order or plan for the wedding. But all of her lists were practically checked off.
“Just twelve more days until the wedding. The time will go quickly now,” Liza said.
“Yes, I know. I’m happy about that and feeling a little scared, too,” Jennifer admitted. “But happy scared, if you know what I mean?”
“I do,” Liza replied, smiling.
Jennifer glanced at her watch. “I guess we’d better go. Do you mind if we walk through the inn on our way out? Megan’s never been inside. She wants a sneak preview.”
“That’s just fine. Go right in,” Liza told them.
The two young women entered the inn through the back door, and Liza picked up the phone to call the florist and order seventy-five—no, make that eighty—daisies for the chairs.
“LIZA is really nice. I pictured her older for some reason,” Megan said. “Oh . . . this hallway is really neat. I love the stained-glass window.”
“Liza’s been great. I’d definitely recommend her. If she hadn’t agreed to do the wedding here, I’m not sure what we would have done,” Jen said. “Here, this is the sitting room. We’re going to have the cocktail hour inside and out. There will be little tables on the porch, too.”
Jennifer went out to the porch, and she and Megan looked out over the cliff to the beach and ocean below. “What a beautiful view,” Megan said. “I hope you have good weather.”
“If it rains, we’ll have the ceremony inside. Liza has that all figured out with the caterer. And the tent is waterproof.” Jen stared out at the ocean. “I can’t believe I’m really getting married.”
“Me either.” Megan reached over and squeezed her arm. “It’s really weird. But I guess you felt the same way when I got married.”
“Yeah, I did.” Jen turned and grinned at her. “One minute we were getting in trouble together in Mrs. Franklin’s class, and the next minute, I was helping you squeeze into your wedding gown, and buttons were flying—”
“Thanks for reminding me of that adventure.” Megan stuck out her tongue at her friend. “It’s just my metabolism. If we were cavewomen—”
“Yes, I know, you’d be genetically superior and would survive harsh winters. I’d never even get asked on dates.”
Jen had heard this explanation before. About a zillion times. She thought her best pal had a great figure and even envied her curves, but never got tired of teasing her about the buttons that had come off her wedding dress at the very last moment. Luckily, Megan’s mom was cool, calm, and handy with a needle and thread.
“Don’t you feel like we’re still in middle school sometimes?” Megan asked her. “Even getting married didn’t really change that. I mean, you don’t feel all that different afterward. I don’t know. You’ll see.” Megan sighed and gave Jen a hug. “I’m so happy for you. And I’m so glad you’ll be in Boston, and we can see each other anytime. Maybe you’ll even move back to Cape Light when you get tired of living in the city.”
“I hope so,” Jen said. She knew her friend meant when she and Kyle started a family. Jen couldn’t think of a nicer place to raise children than Cape Light. Megan and her husband, Ed, were already talking about having a baby. Jennifer wasn’t quite ready for that step yet. She wanted to teach a few years and enjoy her career.
But Megan’s words did push other buttons. Jennifer hadn’t told anyone yet about Kyle’s interest in that New York job. Not her parents, not even her best friend.
“We’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful place, Meg. I’ve been thinking about that a lot these last few weeks, coming home after graduation. I don’t think I’d ever want to live anyplace else. I mean, not really any farther than Boston.”
“Me either,” Megan said.
“Something’s come up at Kyle’s job. It’s got me a little worried,” Jen admitted.
“What’s the matter? Is the firm having layoffs?” Megan asked with concern.
“Nothing like that. Just the opposite. Everybody thinks Kyle is terrific. You know that he’s working in the New York office on a big project, right?” Megan nodded. “Well, his boss told him to apply for a job opening there. It would be a big promotion for Kyle, a real jump in his title and salary.”
“Wow. That sounds . . . well, great in a way.”
Before her friend could say more, Jen quickly continued. “But a lot of other analysts at his level applied for it, too. So, at first at least, there didn’t seem to be much chance he would get it. But now the search committee is narrowing down the list.” Jen took a breath. “And Kyle is one of the finalists.”
“He is?” Megan looked upset. She didn’t bother to hide it. She looked as upset as Jen felt telling her about it. “Oh, Jen. Does he really want a job in New York? Would you have to live there, or would he come back home on weekends, like he does now?”
“I’d have to go with him, Meg. We’ll be married. That was the whole point of rushing the wedding. We’re tired of dating after all these years, seeing each other just on weekends. He’d be my husband. We’d have to go together.”
“Yes, I know. I’d do the same thing. But Ed would never want to live in New York. He doesn’t even like Boston much.”
“Lucky for you,” Jen said. “I just wish Kyle didn’t want the job so badly. I think living in Boston would be perfect. I don’t see why he would ever want to leave this area, where we’ve got family and all our friends.”
“When will they tell him?”
“He’s not sure. He hopes they’ll make a decision next week, before he comes home for the wedding. But some big executive is in California right now, so they need to wait for him to come back before they announce their final choice.”
Megan sighed and patted Jen’s hand. “Maybe he won’t get it. I mean, there must be guys who are more experienced than Kyle. It’s not that I don’t think he’s real smart, Jen,” she added quickly.
“I know what you mean, Meg. Don’t worry. I’ve been hoping the same thing.”
“How long have you known this was going on?” her friend asked.
“A few weeks. I think he told me after that first time we went out shopping for bridal gowns,” Jen said, thinking back. She turned to Meg. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I haven’t told anyone. It feels good to talk to you about it. I should have told you sooner.”
“That’s okay. I understand. But you haven’t mentioned this to your folks yet?”
“No. I’ve been too scared to bring it up. They’re so wrapped up in the wedding plans, especially my mom. You know how she gets. If I tell her about this job thing, I’m afraid she’ll just wig out on me, totally.”
Meg closed her eyes for a moment, commiserating. “Sylvia will have a double stroke. I don’t even want to think about it.”
“Exactly,” Jen agreed. “And what if Kyle doesn’t get the job? He might not, you know,” she added hopefully. “I would just be driving her crazy for no reason.”
“I guess.” Megan shook her head. “It’s really tough that this all came up in the middle of getting ready for the wedding. I don’t know what I would do if I were you right now.”