Chapter 6
Six
Maddy was already there when Eva pulled into the gravel car park, pacing in tight loops beside a hedge.
Eva watched for a second longer than necessary before getting out of the car.
Maddy Kind: chronically apologetic, restless hands constantly moving to check her bobbed ash-blonde hair, large sparkly green-blue eyes scanning constantly for attack from anywhere and everywhere.
The sort of client who said yes to things she didn’t want and then suffered through them needlessly.
Eva was so used to brides being chipper at this stage, before the pressure slapped them down a bit.
Pleased as punch that a day was coming when they were going to be the centre of their world.
But Maddy was clearly not that person. She seemed downright fragile.
It sparked a flicker of something in Eva’s chest that felt suspiciously like protectiveness. She ignored it.
She grabbed her tablet, pushed her sunglasses up into her hair and climbed out of her mini.
Maddy spun at her approach.
‘You’re early,’ Eva greeted her.
‘Oh, yes,’ Maddy responded apologetically.
‘I like early,’ Eva assured her.
Maddy blushed slightly and dipped her head as though Eva had said something salacious rather than a mild compliment.
‘Let’s start. Three venues today. A cake consultation if time allows.’
Maddy brightened. ‘There might be cake today?’
Eva made a mental note to make sure they made that two o’clock appointment.
They walked toward the restored barn, its white-painted doors thrown open.
Gravel crunched underfoot, and strings of warm fairy lights looped along the eaves despite the midday sun.
Eva felt Maddy fall into step beside her, close enough that she could sense the nervous energy radiating off her.
She reminded Eva of a chihuahua. Cute, but in need of a biscuit with a sedative slipped inside.
Inside, exposed beams crossed high overhead, and rows of wooden chairs stood in perfect lines facing an arch, while a long table dressed in linens and silverware occupied one corner as an example reception layout. These guys were new, but their presentation game was strong.
‘This place just opened up,’ Eva told Maddy.
‘Very nice,’ Maddy said.
A woman in a forest-green gilet with old-money energy ran over. ‘Hello! I’m Claire Duboise!’ she announced.
‘You look around,’ Eva said to Maddy. ‘I’ll do the talking.’
Maddy nodded, pleased.
Eva then listened as Claire explained, with rehearsed enthusiasm, how the space flipped between ceremony and dinner: guests were ushered out into the garden for drinks while staff cleared the chairs, rolled in the tables, and transformed the room entirely before anyone was allowed back in.
Eva then drilled her on capacity limits, power access, accessibility routes. Claire had acceptable answers.
As Eva noted down the answers on her tablet, Claire zeroed in on Maddy. ‘You’re the bride?’
Maddy nodded.
Claire gave her a selling smile. ‘Can’t you just picture walking down this aisle?’
Maddy froze for a fraction of a second before offering a bright, automatic, ‘It’s beautiful.’ The smile didn’t reach Maddy’s eyes.
Noted.
***
The second venue was a stately manor. And it made Maddy shrink almost imperceptibly. She nodded too eagerly at suggestions she clearly hadn’t processed.
Outside, on the way to the car, Eva asked, ‘Do you actually want a horse-drawn carriage?’
Maddy blinked. ‘I don’t know.’
Eva gave her a look. ‘You are allowed to say no.’
‘I know,’ Maddy said quietly. She paused. ‘Are you sure?’
Eva tutted, thinking that she didn’t have the energy to grow Maddy a spine.
Then Maddy smiled. Eva realised that it had been a very intentional joke. Maddy knew her brand.
Eva allowed herself to smile. ‘I can see I’ll have to watch out for you.’
Maddy giggled lightly.
Eva felt a sudden need to change gears. ‘Tell me something you dislike.’
Maddy hesitated for a long time. ‘I don’t want to pretend I’m a Disney princess.’
Hallelujah. A boundary.
‘Good,’ Eva said. ‘So, no carriages.’
Maddy nodded. ‘Yes. I mean, no.’ She sighed. ‘Sorry. Struggling with my words today.’
‘That’s all right. Nonverbal communication is my speciality. Blink twice if you get in trouble,’ Eva said.
Maddy giggled again. ‘It might come to that.’
***
The third venue changed everything.
It was a converted greenhouse that Eva, in a prescient move, had deliberately left till last. Her instincts were quickly proven correct.
Maddy didn’t even have to say it. It was written all over her face as they walked slowly around the enormous space, weaving between tall palms and trailing vines.
And then she walked into a ray of sunshine bending through a pane of glass, and paused, eyes closed, a content smile appearing.
It was astonishing. Nervous Maddy had disappeared, and Eva could see who she was when she was alone. Quite a different woman.
‘It’s more exciting to find the one after a few disappointments,’ Eva said.
Maddy’s green-blue eyes popped open, as if she’d forgotten where she was. ‘You knew I’d like this one?’ she asked quietly.
‘I had a hunch.’
‘You’re very good at this,’ Maddy said eventually.
‘I’m experienced,’ Eva replied automatically.
‘The light is really something else in here,’ Maddy said.
‘Can you picture yourself walking next to…’ She paused. ‘I don’t want to assume your father will be doing it.’
‘Good call,’ Maddy nodded. ‘He’s been gone since I was little. My mother will be walking me down the aisle.’
‘Sorry,’ Eva said simply.
Maddy shrugged. ‘Apparently, he had looked forward to this. Shame he won’t see it. But at least my mother’s around for it.’ She looked around slowly. ‘Now I just have to sell Adam on it.’
Having not met the actual groom, Eva didn’t want to give Maddy any assurances. She could only hope that, as he’d not made an appearance yet, he was easy on the details of his wedding day. Because Eva really wanted this place for Maddy. This was the first time she’d looked happy all day.
‘Can we afford this place?’ Maddy asked.
‘Just about,’ Eva told her.
Maddy smiled again. ‘Phew.’
‘I won’t show you anything you can’t have,’ Eva assured her.
Maddy looked around her and sighed. ‘I guess I can’t stand here forever.’
Eva checked her watch. ‘Not if we want to make that cake appointment.’
Maddy looked happy again. ‘Oh! I’d forgotten about that!’
As they went to leave, Maddy tripped somehow. Her hand shot out and grabbed Eva’s arm. Eva steadied her without thinking. For a split second, they were too close.
Maddy stepped back quickly. ‘Sorry.’
‘You’re fine,’ Eva said. But a disturbing heat had crept up her neck.