9 Bianca #2
“Headed to a jobsite but had to stop for a little incentive first.” As he finished his sentence, he accepted two frozen drinks
piled high with whipped cream.
“Those look yummy.”
“According to Sylvie, they are the only acceptable payment for helping me with a job. So...” He gave a little shrug.
“So naturally you had to get one for yourself, too?” Bianca didn’t know Luke had a girlfriend. When they had talked about
relationships the other night, she just assumed...
Anyway, it didn’t matter. Luke was great. Of course he had a girlfriend. How sweet that she helped him out. Pretty soon that
would be the same kind of couple she and Zander would be.
Although she didn’t know if Zander drank drinks like that. He was more of a protein shake kind of guy.
“Well, Sylvie seems to be onto something,” Bianca continued. “Maybe if I had one of those every morning, I would feel differently
about my job.”
As soon as she finished saying it, a little girl about eight or nine walked around the other side of the coffee truck and
held her hands out for the drink. “Thanks, Uncle Luke.” She licked the top of the whipped cream before she took a long slurp
of the drink.
Suddenly Bianca’s mood brightened. “And this must be Sylvie.”
Luke nodded. “This is my niece. Sylvie, meet my friend Bianca.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Bianca.” Sylvie had the formal tone of someone who was wiser than her years. She stuck her arm out,
elbow locked, for a handshake.
Bianca liked this kid already.
“Likewise.” She shook the little girl’s hand. “And what is this fabulous drink you conned your uncle into ordering for you?”
“It’s a frozen raspberry butterscotch latte. It’s really good.” She took another long sip to illustrate its deliciousness.
“Well, with that kind of recommendation, I can’t really leave without trying it.” She looked at the barista. “I’ll have one of those, please.”
“Good choice,” the barista said. “Would you like it like his or hers?”
Bianca’s brow furrowed as she looked back and forth at the two drinks. “What’s the difference?”
The barista leaned forward and lowered her voice. “With the caffeine or without?”
“Oh, caffeine. All the caffeine.”
“I got ya.”
The barista got to work, and Bianca turned around to focus on Luke and Sylvie.
“What fun job has your uncle roped you into today?” She glanced up at Luke. “Another toilet repair?”
“Ew! Fixing a toilet.” Sylvie squeezed her eyes shut and stuck her tongue out, disgusted.
Luke chuckled. “Luckily, all toilets seem to be running just fine. Today’s task is part of a new service L & C Property Management
is offering.”
“And what is this new venture?”
“It’s called the Custom Concierge Service. I got the idea when a few of my renters over the holidays asked if I knew anyone
who could decorate their house for Christmas.”
Sylvie raised her hand. “Me. It was me. I decorated their house.”
Luke chuckled. “It’s true. She helped me finish one of the houses because I didn’t realize it was an early release day at
her school.”
“And here we are. Still decorating things,” Sylvie reported.
“Sounds like a pretty cool service,” Bianca said.
“The renters have thought so,” Luke agreed. “We’ve expanded from decorating to setting up custom experiences that make their
trip extra memorable. You know, family photo shoots on the beach, special birthday parties, custom tours they want to do.
All for a small fee, of course.”
“Naturally. What custom experience are you setting up today?”
“A romantic dinner on the beach.”
“Wow, that sounds fun.” She glanced at her watch. It was only three o’clock. “But isn’t it a little early to be setting up for dinner?”
“Typically, I’d say yes, but I’m giving myself some extra time. Arranging for a bounce house is one thing. But setting up
a romantic dinner that will be the backdrop of a proposal?” He gave her the wide-eyed look of being overwhelmed.
“Uncle Luke doesn’t know what he’s doing,” Sylvie filled in.
Luke held up his hands in surrender. “She is right. I have no idea what I’m doing. What I do have is an inspiration picture
and a truck full of supplies, so we’re going to figure it out.”
“Sounds like a fun problem to figure out,” Bianca said, accepting her frozen raspberry butterscotch latte from the barista.
“I love that kind of stuff.”
“Really?” Luke seemed shocked by her statement, as if they were still on the subject of toilet repair.
“Sure. Decorating with someone else’s money? What’s not to love?”
“Um, everything. I have some guy’s proposal dreams hanging on the hope that I can set up something that will wow his girlfriend.”
“The proposal does step it up a notch.” She took a sip of her drink—which was divine, by the way—and considered Luke’s dilemma.
“Just make sure it photographs really well from one side and tell him to walk in from that direction. And maybe give the photographer
a heads-up on where to stand.”
Instead of giving him confidence, the helpful advice appeared to make Luke even more stressed. “You think there’s a photographer?”
“Of course there will be a photographer. Who proposes on the beach with that kind of setup without a photographer?”
“Huh.” Luke stared at the ground, his brow furrowed in thought.
Bianca probably should’ve stopped there, but she was too excited.
Maybe it was the thought of the project that inspired her or thinking about the romantic moment of someone saying yes.
Whatever the case, she kept on rattling.
“And if he didn’t think to get a photographer, you should probably offer to hang around to take some pictures.
She will want them. Also, make sure you have champagne.
” She stopped to think for a second. “Unless it doesn’t go as expected.
Then they won’t want the pictures or the champagne, or really for you to be around at all.
So, be ready to disappear if that’s the case.
With the champagne. And delete the photos. ”
It wasn’t until she saw fear flash across his face that she realized she’d gone too far.
She quickly waved her hand in the air to erase the thought. “Don’t worry. That’s not going to happen. And even if it did,
that would have nothing to do with your setup. She would’ve said no even if it was the most breathtaking scene. Although,
yours will be breathtaking. It’ll be great. They’re going to love it.”
Seriously. Why did words keep coming out of her mouth?
“Yeah. I’m in way over my head.” Luke let out a long sigh and twisted his mouth to the side as he thought. After a couple
seconds, he looked up at Bianca with a hopeful expression. “Any chance you have some free time and want to look at the plans?
I have them in the truck.”
Yes. Yes, she did. But she tried to play it cool anyway.
She looked over at Sylvie. “Is this how he roped you in, too?”
“Pretty much.” Sylvie gave a serious nod as if she, too, knew she’d been duped. Then she took a sip of her raspberry butterscotch
deliciousness to prove it was worth it.
Bianca looked back at Luke. “I’d love to help. I happen to have a couple hours, so maybe I can do more than just look at the
plans. Let’s see what you got.”
Relief washed over Luke’s face. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
She followed him to his truck, and he pulled a binder from a rubber bin in the bed. Inside there was a data sheet that had
a picture paperclipped to the top of it.
The setup was simple enough. There were three long bamboo poles arranged kind of like a teepee, with a small two-person table
underneath. The poles were wrapped in white gauzy fabric, and where the poles met there were twinkle lights with a candle
lantern hung like a chandelier. The scene was surrounded by tiki torches.
It was a beautiful setup, and it would make a great backdrop for a romantic evening. But with a few minor touches, it could be stunning. And with something as big as popping the question, “stunning” needed to be the target. “Magical” would be preferable.
Luke studied her intently. “You don’t like it.” He seemed to deflate.
“No, I do,” she said in her most optimistic voice. “I’m just thinking through the whole setup. Where is this happening?”
“On the beach, right outside of their town house.”
Bianca nodded, envisioning the space. “They’re not there, are they? While you’re setting up?”
“No. They’re out on a kayaking excursion. They won’t be back until after five. Which is why we’re setting it up now, so we
can be out of the way before they get back.”
“And he’s going to propose right when they get back? When they’re all sweaty and gross from kayaking in the sun?” Technically
she’d been proposed to over a FaceTime call when she was wearing bunny slippers and eating Kraft Easy Mac, but just because
her proposal wasn’t Instagram-worthy didn’t mean Bianca didn’t have high expectations here. This soon-to-be groom was paying
for something of that caliber, after all.
Plus, Zander promised a more romantic proposal that would make a better story when they were finally together, so her moment
would come. Maybe she should even point him in Luke’s direction.
But she was getting off track. What was important today was this proposal.
“I think he was planning on doing it during dinner. Catering is scheduled to arrive at six thirty. My guess is they’ll shower
first and get ready. He ordered a pretty fancy meal.”
Bianca thought for a second. “Are you open to making a few changes?”
“As long as it’s in the realm of doable, change away.”
Bianca’s grin started from the inside, and she felt more excited for this project than she had for anything else she’d done
while she was in Sunnyside. Which was normal, right? Because who didn’t love a good proposal?