Highland Stars (Love on Vacation #2)
1. Makenna
Makenna
“This is going to be your last wedding. I’m sorry.”
I stare out at the crowded dance floor, dumbfounded at the bombshell my boss just dropped on me out of nowhere. No emotion. No truth in her voice when she claimed she was sorry. What in the world happened? Is the company folding? Surely not; we have plenty of business.
“Makenna!” Her shrill voice comes through my phone speaker, startling me out of my stupor. “Did you hear me? I’m taking over your remaining events.”
“But … why?” I rub at my chest as breaths become harder to find.
“Your upcoming two-week vacation shows a lack of commitment to the company and your clients.” Her matter-of-fact tone should be no surprise to me.
She’s always been aloof, bordering on narcissistic, but I can’t believe anyone could deliver news like this over the phone with the same emotion they would use to order take-out.
“You approved my vacation.” My voice comes out strangled as I turn my back to the reception and try to remain calm.
“Yes, but since then I’ve thought a lot about it, and I don’t like where your head’s at.”
No, she’s mad because more often than not, clients come in asking for me. Until now, she’s been lightly passive-aggressive about her jealousy. I guess my vacation gave her what she needed to blow past that.
I’m one of three wedding planners at the company, but clients mention my name in more than half of our online reviews. All five stars. A fact I was proud of, until it became clear that my boss wasn’t happy about it.
No. I’m still proud. This is insane.
“I’m committed. And my clients are always pleased. This makes no sense.”
“It doesn’t have to make sense to you. Your final check will be deposited next Friday. Goodbye, Makenna,” she says in one breath, as if trying to make sure I can’t speak again. And I don’t because the line goes silent.
I squeeze my phone in my fist, then slide it into my pocket.
Minutes ago, I’d been proudly surveying my work.
The gorgeous lighting, the elegant cascading florals, and the smiles on the faces of the bride and groom.
And now? Now I’m unemployed with an expensive vacation starting in nine days.
I’ve been saving and have the money set aside, but do I need that money to live?
I have a cushion, but how long could that last?
It’s fine. It’s gonna be fine.
“Miss Fore?”
I will away the threatening tears as I turn to find the mother of the bride. She’s standing with a bright smile on her face. “Hi, Mrs. Conner. Is everything alright?”
“Oh, yes. Everything is wonderful. I came to thank you before the night got away from me.” She considers me more closely. “Are you okay?”
“I’m just fine.” I paste on my best smile, and it seems I’ve convinced her, even if I haven’t quite convinced myself. I’ve got to push my feelings aside until this event is over.
“Well, good. I hope it is.” She gives me a kind smile. “This has been the best wedding I’ve ever been to, and I don’t think it's solely because it’s my daughter’s.”
This brings me out of my funk a bit. I love a job well done, and there’s nothing better than hearing how happy people are with my work. Not that that will be happening again for a while.
“It is beautiful, isn’t it? Everyone seems to be having a good time.”
“Stunning. And yes.” Mrs. Conner reaches out and grabs my hand. “You’re so talented. I’m gonna leave you an excellent review.” She gives my hand a squeeze and lets it drop.
“I appreciate that, thank you.” One final gift for my ungrateful boss.
My best friend, Mai, and I are sitting in our favorite little café in our hometown having dinner after work. Correction, after her workday. I spent the day lounging and packing. We don’t leave for four days, but nobody can ever accuse me of procrastinating.
“How’s your salad?” I ask. She got their salad special, and it looks way too advanced for me.
The greens are very dark. There’s goat cheese, and walnuts.
Walnuts. Pecans, I could handle, but never walnuts.
If I were served that salad, I’d pick out the strawberries and chicken and ask someone else at the table to eat the rest.
“It’s delicious.”
She doesn’t offer me a bite because she knows it would be a wasted breath.
I like to think I’m only medium picky, but she thinks I have the eating habits of a child.
I can’t help it that she grew up eating wild food and has a refined palate.
I’m working on it. There’s medium green lettuce on my sandwich.
“So … I have some news,” Mai says. Her tone is neutral, so I can’t tell if this is good news or not.
“Okay. Lay it on me,” I say, taking a bite of my turkey club.
“I can’t go to Scotland.”
I drop my sandwich onto my plate. Mai and I have been planning this trip since high school. It’s been over a decade of dreaming, planning, and saving. And what? She suddenly can’t go?
“Umm … what?” I feel like the floor has fallen out from underneath me. First my job, and now this?
“You know I want to make partner in my firm, and we suddenly have some really major cases. My boss said he can’t spare me. He said that it’s my choice, because he had approved my time off, but he strongly encouraged me to stay. And”—she sighs—“Makenna, I really want to make partner.”
“Why is this happening?” I hold back tears. Since losing my job, this is what I’ve been holding onto. Now, poof, it’s gone too.
She sighs again. “I’m so sorry.”
“I think I’m sadder about this than I was about losing my job.”
Mai huffs a little laugh. “Those fools didn’t deserve you, anyway. We’ll figure it out.” She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand.
I love having her on my team.
“Can we cancel everything?”
“There’s nothing we can do about our flights, but I looked into it and we can cancel our lodging, apart from the first place.”
So I’m out the flight money and half of our first booking. I wonder how cheaply I could stay if I went alone. Am I brave enough to go alone? I think so.
“I see your wheels spinning.”
I stare at her a moment, still considering my options. “I think I’m gonna go.”
Mai stares. “You want to go alone?” Her tone was the same as it would have been if I’d said I was headed to Mars, never to return.
“I think I might. We can cancel our other lodgings. I’ll figure out something cheaper.” I take a sip of my sweet tea, mind whirring.
“You’re serious? Do you think it’s safe?”
“It’s not like I’m going to a place known for crime. It’s probably safer than Atlanta. And I’ve never run into any trouble in all the hundreds of times I’ve gone into the city, so imagine how safe I’d be in Inverness.”
“I’m not sure—”
“Also, I got my green belt in karate.”
Mai sets her fork down on her plate. “I know. I was there.” She crosses her arms as if preparing for battle. “We were in sixth grade.”
“I’m sure it’s like riding a bicycle.”
She pulls out her phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“Your mother.” She brings the phone to her ear.
She knows if my mom’s against it, I won’t go. My whole life, it’s been just me and my mom. We lived together until last year. And we’ve become friends now that I’m an adult.
“Hey, Ms. Fore.”
Silence.
“I’m alright. Though, I just told Makenna some bad news. I’m not going to be able to go to Scotland.”
Silence.
“I know. I’m so sad about it. Actually, I’m with Makenna right now, and she says she wants to take the trip alone.”
Silence.
“Yes.”
Silence.
“You do?”
Longer silence.
“I’ll tell her.”
Silence.
“Love you, too.” Mai sets her phone on the table. “She says she wishes she could take off and go with you, but since she can’t, she thinks you’ll have a great solo adventure.”
“Your star witness really failed you, didn’t she, counselor?
”“She really did.” She narrows her dark brown eyes at me, considering.
“You know … maybe this will be good for you. I feel like you’ve been living at eighty percent these past couple of years.
Maybe this is your chance to remember how strong and capable and fun you are. ”
“Are you just trying to make me feel better about you ditching me?”
“No. I’m trying to give you a bright side. And make myself feel better about ditching.”
I laugh. “It’s punishment enough that you don’t get to go to Scotland. Although I’ll have to really consider whether I bring you a souvenir."
“Honestly, that’s fair.”