Chapter 9 #2
“Thanks for not saying anything,” Brooke said carefully. “Trust me, it’s better this way.”
“For who?” Janice countered. “You should have heard him, honey. He sounded so broken up. He misses you terribly.”
Brooke’s heart clenched. “He’ll be fine,” she said shortly.
Fine with his wife.
She saw the hotel driveway up ahead. “Look, Mom, I have to go. It’s crazy here at work.”
“There’s more to life than work,” Janice scolded. “You should think about calling Archer back. Talk to him,” she added. “I’m sure he’d be willing to give you a second chance.”
Brooke said her goodbyes and hung up. Maybe taking all the responsibility for the breakup wasn’t the best strategy, but she hadn’t been thinking straight through the tears and heartbreak.
The only thing that mattered at the time was getting out of town as fast as possible, before her humiliation was revealed.
She could take some misguided scolding from her mom if it meant her shameful secret affair stayed hidden a little longer, and right now, she didn’t want Archer taking up any more of her heart—or her mind.
She strode into the front entrance of the hotel and called one of the desk clerks aside. “Can you please grab everyone for a staff meeting?” she said, checking the time. Just past nine a.m. Six hours to game time. “I need all hands on deck.”
When the black town car pulled up outside the hotel that afternoon and Meredith emerged with the happy couple in tow, Brooke was waiting on the front steps.
“Welcome to the Sandy Lane Hotel,” she beamed, striding forward to greet them all. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
They all shook hands. Meredith was tapping on her cellphone, already looking stressed, but Lila seemed every inch the off-duty starlet, in casual cut-offs and a pair of designer sunglasses that probably cost more than Brooke’s entire wardrobe.
Her fiancé Justin was clean-cut and had the trademark Cartwright smile—and a politician’s handshake.
“Wow.” Lila blinked, looking at the entrance, which was festooned with fresh lilacs and elegant ribbons. “Do you have an event here today? I’m sorry if we’re interrupting.”
“No, this is all for you,” Brooke said, doing a mental fist-pump.
She’d take that Wow and turn it into Where do I sign?
before the afternoon was through. “I thought about showing you samples of our vendors and our vision for the wedding, but it’s much better for you to see it for yourself.
That way, you can imagine everything the way it will be on your special day. ”
Lila looked impressed. “That’s a lot of trouble. Did Meredith explain we haven’t committed to anywhere just yet?”
“She did.” Brooke smiled. “That’s why I’m going to do my best to convince you it should be right here. Shall we go inside?” she said, gesturing to the doors. “I have champagne and cake samples waiting.”
Lila brightened. “Now there’s an offer we can’t refuse.”
Brooke led them inside, explaining about the hotel facilities and the different options for the big day. “I like to use the formal salon here for the bridal party,” she said, showing them the space, which had been filled with more fresh flowers, candles, and décor in Lila’s favorite shade.
“Lilacs,” she gasped. “They’re my favorite.”
“I also saw in an article that you love to read,” Brooke continued. “So I took the liberty of finding some vintage books to use as decoration. We could use classic fairytales as themes for each table, and there’s even a local artist who can sculpt the pages into centerpieces.”
She opened the grand double doors out onto the back patio. “And here we are for the main event.”
She stood aside, watching as Lila stepped out—and immediately reached to clutch her fiancé’s hand. “Oh my God, look. It’s perfect!” she breathed.
Brooke had to admit, she’d outdone herself.
She’d set up rows of white chairs leading down the lawn and a wedding arch strewn with fresh flowers and ribbons.
It stood, fluttering in the breeze, overlooking the most picture-perfect ocean scene she could imagine.
There wasn’t even a cloud in the sky—even the weather was on her side.
Lila turned back, her face lit up with excitement. “It’s perfect. This is it.”
“Are you sure?” Meredith interrupted. “We have two other appointments?—”
“I’m certain.” Lila cut her off. “This is where I want to get married.” She looked happily at Justin. “What do you think, babe?”
“I think whatever you want is fine with me.”
Brooke tried to keep her excitement in check. Wild celebration wasn’t exactly professional, so she kept it to a smile. “And you haven’t even tasted the cake yet,” she joked. Lila laughed, but Meredith’s head snapped up.
“About that. We’re going to have to talk about the menus,” she started, flipping open that file of hers as Lila and Justin drifted off to look at the view.
“Gluten-free is a must, and we need vegan options as well. Also, I’m going to need three other décor proposals, as well as the floral samples and music. ”
Brooke paused. “But Lila said she loved this design?—”
“Lila isn’t the one planning this wedding.” Meredith gave a brisk smile. “Justin’s mother, Bitsy, is in charge, and she’s a woman with very particular taste.”
“Of course.” Brooke wasn’t deterred. She was used to mothers—and fathers—of the bride weighing in with their opinions. “I’ll be happy to sit down with her any time.”
“It’ll have to be soon,” Meredith reminded her. “We’re on a deadline here. The wedding will be taking place in three weeks’ time.”
Brooke swallowed hard. Three weeks to plan the wedding of the year? That was asking a lot, even for her. “No problem!” she exclaimed brightly. “We’ve got it all under control.”
Meredith and the happy couple departed, leaving Brooke alone.
She looked around the lobby, realizing just what a massive job this was going to be.
Never mind rebooking everyone who already had reservations for that weekend; she still had to source, select, and deliver a wedding fit for Hollywood—and Washington, DC—royalty, with zero time to spare.
Some people would spend a year planning for an event like this, but she had less than a month.
Stop. Brooke managed to get a grip before she could spiral into stress and panic. She would have it under control. She always did.
Her phone buzzed.
‘Want to grab a drink? I know the owner, I could hook you up.’
Riley. Brooke smiled.
‘Maybe later’, she texted back, wanting to play it cool, but as she checked her schedule for the rest of the day, her thoughts returned to Riley. A drink sounded like fun, and besides, she should toast the win while she still had a free moment in her day.
She deserved to celebrate.