Chapter Two
NATALIE
"Your house is lovely," I said as Mr. and Mrs. Whitley asked me to sit down at their gorgeous mahogany table. It looked cozy and massive at the same time. I could already picture it surrounded by guests.
"That's very sweet of you to say.”
“Would the party be here?" I asked, running my hand through my light brown hair. It was a nervous habit I had when meeting new people. I was wearing a plain gray business dress, and I realized it was a bit too much as soon as I stepped inside the house.
"Oh no, no. I wouldn't need your help if I were just throwing something small here."
I barely held back laughter. Their home wasn't exactly small, but I understood what she meant. On the phone, she told me she wanted a bash, and I was beginning to think she really meant it, which was exactly what I was hoping for.
I couldn't believe my luck when I'd received the call. I'd barely put up my website—Natalie’s Event Agency—advertising my planning services three days ago, but I'd always been good with search engine optimization, and the efforts paid off.
She would be my very first customer, and I dearly hoped she’d hire me. On the phone, she’d seemed more interested in my life story than my experience, but I didn’t find that odd. Perhaps she wanted to know if we’d click.
"I want to do something a bit different. Usually I ask my friends and family to go to one of our beautiful restaurants around Boston. I've thrown parties in every banquet room imaginable, but this time I want something different."
I looked at Mrs. Whitley, trying to gauge her personality.
She seemed like a kind and warm person—she’d spoken about her grandsons and friends at length on the phone before starting to ask about my own family.
I missed my parents and two sisters to the moon and back.
They’d recently moved to Greece, and I still couldn’t get used to it.
Mrs. Whitley seemed to like that I was on good terms with my family.
I was determined to give her the best party possible, not only because I needed it for my business but because I truly liked this lady.
I had an idea. It was a bit out there, but you never knew until you tried.
"Have you thought about a destination party?"
She looked at her husband. "I haven't! Goodness, you're a genius. That would be a fantastic way to celebrate."
"The guests would have to travel though," Mr. Whitley said in his grave but very calm and soothing tone.
“Oh, I know. I know.” Mrs. Whitley looked triumphant and flashed me a knowing smile that was a bit unsettling. "Jake does always speak about Martha's Vineyard." She pressed her lips together, looking pensive, and I didn't want to interrupt.
"I can look into it," I said, after a while.
"My grandson Jake has a huge house there. I could talk him into letting us throw the party there."
"I can also look into all the venues on Martha's Vineyard," I said, wondering if this Jake would really want to put up his house for thirty or so people to come in—and that was presuming there’d be enough room. "Do you want a theme?"
"Hmm, if we do a nineties theme, would that be too on the nose?"
"We could do it, if you want to," I answered politely.
"Natalie, darling, be honest with me. Judging by your reaction, you’re not thrilled."
"Truthfully, Mrs. Whitley, I think parties pertaining to a decade are overdone." I honestly thought they were kitschy and reminded me of high school. "What we could do is choose a seasonal theme or something pertaining to colors. Here, let me show you. I have some pictures."
They weren’t technically my parties—they were my mom’s. I was glad that I always took so many pictures at her events and that I'd helped her so often. She always said I had a talent for it. Since this was my first—and so far only—gig, I was determined to make it work.
"By the way, we’re not very formal. Just call us Jeannie and Abe.
These look lovely," Jeannie said as I scrolled through the pictures, holding the iPad for her to see.
Abe's eyes were already glazing. I gave him five minutes before he made an excuse to leave.
However, it happened two minutes later. I barely held back a chuckle.
I could sympathize; if you weren't into planning these things, it could seem terribly boring.
"How long have you been doing this job?" Jeannie asked, looking from the iPad up to me.
Busted. She hadn’t asked me that on the phone.
"I’ll be honest. I've thrown parties for a long time with my mom, but this would be my first official event."
"I thought your website looked unfamiliar. I’d researched event planners a couple weeks earlier, and I hadn't come across it."
"What made you choose me?" I asked, completely surprised.
"The way you described yourself just clicked with me. I had a good feeling about you."
I couldn't help but laugh. Jeannie Whitley was a lovely person, and I knew I’d enjoy working with her. "Thank you for saying that."
"What were you doing before, if you don't mind me asking? I don't want to seem nosy."
"Oh, you’re not. I have a degree in computer science and had a job doing predictive analytics, but things didn't work out. I’ve applied for jobs in the industry, but in the meantime, I’ll plan parties for a living.
I’ve interviewed for a promising prospect, but they haven’t made an offer yet.
And even if they do, I’d still have time for your party. "
“So, you’re only doing this temporarily.”
“Yes.” I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing, judging by Jeannie’s expression.
I hoped she wouldn't probe further. I didn't want to drag up the whole story about why I had to leave my previous job. Besides, since I’d already built a website, I was toying with the idea of throwing parties on the side even after I got a full-time job.
"Is your mother retired now?"
"Yes."
"Where did they move, if I may ask? I remember you said they didn’t live here anymore."
"To Greece."
"Oh, that's lovely."
"It is, but also very far away," I said before chastising myself.
Jeannie was a possible client. She didn't need to know the details of my life. Although, I had to admit, I felt very comfortable around her.
"And your sisters also moved?"
"Yes. They’re opening a hotel there, and my older sister recently gave birth, so my parents have their hands full," I said with a sad smile. "Anyway, back to your destination party. Aside from Martha's Vineyard, do you have any other places you'd like to go?"
Jeannie considered this. "We could choose something else, but the more I think about it, the more I like the Vineyard, especially since a few of the guests could sleep at Jake's house." She looked at my left hand.
"You know what? I’m going to ask my grandson when he's going to Martha's Vineyard next, and you could go with him to see the property. That way he could show you around."
"That would be amazing. If it's not an inconvenience for him."
Jeannie snorted. Actually snorted. "He’ll go out of his way to tell us what an inconvenience it is."
"Then I can find another way."
"Oh no, no. I think my grandson doesn't know what's good for him. A break will do him just fine."
I had no answer to that. Jeannie was like the meddling grandmother I'd love to have in my life. The concern for her grandson was obvious in her voice.
"A break from what exactly?" I asked.
"He works a lot. He insists it’s just twelve hours a day, but I have it on good authority that it’s more."
"That's not healthy," I said immediately.
"Exactly." She seemed thrilled that I was agreeing with her. "And, Natalie, forgive me for being so frank, but do you have a boyfriend?"
I blinked rapidly, feeling as if someone had pulled my chair out from under me and I'd fallen on my ass on the polished hardwood floor.
"A boyfriend? No."
If an employer had asked me that, I would flat-out have told them it was none of their business, but somehow Jeannie made me want to spill my deepest secrets. "Why do you ask?"
“Oh, nothing. Nothing," she said suspiciously quickly. "I was just wondering if traveling to Martha's Vineyard overnight would be a problem for you. Wouldn't want to keep you from anything."
My ex-boyfriend was why I was unemployed in the first place.
"You wouldn't, trust me."
Her smile was downright bubbly. I was even more suspicious than before.
"We’d pay for your time away, of course."
I'd expected that, which was why her previous question didn't compute. Boyfriend or not, if I took a job, I’d travel if need be.
"Let me think about it and talk to Jake,” she continued. “I really like your idea with the destination party, and I also love the pictures you've shared with me."
"Oh, that makes me so happy."
I could practically feel my heart swell with joy, and I chose to take it as the best sign possible. I dearly needed one.
Things would work out. Jeannie would give me the assignment, and things would finally take a turn for the better.