“It’s bigger than I expected,” Presley said.
“The main space will get smaller when we put in restrooms and a catering area.” I walked farther into the barn. “I’m planning on that corner for restrooms with the catering area next to it.” I pointed.
“How big will the catering area be?” Magnolia asked.
I showed them roughly where we planned to put walls in.
“That’s not very big,” Magnolia said, and I tried not to bristle. “Once you put commercial refrigerators and ovens in, it will be difficult to fit in a serving staff.” She spoke without looking at me, and I fought with myself to disregard the source and consider what she was saying.
It might be a decent point, but I didn’t acknowledge it out loud.
“Will there be a separate area for a ceremony?” Magnolia continued, striding toward the center of the room. “Or cocktails between the ceremony and reception?”
“Are you planning to have the ceremony here as well as the reception?” I asked West and Presley.
“We haven’t decided about the ceremony yet,” Presley said, glancing at West. “Honestly we haven’t decided on much besides the date, the reception venue, and the planner.”
Magnolia turned and smiled at her friend. Then her smile dropped, and she pegged me with another question. “What will the capacity be for guests?”
“I don’t know yet. I’d like to shoot for up to three hundred, but that’ll be determined once the space is finished. We’ll be adding two extra exits and keeping the windows intact with that in mind.”
“And what’s the plan for electricity?” Magnolia asked.
As much research as I’d done, I was beginning to feel like she was on the attack. She might think I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I wasn’t stupid. I’d studied up. I’d made phone calls to key people. West had agreed to help me with construction.
This was going to be what I hoped was a significant part of my livelihood. I hadn’t gone into it lightly.
“We’ll be greatly increasing the electrical capacity,” I said, coaching myself not to snap.
“You’ll want all kinds of lighting options, plus the ability to have a DJ or a band. Speakers, microphones, kitchen appliances…”
“I’m well aware,” I said, and I was, for the most part.
If she were anyone else, I’d be appreciative of the information, the expertise. Frankly I just wanted Magnolia off my property, but that wasn’t in the cards.
“Like I said, we’ll be running a lot more electricity, plus water lines, a heating system upgrade, air-conditioning, all the necessities.” I aimed my answer at Presley, who was, after all, the customer.
“What about a room for the wedding party to get ready in?” Magnolia asked.
Presley nodded, her eyes lighting up. “If we decide to have the ceremony here, that would be really convenient.”
That was something I hadn’t committed to, but I could. We had the space. When my grandfather had built the barn nearly eighty years ago, he’d gone big.
“We could wall off this side over here,” I said, walking to the opposite side from where we planned to add restrooms. “West’s going to help me with a plan.”
West nodded. “I don’t know the first thing about wedding venues, only construction. We could use your input, Magnolia.”
“I’ve got a pretty good handle on it,” I told him, hoping to kill the idea of Magnolia helping me with anything. I didn’t trust her and sure as hell didn’t want to spend any more time with her than I absolutely had to.
“My clients are taking a risk,” she said, “going into this blind and hoping you’ll build what they need. The problem is, if you don’t, they’re trapped.”
“There will be a contract,” I said. “I’m not going to screw over my friends.”
“What about the timetable?” Presley asked, her voice friendlier than her planner’s.
“Christmas Eve won’t be a problem,” I reassured her. “Once we get the plan hammered out, we’ll start immediately. My goal is to be done with the big stuff by early December.”
“That’s plenty of time. Do you mind if I wander?” Presley asked, waving toward the other end.
