“Yes, but just a few. People will mostly be chatting and having a drink. We’ll still have hors d’oeuvres, of course, that can circulate here.” I walk over to the wall of windows where the door to the outside happens to be as well. “They can also move outside for more room and some air because I think, eventually, we’ll have some of the things out there anyway.”
“Like the auction?”
“Yes, exactly. We’ll do the silent auction in here, though.” I hurry to the dining room with Cassie hot on my heels. It’s a lot to get done in a short amount of time, and I can’t do it without her.
“This place is huge.” She’s looking around in awe, and I begin to wonder if that’s what I looked like when I came over here the first time.
The house is more than impressive. The large driveway outside will give us more than enough room for cars. We’ll have a few valets out there, which we were already planning on at the regular event. Overall, there won’t be many changes other than the layout, which falls completely on Cassie and me.
“We push the tables against the walls in a horseshoe pattern and set everything up that way.” I motion with my arms to hopefully lay out the vision better. “With the two entrances, there shouldn’t be much of a bottleneck.”
“Right, and we can have one of the volunteers stationed in here to answer questions and make sure everything goes off fine on this.”
“Yes.” As the two of us head back out into the main area, I mention the kitchen. “The kitchen is more than large enough to accommodate catering as well.”
“Oh, good. That’s a question I was going to ask. They replied to my notice on the change, asking about the kitchen.” She comes to a stop beside me. “Do you think it’d be okay for me to take a couple of quick pictures and send them to the caterer so they can plan too?”
Would that be okay? I assume so since Keenan is letting us be here in the first place. “Absolutely,” I tell her, knowing that if there’s any fallout, it’ll be on my head.
“Oh, another thing . . .” she begins. “There are areas we won’t want guests to enter, right?” Cassie asks.
“Yes.” This is the most important part as far as I’m concerned. “The upstairs is totally off-limits. There are two restrooms down here that will have to do. But no one is to go upstairs. We can use the entire outdoor space, but I don’t want anyone in the garage,” I answer her.
“Top secret information in there?” Cassie raises a brow.
“No. I don’t actually know that there’s anything in there, I just don’t see a reason for anyone to go inside,” I answer her.
“Right. So, I’m thinking I should order some barricades to make sure no one crosses inside,” Cassie suggests.
“Yes. Good idea.” I make a note to double check on those in a few days. “But nothing ugly. I’d like something classy. Upscale. We’re going for a look here.”
“Of course. I can pull some options to show you,” Cassie adds.
“No. You can order it. We’ve worked together long enough for you to know what I’m looking for.” I lock eyes with her. “I trust you.” Cassie has been with me for quite a while, and it’s about time for me to greenlight her taking some initiative.
As the two of us continue our mission of having a perfect plan in place before we leave this house today, the sound of footsteps tap down the long hallway upstairs. From the sounds of it, they’re headed to the stairs, and sure enough, a moment later, they’re thudding down the steps. They don’t sound heavy enough to be Keenan. Plus, they aren’t shuffled. He’d been shuffling his steps just slightly the last time I’d seen him.
I glance at Cassie then make my way toward the living room entrance. Instead of Keenan, I find Delaney. I didn’t know she was here, but I’m happy to see her.
“Hey, Delilah.” She smiles and brings me in for a hug. “What’re you doing here?” Then she glances at Cassie with curiosity. Those two haven’t met before that I know of. I’m sure it’s weird to see someone new in the house where her brother is recuperating.
“This is my assistant, Cassie.” As they greet each other, I keep talking. “Keenan offered for us to use the house for a fundraiser we’re planning.”
“Our original venue was damaged in the storm.”
“Oh no,” Delaney said with a sigh. “That really sucks.”
“Yes, and we’d really be screwed if it wasn’t for Keenan,” I tell her. “There were no other acceptable venues available on short notice.”
“Well, if you need any help, just say the word. I have a ton of time on my hands these days.”
“Are you heading off to university?” The three of us stand in the entryway, and our voices bounce off the walls and those impossibly high ceilings.
Cassie and I have our arms crossed over our chests as we hold the pads of paper that we are using to make notes. Delaney has her hair back in a ponytail today, and it makes her look even younger than she normally looks.
She sighs and says, “I’m not really sure. Maybe we should take a seat for a minute.”
I agree right before we all go back into the living room and arrange ourselves around with Cassie and me on the couch where Keenan had been sitting the other night and Delaney in the chair. It’s almost like a little girls’ day out, except Cassie and Delaney have just met for the first time, and we aren’t out having fun shopping.
