“We were in the area looking at wedding venues, and I’m starving,” Camilla said.
I held my smile in place. “It’s a beautiful day. Let me find you a seat on the patio.”
I led Camilla and Jeff to the patio, carefully avoiding Virginia. “Wedding venues, huh?” I asked, placing the menus on a table out of view from the inside.
Cami and Jeff stole meaningful looks at one another as they took their seats.
“We talked it over, and we both really want to get married near the river,” she said. “Imagine wedding photos with the river behind us.” She sighed.
“We both have such fond memories of the area,” Jeff added. “I think it’s brilliant.”
I glanced over my shoulder at the stretch of green grass above the river, and flashes of Cami as a toddler, chasing ducks and throwing stones, curved a smile on my lips.
“Hey, there,” Lucas’s voice brought me back to the moment. He approached with a congenial smile and curious eyes. “Pam told me your daughter and future son-in-law were here. I had to come out and congratulate them.”
I froze, desperate to know everything Virginia had said, but this wasn’t the time. Instead, I made introductions. “Well, this is my precious daughter, Camilla,” I explained. “And her fiancé, Jeff. This is my boss, Lucas.”
“Welcome to Chez Margot,” he said.
The men shook hands while Camilla made wide eyes at me.
I looked away.
“I thought I saw you leave,” Lucas said.
Jeff rose to pull out another chair. “Sit,” he told me. “I didn’t realize you were off the clock. You, too, Lucas, if you have a minute. Join us.”
Lucas shook his head. “Oh, no. I have too much to do, and that starts with bringing you some congratulatory wine and a nice charcuterie. When’s the big day?”
“We’re thinking early next spring,” Camilla said.
I blanched. “That’s only a few months from now.”
“A perfect time to start something new,” Lucas agreed.
“It’s more than half a year,” Camilla said, eyes fixed on me.
“Why the rush?”
She frowned, then forced her mouth into a tight smile. “Summer is too hot, and I want to be settled in a new home next fall, not stressing about the wedding.”
“What about finishing college?” I looked to Jeff for some help, but the poor kid couldn’t see me past the big red hearts in his eyes.
“I’m not quitting college,” Cami said. Her voice was low with warning. “I am, however, getting married in the spring.”
I locked my jaw to stop a flood of advice she didn’t want and raised my eyes to Lucas, hoping for moral support.
He shifted forward, folding his hands on the table. “Do you know who the woman in the pantsuit is?” he asked. “The one asking about the Invisible Baker?”
Camilla inhaled sharply, then coughed roughly into one fist.
Jeff was on his feet in an instant.
“I’m fine,” Camilla croaked.
Lucas set his dark eyes back on me. “Did you recognize her?”
“She told me her name,” I said. “I knew who she was after that, but I didn’t tell her. I hope she writes something nice about your planned expansion.”
