Better than expected.She wants to change venues, but she has a bunch of family arriving tomorrow, and that might complicate things.
We’ll figure it out.Meet for lunch later?I want to hear everything.
Sure.Just let me know where.
After last night’s revelations, the prospect of seeing him again sent a happy rush of warmth through her.Whatever challenges lay ahead with the demons’ plot or the family’s dynamics, at least she wouldn’t be facing them alone.
Her phone rang again, and this time it was her mother.
“Hi, Mom,” she answered, wondering if Linda had somehow sensed the drama brewing around Olivia’s wedding…or was maybe wondering why Delia hadn’t come in to work yet.The hour was inching dangerously close to ten, and usually she would have been in the office at least half an hour earlier than that.
But it turned out her tardiness wasn’t what was on her mother’s mind.
“Morning, Delia,” Linda said.“I just sent your father off to find a new suit for Olivia’s wedding.Things have been so busy that I just realized you and I hadn’t really talked about whether you’re even planning to attend.”
“Yes, I’m going,” Delia replied.“Olivia asked me to be involved with some of the local arrangements, actually.I’m helping her scout some venues.”
“‘Venues’?”Her mother repeated, voice sharpening a little.“I thought everything was already set with Angel’s Dream.That’s what was on the invitation, anyway.Is there a problem with the chapel?”
Okay, time to come up with a plausible explanation for such a last-minute change.While Linda wasn’t exactly an expert on the wedding industry, she still knew enough, mostly because selling real estate in a city where destination weddings were big business lent itself to picking up a few things.Anyway, her mother would definitely notice if something seemed off about a last-minute venue change.
“Not a problem, exactly,” Delia said, doing her best to sound casual.“Olivia’s just been having some second thoughts about the chapel.You know how brides can be — she wants to make sure everything is perfect and that she made the right choice.”
“Hmm.”Her mother didn’t sound entirely convinced by this explanation.“The Angel’s Dream chapel is fairly new, isn’t it?I seem to remember it changing hands recently.”
Trust her mother to remember a detail like that.“Yes, I think it was sold a few months ago.Maybe that’s part of what’s making Olivia nervous — it sounds as if the staff is the same, but I can see why she’s worried that the new management might make some last-minute changes.”
Linda seemed to think that was a reasonable concern, since she only said, “Well, if she needs help with alternatives, you know I’d be happy to lend a hand.”
“I appreciate that, Mom,” Delia replied, “but I think I have it taken care of.Besides, you and Dad will probably have enough to do, what with all those out-of-town family members showing up in the next day or so.”
“True enough.Your Aunt Vicky is flying in tomorrow, and she’s always been a bit high-maintenance when it comes to travel.”Linda paused there before adding, “Just let us know if you need anything, okay?Family weddings can be stressful enough without venue drama.”
Delia assured her mother that everything was under control, and then said she’d be at the office in the next half hour or so.Technically, theirs was a partnership, and Linda didn’t have any say in the hours her daughter worked, but she knew her mother wouldn’t be too thrilled if she decided to start showing up after ten o’clock every day.
After they ended the call, Delia realized the situation had just gotten even more complicated.If nothing else, her mother’s sharp business instincts meant she’d be watching for any inconsistencies in Delia’s explanations about the venue change.
Oh, and let’s not forget that somewhere in the background, a citywide demonic conspiracy was building toward whatever climax they had planned for May thirtieth.
She thought about Caleb’s words from the night before, his fear about losing her, and couldn’t hold back a corresponding chill of her own.They were walking into something much bigger and more dangerous than anything they’d faced before, and the people she loved most were going to be right in the middle of it.
But there was no backing down now.Too many lives were at stake, including her cousin’s and her parents’.Whatever it took, she was going to find a way to keep them safe.
Even if it meant lying to everyone she cared about in the process.
Her phone pinged to let her know she had another text, this one from Olivia.
Talked to Alec.He’s still resistant, but I think I can wear him down.Can we meet tomorrow afternoon to look at those other chapels?Our flight is getting in at one, and I want to have all the facts in hand before our families arrive.
Good thing Delia didn’t have any house showings scheduled for tomorrow.She’d planned to use the slow day to get some paperwork taken care of and swing by to check on the contractors at the flip house, but none of that was totally urgent.Absolutely.I’ll pick you up & we’ll make an afternoon of it.
At least Olivia was taking the initiative.That was something.Now Delia just had to hope that between the two of them, they could present a compelling enough case to overcome Alec’s reluctance and the inevitable family pressure that would come with all the early arrivals.
She glanced at the clock and realized she needed to get going, especially if she wanted to get any significant work done before she had to meet Caleb for lunch.Once she got to the office, she could do more research on the alternative chapels and maybe come up with a strategy for handling all the complicated family dynamics that wouldn’t result in a total meltdown.
Because one way or another, she was going to make sure her cousin didn’t walk down the aisle at Angel’s Dream on May thirtieth.
Even if she had to kidnap the bride to make it happen.
