After she’d said goodbye to Zac, Ethan, and Bailey, Harper lifted her bicycle into the back of Daniella’s truck. “What about having your reception in the park opposite the lake?” Harper asked. “There was a big family reunion there last weekend.”
Daniella closed the tailgate. “I called the county and asked about it. There’s a fair in the park on the weekend we’re getting married. And to make everything more complicated, the weather might still be too cold to be outside.”
“Have you asked the Terry sisters about The Lakeside Inn? Mabel showed me the photos of Katie’s wedding. The inn looked gorgeous.”
Daniella started the truck. “It’s booked. Their next available weekend isn’t until June.”
That didn’t surprise Harper. The boutique bed-and-breakfast always seemed to be full of guests.
Daniella checked the rearview mirror. “I didn’t think it would be this hard to find another venue for our reception.”
“Don’t worry,” Harper assured her. “We’ll find something.”
By the time they reached Harper’s granddad’s house, Daniella wasn’t quite as stressed as she’d been at the clinic. Once inside, Harper made them a cup of coffee, and they sat down at the kitchen table with Benjamin. Between the three of them, she was sure they’d come up with a few venues Daniella and Harrison could use.
“What about the community center?” Harper suggested.
“It’s booked for a local art exhibition.”
Harper tried again. “The old mill by the river?”
“A conference on sustainable agriculture has booked it,” Daniella said, her voice growing smaller.
Benjamin, who’d been listening quietly, finally spoke up. “What about The Old Steamboat Museum? We’ve had Christmas galas and all kinds of events there.”
Sadly, Daniella shook her head. “It’s booked.”
Harper’s eyes widened. There was one place they hadn’t considered. “How many people are you inviting to the reception?”
“If we don’t have any last-minute additions, there’ll be thirty-nine guests. Have you thought of another venue?”
Harper nodded. “What about Owen’s studio? There’s a ton of space in the exhibition area and it’s full of rustic charm and character.”
Daniella frowned. “It’s not what I originally envisioned, but... it could be beautiful. With the right decorations and layout, it might work.”
Harper saw a flicker of hope rekindle in Daniella’s eyes. “It’s big enough for your guest list. We could string lights through the rafters and use decorations from The Fairy Forest to add a touch of magic to the evening. It’d be different, but still very you.”
Benjamin looked at Daniella. “You’d better ask Owen if it’s okay before you get too excited.”
“Owen won’t mind,” she said confidently.
“Granddad’s right,” Harper told her friend. “Why don’t you call him to see if it’s okay?”
Daniella took her phone out of her pocket and called her brother. Her quick conversation ended in a wide smile. “He said yes. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it earlier.”
Benjamin handed Daniella a plate of cookies. “Three heads are always better than one. Have one of these while we think about how it could work.”
As they discussed logistics, Harper watched Daniella’s stress transform into excitement. They talked about how they could arrange the tables and whether the kitchen was big enough. While Daniella searched through her emails for the menu they’d chosen, Benjamin reminisced about other events he’d been to.
By the end of the evening, Daniella was buzzing with enthusiasm. “You know, this might be even better than my original plan. It’ll be unique, and that’s exactly what we wanted.”
Harper felt a burst of happiness for her friend. It would take a lot of work, but she was already imagining the beautiful wedding reception Daniella and Harrison deserved.
As Daniella left, full of plans and tasks for the next day, Harper turned to her granddad, grateful for his wisdom and support. “Thanks for helping us see the silver lining, Granddad,” she said, giving him a big hug.
Benjamin smiled, his eyes gleaming with pride. “Life’s about making the best of what comes our way. You girls did just that tonight.”
As she cleared away the dishes, Harper thought about Owen’s studio. If Harrison liked the new venue, everyone would be happy. Tonight was a reminder that sometimes, the unexpected could lead to something truly special.
