Mia held her breath.
“But while we loved everything,” Martha continued, “we’ve decided to go with another caterer.”
Mia’s heart plummeted. The words hit hard, landing a punch to the gut.
“Was it the cost?” Mia asked quietly.
“No,” Martha replied. “Another company offered a package that better suited our overall budget.”
Mia swallowed. Her throat felt tight. “May I ask who you went with?”
A brief pause.
“We’ve decided to go with Live Oak Catering. Her pricing structure was … more flexible.”
Mia nodded even though Martha couldn’t see her.
Of course it was Dana.
“I understand.”
“She came in quite a bit lower,” Martha added gently. “And with weddings, as you know, costs add up very quickly. It wasn’t an easy decision. But I truly want to thank you for your time and effort.”
So yes. It was the cost.
“Of course,” Mia said, forcing steadiness into her voice. Professional. Polite. “Thank you for the opportunity. Please don’t hesitate to call if you need anything in the future.”
When the call ended, she stayed where she was for a moment, phone still in her hand, letting the disappointment land before she packed it away.
Of course, Dana got it. She stayed. Built roots. The mayor knew her. Knew her family. Knew Mia’s family too, but her dad wasn’t wealthy, wasn’t connected.
It wasn’t personal. It was politics. Choosing what felt safe.
Knowing that didn’t make it hurt less, but it made sense.
The barn felt suddenly too quiet.
Just when she thought everything was finally going right, it all came crashing down.
She checked her watch. No time to spiral. She was meeting Tessa and Lainey at the Red Rooster Diner for lunch. She briefly thought about canceling, about crawling back into bed and pulling the covers over her head, but she needed her friends.
She walked back to the farmhouse and found her dad in the kitchen. They chatted for a few minutes with him telling her how much he liked Caleb. She had to agree.
The drive to town was short. Before she knew it, she was parked behind the diner.
Tessa waved to her from a booth, and Mia slid into the seat across from her and Lainey.
“You look like you lost your best friend,” Lainey said gently. “Everything okay?”
Mia explained her disappointment at losing the mayor’s daughter’s wedding.
“Did she say why?” asked Tessa.
“No,” Mia said. “Just that they went with someone else.”
“Hmm,” Tessa frowned. “I wonder who. The only other caterers that might be on par with you are Savory Designs and Live Oak Catering.”
Mia shook her head and shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. I really thought I had this one. The exposure alone would’ve helped so much.”
