"I'll have to see about everyone's schedules," Allie said diplomatically. "How many bridesmaids will there be?"
Brandy looked pointedly at Liz, who gulped.
"Several girls have prior commitments," Liz said timidly.
"Nonsense," Brandy said as she moved picture and fabric samples around on the table. "Ginny had seventeen bridesmaids."
"You aren’t having that many," her mother said. "It was a nightmare with Ginny."
"She had that many, and so I want that many!"
"I don’t know if we can find seventeen," Liz muttered to Allie.
The wedding planner looked up from taking notes. "Six is a better number," she said. "Especially with this chapel." She pointed to a picture on one of the vision boards.
"We have Liz, Allie, Ginny, Kate… You need to find me two more."
"Does Fernando have enough people to be his groomsmen?" Allie asked.
"Always asking the pertinent questions, aren't you, Allie?" Brandy said with a false laugh. "I can tell you have worked parties before. I should fire Liz from the maid-of-honor role and put you in charge. Jean-Claude was going to be Fernando's best man, but he's a European and a flake, so I think you'll have to do a lot of the heavy lifting for him."
"Maybe Carter will help," Allie said.
"Let's make him the best man instead," Liz added.
As Brandy walked past her to pour a cup of tea, she said under her breath to Allie, "Don't think that because you are in my wedding, Carter wants a future with you."
"I have no intentions on Carter."
Brandy smirked. "Yes, you do. You're a little social climber. Your whole look screams lipstick on a rag doll. I bet you lie in bed and daydream about him whisking you off out of whatever cesspool you were born in."
Allie stared at Brandy, refusing to let her see how much her words stung.
"He's calling you his girlfriend," she hissed, "but he doesn't mean it. You'll slip up or screw up, Carter Holbrook will turn his back on you, and his family will run you out of town."
42
Carter
Carter spent the day after the engagement party at his uncle's estate. He didn't even say goodbye to Allie when he left with his parents the night before.
Because he was so used to having Allie next to him in bed, he wasn't able to sleep well with only the dogs for company. After tossing and turning, he dressed and walked the dogs before breakfast.
When he walked into the dining room, he mentally kicked himself. He had forgotten that Nancy had a breakfast meeting at the clubhouse about the renovation, and Grant, Walter, and Kate had left the night before for London. Carter would be alone at the table with his father.
Jack didn't look any more comfortable than Carter felt. Their utensils clanked on the porcelain plates, and Gus's whining punctuated the sound of chewing.
"How’s work?" Jack finally asked, breaking the silence. "Grant seems to think you’re doing well. Your project about standardizing safety oversight—I only heard you talk a little about it, but Grant and Walter both seem impressed."
"It was mainly Allie's idea," Carter replied.
"Was it?" Jack said.
Carter nodded. "We just received all the scans and copies of Halcion Drone's forms and correspondence. Next week, we're going to start going through it, or I am, I guess."
"What does that have to do with operational safety procedures?" Jack asked.
"I don't know," Carter admitted. "I think Allie just wants me out of her and Liz's way while they do the actual work."
