Hi. I’m your daughter. You don’t know me. The only reason I know you is because I stole your DNA and tested it. Surprise!
Yeah. I was really needing some wedding cake right then. Elsie’s catering would have to do, though.
The Holbrooks were already gathered around the table laden with various heated serving containers filled with delicious food.
“For appetizers at the cocktail hour,” Elise said, “we have lemongrass-and-sriracha grilled chicken kebabs.”
I took one and barely registered eating it. Gosh, my life was such a disaster! And I still wasn’t finished with Liz’s dress.
“We also have garlic shrimp skewers, bacon cream cheese bites, saucy meatballs, and beet devilled eggs,” Elsie continued.
“Can you just move in with me?” Liz asked, eating two devilled eggs in rapid succession.
“For vegetarians, there are mini wedge salads, stuffed fried squash blossoms, and fig-and-cheese bites.”
I snuck two more mini waffle-and-fried-chicken sliders before Mark’s brother Carter could grab them.
“You need to make like triple the amount of these,” he said.
“We’re going to have various stations for the main reception,” Elsie explained. “There will be a paella station with seafood paella and traditional Valencia with duck, rabbit, and veggies. And then, of course, a mixed paella with seafood and meat.”
I took a large helping of the seafood paella. Elsie had made it just right, with a slightly crusty layer of rice at the bottom.
“The next station is serving salads. We will have Cesar salad, a spinach-strawberry-balsamic-vinegar salad, and a hearty Greek salad.”
I loved Elsie’s Cesar salad. I took a big bite, relaxing as the flavors hit my tongue.
“We have aParisienne-inspired steakfritesstation with filet mignon and truffle parmesan fries with garlic aioli. There will be a fresh pasta station, where we will have several of our employees assembling pasta dishes for the guests, including spaghetti carbonara, fettucine alfredo, a classic red sauce with meatballs optional, and cheesy garlic bread with marinara dipping sauce on the side.”
Somehow I had ended up with a huge bowl of pasta and was going to town. I scarfed a piece of bread down. The grease and salt and cheesy goodness hit my tongue, and a feeling of bliss came over me. Maybe things were going to work out. There wasn’t any problem that couldn’t be solved with carbs.
“There will, of course, be a charcuterie and cheese station for those wishing to snack,” Elsie said, “but that’s not pictured here.”
“Sophie will do the cake testing with you all in a few days. However, she will also include a dessert station with macarons, cupcakes, donuts, mini pies, and lemon mousse, chocolate mousse, and other treats. For the after-party, we will have more desserts, along with a French fry station and a grilled cheese station,” Ivy added.
Liz nudged me and whispered, “I told her to keep the nacho station a surprise! I want to see Wes’s face when he sees it!”
Oh lord, the nacho station. The food in my stomach roiled.As long as Liz doesn’t have the baby in the middle of the reception, everything will be fine. This is fine.I took another bite of pasta.
“How are we liking the food?” Elsie asked.
“Ten stars!” Carter announced.
Grant piped up. “What about the alcohol?”
“We have signature cocktails for the reception, along with some mocktails for those who wish to abstain in solidarity with Liz. For Wes’s cocktail, there is a blackberry Moscow mule, and for Liz, there is a ginger grapefruit bourbon sour. During the reception, guests can request any sort of drink at one of the bars that will be scattered around the venue.”
I sipped my cocktails. I had one of each and was juggling them with my various plates.
“Could we serve a special drink for the after-party?” Kate asked. “I’m thinking something more casual, like bourbon hot chocolate.”
“That might be too much bourbon,” Allie said.
“There’s no such thing,” Dana said.
“Can there be plain hot chocolate for the rest of us?” Liz asked.
“Of course,” Elsie said, making notes.
