The William & Natalie Calloway Wedding
The Squantum Association
Providence, Rhode Island
The lighthouse across from this venue always glowed bright white hours before a wedding ceremony.
For whatever reason, it was glaring red like it knew me and my top assistant were here. Like it was well aware that this weekend was bound to end in tears.
“I’ve hated every second of working with this client,” Kelsey handed me a pair of binoculars. “How much longer until we’re done with him?”
“If you gave me the right research, hopefully an hour.” I looked at my watch. “Will you be joining me inside to make sure everything goes well?”
“Ugh. Never.”
Of course.I smiled and stepped out of the car. “Come back for me in twenty.”
She sped off and I walked into the ballroom. I looked around at the four hundred empty white-clothed tables and sparkling chairs that would never witness this couple’s first dance.
All because the groom was too scared to pull the plug on this relationship six months ago, like I suggested. Hell, he should’ve done it six weeks ago when I literally laid out all the reasons why that was better, but he “didn’t want to hurt her.”
Until now, I guess.
I pulled out my second cell phone and scrolled through our emails, making sure that I’d mentioned that my fee was triple for handling this at the last minute.
Check.
Before I could call him, text messages crossed my screen.
William
WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!
YOU SHOULD’VE LANDED BY NOW.
I need you to stop texting me in all caps.
For what I’m paying you, I can text you however I WANT.
I’m at the venue. Where are you?
The men’s room. The one in the servants’ villa.
Thank you.
I slid my phone into my pocket and strolled across the grounds, stopping when I saw a huge pink and white floral arch standing above the welcome sign.
Rose, peony, random tulip, dahlia…
I’d know that signature pattern anywhere, and I knew who insisted on having it at every event she planned.
This was aKatie Elizabethwedding.
Shit.
I clenched my jaw.
Lately, I’d asked every client who their planner was, and anyone who uttered her name got ignored. And I asked William more than five times to confirm.
