“Where is Melissa?”Courtney stood at the front desk, Drew quietly behind her, his hands gently rubbing her shoulders as she nearly growled at the poor clerk behind the desk.
“I’m sorry,” the petite clerk said.“She’s had a family emergency.Her assistant is in the Swan Room with another wedding party.”
Courtney marched to the reception room beside hers.Cobalt blue and soft salmon blended beautifully throughout greeted her.She spotted Carrie at a round table in the corner with an older woman she assumed to be Carrie’s mother.Both women were spouting complaints simultaneously to a wide-eyed young lady hugging a clipboard.
“I am not paying for that, that,thing.”Carrie’s mom pointed to a three-foot-tall ice sculpture of Cupid.“And, even if I wanted it, the dumb thing will be melted by tomorrow’s reception.”
“No, ma’am.It’s only out now for the rehearsal and your approval.It goes back into the freezers until the actual reception tomorrow.”
“Mother, calm down.”Carrie closed her eyes.“Perhaps it belongs to Courtney?”
“Nope.”Courtney stepped up beside them.“Not in my budget either.”
Carrie’s mom crossed her arms.“See why we should have had the wedding in San Francisco?Look at this.”The woman’s arms swirled around the room.“And look at these colors.”
“Mother.”Carried sucked in a deep breath and looked at Courtney.“Did you need something?”
“Yes.If I could borrow”—Courtney paused, looking at the woman still clutching her clipboard—“What’s your name?”
“I’m Brittany.”
“Melissa’s assistant?”
“Well, yes.”
“Wellyes?”Carrie’s mother asked.
“Melissa’s regular assistant started maternity leave last week.I’m filling in for her.”
“And what did you do before that?”Drew asked.
“I’m the receptionist in catering.”Brittany straightened, her expression momentarily more confident.“I mean, was.”
All eyes looked back and forth.
“I see,” Courtney said.That certainly was a first step in explaining the screw-up with her reception.
“Perhaps”—Drew looked to the assistant—“if we could borrow you for just a minute?”
“Absolutely.”Brittany practically leapt at the chance to escape Carrie’s mother’s inquisition.“If you will excuse me a moment.”She turned back to Carrie and her mom.“Let me take care of this situation, and then I’ll look into the ice sculpture problem.”
Carrie nodded and spoke to her mother.“Please try to stay calm.That’s why we have rehearsals…”
The two women’s voices faded away once the three of them turned the corner to Courtney’s reception room.
“These”—Courtney stood in the doorway—“are not my colors.”
Brittany glanced around the room, then at Courtney, and, for a few seconds, Brittany looked ready to heave.
Courtney almost felt sorry for her.Almost.
Flipping through the pages, Brittany shook her head.“Mrs.Clarke called on Monday and changed the colors to seafoam green and tan.”
“First of all”—Courtney pulled out her phone—“my mother has never taken charge of anything in her life, and she sure as heck wouldn’t start now.”Opening the text screen she shot her mother a quick message.Come to the reception room NOW.“And second, since when does a reputable hotel allow other people to change a bride’s choices?”
“Well, normally that’s true.”Brittany stabbed at the page.“Yes, here it is.Since Mrs.Clarke is paying for the reception—”
“What?”Courtney practically screeched.
