Page 24 of Wedding or Not

“I keep adding up all the money we’ll make if all these events pan out, and by the end of next year, we should be completely out of debt.”

I gulp. “Our expenses are going to be a lot higher.”

“I know. I’ve taken that into account.”

“Really?” I’ve been too scared to do any calculations, not wanting to jinx our luck, but I’ve been hoping for exactly that.

“Yep. Now, I’m not expecting to have no cancelations, but we have a superlong waiting list already, so I don’t think our bottom line should drop too much.”

“Even when no one cares about me and Wes anymore, Blossom Park is still a one-of-a-kind event space, so hopefully no one will be disappointed.”

“Exactly.” Natalie sighs as she sets down her coffee cup on the nightstand. She slouches down and rolls onto her side to face me. “I’m optimistic.”

“You’re always optimistic.”

“Maybe, but still. I think we’re going to do this. The world sucks nowadays, and people need a break from the never-ending badness. Blossom Park has always felt like a beautiful, peaceful escape. I think people are going to remember that. I think we’re coming back.”

“I hope so.” My voice wobbles slightly because her words have made me emotional.

They’re true.

Blossom Park is special, and maybe the world won’t forget that forever.

Maybe we can continue sharing our unique brand of beauty, peace, and joy.

I want that for Blossom Park more than I’ve ever wanted anything for myself.

Natalie reaches over to find and squeeze my hand. She’s never been a particularly sentimental person—she’s always bright and breezy and blunt—but she feels this like I do.

Like all of us do.

“Mom and Dad would think the whole thing was crazy,” I say.

“Probably. Well, Dad would for sure. Mom would think it was fun and funny.”

“Yeah. Yeah, she would.” I stretch my back and legs under the covers. “Well, this makes me feel better. Even if everything dies out next week, we might still be okay.”

“I think we will be. But I don’t think it’s going to die out like that. The interest might level off, but you and Wes are a major trend right now. It’s going to keep going for a while. Speaking of…” Her eyes sparkle.

I give her an appropriately exasperated face. “Speaking of…?”

“Wes comes back today.”

“Yep.”

“What do you think about that?”

“I think it’s a good thing because we need to give all these people new fodder.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”

“If you have something in mind, you should come out and say it.”

“How are you feeling about him lately?”

“You know how I feel. He’s a means to an end.” I shift slightly, fighting the swell of self-consciousness at the questioning.

“He was at the beginning, but I thought I caught some hints at things changing. I was about to go blink the porch lights at you two on Sunday night.”