Always The Wedding Planner, Never The Bride Part 2

2.

Each of my weddings and parties has a very specific theme. This one is the Renaissance wedding. It was held at a cathedral with these beautiful stained gla.s.s windows. And the reception was out on the lawn; a couple of acres of rolling green hills."

"It's beautiful," Jackson commented, and Sherilyn clicked over to the next page.

"All of the fabrics were silks and brocades, and we chose a palette of jewel tones."

The next page of Sherilyn's online portfolio displayed one of her favorites. "This was my 60s-themed anniversary party for a couple who had been married for fifty years. We played cla.s.sic music from the 1960s, the men wore these crazy tiedyed shirts, and the women wore maxi dresses and flowers in their hair."

"Sounds like fun."

"It really was," she replied as she closed the bright pink laptop. "I like to think of each of my events as a tribute to the personality of my clients. It can be as different and unique as they are."

"Well, Emma said you were good."

Sherilyn smiled and lowered her eyes. "Emma is a bit of a public relations representative, I'm afraid."

"She's enthusiastic about the people and things that she loves," Jackson said with a nod. "In this case, I'm in agreement. I think what you've shown me today is a really good fit for The Tanglewood and what we strive to offer our customers."

"I'm so happy to hear that."

Jackson plucked a sheet of paper from the blue file balanced on his leg, and he handed it to her.

"I've outlined an official offer for you," he said, and her heart bounced a couple of times in her chest. Thumpity-thumpitythump-thump! "Take some time to look it over. I'd like for you to start Monday, if you're available. That will give you a full three weeks with my sister Madeline. She's been doing the job since we opened, and she'll be able to walk you through her process so you can decide what seems effective, then how to make the job your own. Is Monday too soon?"

"No," she replied. "It's perfect."

"You're free to stay here at the hotel until you find a place. Will you be buying a house?"

"Yes. Andy arrives tomorrow, and we'll start shopping the local housing market on Friday."

"How about the four of us have dinner together on Friday night then?"

Sherilyn smiled. "That would be lovely."

"Emma says you opted for Chinese takeout last night. But you really have to experience what Anton has to offer in the restaurant downstairs."

"So I am told."

"Excellent. Think it over, and you can give me your answer then."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear as she stared down at the official offer in her hand. The salary was substan tially higher than what she'd been making on her own, and the opportunity to work with Emma was a no-brainer.

"I don't really have to think it over," she told him. "I'm all yours."

"I'm happy to hear it," he replied. "And I know Emma will be thrilled that it's all come full circle and you're back together again."

Sherilyn shot him a broad grin. "She's a nut."

"She is indeed."

His sly smile was endearing, and Sherilyn reached toward him and shook his hand between both of hers.

"Thank you, Jackson. I'm really looking forward to working for you."

She could hardly wait to get back to her hotel room and dial Andy's number. When he answered, her heart soared at the sound of his voice.

"Andy. It's me."

"Hey! It's so good to hear from you. I miss you."

"I miss you, too."

"How did the meeting go?"

"He offered me the job!" she squealed, rummaging through the cosmetic bag hidden inside the closet.

"That's wonderful."

"I know it! It's just perfect. And listen, I told my new boss that we'd have dinner with him and Emma Friday night here at the hotel."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Do you want me to pick you up at Hartsfield?" she asked, miming her jubilation when she found her Ziploc baggie of emergency chocolates.

"No, my flight gets in right at the peak of rush hour," he told her. "I'll take MARTA out your way and rent a car there. We have dinner at Mother's tomorrow night."

Sherilyn gulped as she plopped down on the bed. "Okay. And we have appointments to look at houses on Friday morning with that realtor Emma knows."

"Sherilyn?"

"What?"

"She's going to love you."

She peeled back the foil and poked a chocolate candy into her mouth. The creamy texture provided the instant gratification she craved, and she sighed. "Okay."

"I know my mother is going to love you."

Sure she is.

"Are you breathing?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Promise?"

"Yep."

Sherilyn opened another candy and placed it on her tongue with a sigh.

"Don't worry."

"Oo-kay."

"Sherilyn."

"Andrew."

"I love you."

She sighed again. Thank G.o.d!

"I love you, too. And I'll see you tomorrow."

Andy planned to meet Jeff at The Boundary on Division Street by eight o'clock, but he jogged through the front door at 8:45. When he reached the table, Jeff was dipping a jumbo jalapeno pretzel into a small dish of melted cheese.

"Sorry, buddy. I got held up."

"Yeah," Jeff managed through his full mouth. "I see how you are. Abandoning me here while you move off to Atlanta to live near your mommy, and you can't even give us the send-off dinner I deserve."

"Looks like you started without me. Good."

Andy shrugged out of the brown leather bomber jacket and tossed it to the empty chair beside him. The waitress appeared at their table just then, and Andy gave her a nod.

"Another couple of those hot pretzels. And a club soda, no lime."

"Anything else for you?" she asked Jeff. "Another c.o.ke?"

"Yeah. And what kind of sandwiches come on the appetizer platter of minis?"

"You can choose between chopped pork and burgers."

"Make it pork."

"You got it."

"Planning to eat your way through the night, are ya?" Andy ribbed his friend.

"Zip it. Let's get down to business. What's it going to take to stop you from moving to Hotlanta?"

"What, you're trying to buy me off? You think giving up true love has a price tag?"

Jeff yanked his checkbook from the pocket of his sport coat and clicked a pen. "You bet I do. So what'll it be? How much? Twelve bucks? Fifteen? You name your price because I'm not taking no for an answer."

"As tempting as your twelve bucks offer is, I'm afraid you're out of luck."

The waitress set down their drinks and slid the plate of pretzels toward Andy.

"Thanks."

The instant she left the table, Jeff tore off a chunk of one of Andy's pretzels and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Nice."

"C'mon," he said as he chewed. "I'm not saying Sherilyn's not a great girl. But do you have to leave town to marry her?"

Andy dunked a piece of the pretzel into the cheese and popped it into his mouth as he nodded. "Yep."

"Why? She can't marry you here?"

"I think she'd rather have married me here, if you want to know the truth. But I got this job offer that I didn't want to turn down."

"Orchestrated by Mommy."

"She had the connection, but I really like what they're doing in sports injuries at the Atlanta center. It's the kind of ortho I've always been interested in, you know that."

"Yeah, but . . ." Jeff shrugged and glared down at the tabletop. "Atlanta?"

"It's my home."

"But it's not mine!"

The way Jeff stared at him Andy couldn't help but laugh. "I know you're used to the world revolving around you, Durgin. But this time it's about me and Sherilyn."

"Yeah. Whatever."

Jeff broke off another chunk of pretzel from Andy's plate, and Andy reached across the table and gave his friend's shoulder a shove.

"I'm only gonna ask you one more time. You're sure about marrying her, right?"

"Durgin, c'mon."

"Well, c'mon yourself. You just met her, like, what? Twenty minutes ago?"

"It's been a couple of months."

"Oh! Oh, well that's another thing entirely! A couple months."

"And it took me about three minutes to know she was it for me."

"At least let me do a background check on her," he suggested.