Willow was sitting on top of a few plump pillows, chattering away to both Autumn and Thomas, and having the time of her life.
Duncan smiled at me from across the table. “Did you get settled in?” he asked.
“We did,” I said, cutting up Willow’s roast beef for her.
Willow swung her feet. “Can I have a roll, Mama?”
Before I could speak, Autumn passed a buttered roll across the table, sliding it on Willow’s plate. “There you go, short-stuff.”
“Short-stuff?” Willow laughed.
Autumn winked, then shifted her attention to me. “I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am that you’re here to help with the wedding, Maggie. There are far too many details…and I’m in way over my head.”
I met Autumn’s eyes and sent her the same smile I’d given dozens of other nervous brides. “Don’t you worry now. That’s what I’m here for. To take care of all those details.”
Duncan slipped his arm around his fiancée’s shoulders. “Autumn’s been trying to do everything for the handfasting herself.”
“If only I could find the right kind of cords for the ceremony…I suppose I could make some myself.” Autumn frowned. “But should I use ribbon or satin cords? Multi colored or all white?”
I nodded, reminding myself that the bride and groom were having a handfasting ritual on their wedding day. During which their hands would be bound together with a ceremonial cord. The old tradition was where the term ‘tied the knot’ came from. “I can help you with that,” I said. “I have a few ideas.”
“Good.” Autumn nodded. “It’s one less thing for me to worry about.”
“Well, you can stop worrying, because I’m on top of this,” I said soothingly. “We should all have a sit-down. Say…day after tomorrow?”
Thomas sipped at his wine. “There’s no rush, Maggie, we want you to take all the time you need to feel at home.”
“I want to hit the ground running,” I said. “As a matter of fact, I have meetings scheduled with the baker, and your florist tomorrow afternoon—right after we go and visit Willow’s pre-school.”
“I get a new school,” Willow said.
“Which pre-school?” Thomas asked.
“The one that you recommended,” I answered him. “The pre-school on the University campus.”
“My nephew, Morgan, goes there,” Autumn said. “He’s younger than Willow, but he loves it.”
“Your nephew, he’s going to be the ring bearer, correct?” I remembered.
Duncan grinned. “He is. The kid’s a pistol.”
“You have two flower girls as well,” I said to the couple. “Sophia and Chloe. The girls are nine and seven years old.”
“Wow. You remembered their names and ages.” Autumn smiled.
“I’m all about the details,” I said. “Nothing slips past me, I promise you.”
“I can’t wait for you to meet the bridesmaids.” Autumn grinned. “We have several.”
“So you have a final number.” I nodded and reached down for my bag that I’d left beside my chair. Quickly I pulled a notebook and pen out. I unsnapped the monogrammed cover and began to take notes.
“There will be five,” Autumn said. “My cousins Ivy and Holly, sister-in-law Lexie, and my friends Candice Jacobs and Violet O’Connell.”
I added the names dutifully. “Speaking of which,” I said, “when are you going shopping for the bridesmaid dresses? That should have been done a month ago, Autumn.”
“Well…” Autumn shifted her utensils. “I had a challenge getting everyone together, so I thought maybe we could order the dresses online.”
“Absolutely not,” I said. “I have the notes about the style and colors you were wanting to go with for your enchanted garden theme.” I had previously underlined the words ‘rainbow’ and ‘different pastel colors’ in my notebook. I nodded to the bride. “I’ll confirm the appointment for your bridal party in the morning and get everyone together by the end of the week.”
Autumn tilted her head. “You can get an appointment for us that fast?”
I closed the notebook with a quiet snap. “I already made the appointment a few weeks ago.”
Her jaw dropped. “But how will we get everyone together?”
“You leave that to me. I know a thing or two about wrangling bridesmaids.” I smiled at the couple. “Once we have the dresses nailed down, Duncan, we’re going to want to take the groomsmen to get all the men measured, so the tuxes, vests and ties can be ordered.”
“I’m suddenly afraid,” Duncan said, staring at me.
“I’m not.” Autumn gave Duncan a little elbow nudge. “I told you, I did my homework. Our cousin Maggie has a solid reputation as an event planner.” She toasted me with her wine glass. “One of the weddings you coordinated last year was even featured in a national bridal magazine.”
I was close to blushing, and I covered it by tucking away the notebook.
“It was clever to feature that write-up on your website,” Thomas said. “Smart business sense.”
Now it was my turn to blink in surprise. “I didn’t realize that y’all had been aware of that.” The knot I’d had in my belly for weeks started to loosen. I’d gotten the job on my own merit after all, it seemed. Not because of any pity or familial sympathy…
“I also contacted a couple of the brides you worked with last year through social media,” Autumn said. “They couldn’t stop raving about you.”
I lifted my water glass, took a sip and made sure my expression was neutral. “Thank you, that’s certainly nice to hear.”
“Mama works with brides,” Willow said. “Sometimes I get to help.”
“How do you help, short-stuff?” Autumn wanted to know.
“I pass out the programs, or make sure the flower girls don’t run off. They can be slippery,” Willow said earnestly.
Duncan’s lips twitched. “Sounds like a serious job.”
I almost choked on my water. The last thing I needed was for my new family to think I had my four-year-old working because I couldn’t handle an event…I cleared my throat. “Willow attended our friend’s wedding last fall. While I worked, she kept the flower girls entertained.”
“Mama says sometimes you gotta wrangle those bridesmaids.” Willows statement had the adults chuckling.
Oh my god. I was
