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Laurel held on another et this,” she whispered “Never Thank you Thank you, thank you!”
She rushed for the door, anxious to share the neith her friends, then turned, young, radiant “I can’t wait to start”
CHAPTER ONE
ALONE, WITH NORAH JONES WHISPERING THROUGH THE iPOD, Laurel transforant, edible lace She didn’t hear the music, used it more to fill the air than as entertainly pieced the completed panel onto the second tier of four
She stepped back to eye the results, to circle, to search for flaws Vows’ clients expected perfect, and that’s exactly what she intended to deliver Satisfied, she nodded, and picked up a bottle of water to sip while she stretched her back
“To to go”
She glanced toward the board where she’d pinned various san for the cake Friday evening’s bride had approved
She had three ns to co new June at Vows, the wedding and event business she ran with her friends, was prime time
In a handful of years, they’d turned an idea into a thriving enterprise So, shefondant lace at nearly one in the
It was a very good thing, she decided She loved the work
They all had their passions Eraphy, Parker the details And she had the cakes And the pastries, she thought, and the chocolates But the cakes stood as the crowning touch
She got back to it, began to roll out the next panel Following habit, she’d clipped her sunny blond hair up and back out of her way Cornstarch dusted the baker’s apron she wore over cotton pants and tee, and the slide-on kitchen shoes kept her feet as co Her hands, strong fro, were capable and quick As she began the next pattern, her sharp-featured, angular face set in serious lines
Perfection wasn’t si at Vows it was a necessity The wedding cake wasJust as the wedding photos Mac took were ements and bouquets Emma created more than flowers The details and schedules and wishes Parker put together were, in the end, bigger than the sum of their parts
Together, the elements became a once-in-a-lifetime event, and the celebration of the journey two people chose to ether
Romantic, certainly, and Laurel believed in romance In theory, anyway More, she believed in symbols and celebrations And in a really fabulous cake
Her expression softened into pleasure as she colanced over to see Parker hovering in the doorway
“Why aren’t you in bed?”
“Details” Parker circled a finger over her own head “Couldn’t settle How long have you been at this tonight?”
“Awhile I need to finish it so it can set overnight Plus I have the two Saturday cakes to assemble and decorate tomorrow”
“Want company?”
They knew each other well enough that it was understood if Laurel said no, there’d be no offense And often, when deep in work, no was the answer
“Sure”
“I love the design” Parker, as Laurel had, circled the cake “The delicacy of the white on white, the interest of the different heights of each tier—and the intricacy of each They really do look like different panels of lace Old-fashioned, vintage, that’s our bride’s theme You’ve nailed it with this”
“We’re going to do pale blue ribbon around the pedestal,” Laurel said as she started on the next panel “And Eoing to be a winner”
“The bride’s been good to ith”
Co brown hair loose rather than in its work non, Parker put on the kettle for tea One of the perks of running the business out of her hoht on the estate as ere these late-night visits
“She knows her es of the panel “But she’s open to suggestion, and so far hasn’t been insane If she h the next twenty-four that way, she’ll definitely earn Vows’ coveted Good Bride status”
“They looked happy and relaxed tonight at rehearsal, and that’s a good sign”
“Mmm-hmm” Laurel continued the pattern with precisely placed eyelets and dots “So, again, why aren’t you in bed?”
Parker sighed as she heated a little teapot “I think I was having a lass of wine out on hts were on in both houses, and I could shts went off—Eht hoe’re planning Mac’s wedding, and that E Day, the four of us, ere kids Now it’s real I sat there in the quiet and the dark, and foundmy parents could be here to see it To see e’ve done here, and e are now I got stuck” She paused tohappy because I know they’d be proud of me Of us”
“I think about them a lot We all do” Laurel continued to work “Because they were such an essential part of our lives, and because there are sostuck”
“They’d get a kick out of Mac and Carter, out of Emma and Jack, wouldn’t they?”
“Yeah, they woul
d And e’ve done here, Parker? It rocks They’d get a kick out of that, too”
“I’” Parker poured hot water into the pot “You’ve settled me down”
“Here to serve I’ll tell you who else is lucky, and that’s Friday’s bride Because this cake?” She blew stray hair out of her eyes as she nodded sels ith joy”
Parker set the pot aside to steep “Really, Laurel, you need to take more pride in your work”
Laurel grinned “Screw the tea I’lass of wine”
IN THE MORNING, AFTER A SOLID SIX HOURS’ SLEEP, LAUREL GOT IN a quick session at the gy for the workday She’d be chained in her kitchen for the bulk of it, but before that routine began, there was the su that prefaced every event
Laurel dashed downstairs fro house, and back to the faether
“Morning, Mrs G”
Mrs Grady arched her eyebrows “You look feisty”
“Feel feisty Feel righteous” Laurel fisted both hands, flexed her muscles “Want coffee Much”
“Parker’s taken the coffee up already You can take this fruit, and the pastries Eat some of that fruit A day shouldn’t start with a Danish”
“Yes, ma’am Anyone else here yet?”
“Not yet, but I saw Jack’s truck leave a bit ago, and I expect Carter will be along giving me the puppy eyes in hopes of a decent breakfast”
“I’ll get out of the way” Laurel grabbed the platters, balancing them with the expertise of the waitress she’d been once upon a time
She carried them up to the library, which now served as Vows’ conference roo table, with the coffee service on the breakfront Her BlackBerry, as always, remained at easy reach The sleek ponytail left her face unframed, and the crisp white shirt transmitted business mode as she sipped coffee and studied data on her laptop with
“Provisions,” Laurel announced She set the trays down, then tucked her chin-length swing of hair behind her ears before she obeyed Mrs Grady and fixed herself a little bowl of berries “Missed you in the gyet up?”
“Six, which was a good thing, since Saturday afternoon’s bride called just after seven Her father tripped over the cat and may have broken his nose”
“Uh-oh”
“She’s worried about hi to look for the wedding, and in the photographs I’ to call the makeup artist to see what she thinks can be done”