getting dressed for the debate. Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.” And that explained where she was at the moment. “I’d almost forgotten about tonight’s debate. I guess we won’t be watching this time. D.J. and I have Bible study and the rest of the family is going to the movies.”
“That’s okay. I understand. But don’t you see my point? You guys are living a normal life, not caught up in the political stuff. I’m about to be a bride, for pity’s sake. I should be stressed about my wedding, not an election, right? I mean, what kind of bride is so caught up in a presidential race that she doesn’t have time to discuss her wedding?”
“We’re discussing it now. And please don’t fret. You’ve got two weeks. So, deep breath.”
“This just isn’t like me. I’m the organized one. Very OCD. From the time I was a little girl I had all my ducks in a row. So the idea that I’m off in—where are we again? Oh, right, Iowa—means that I’ve become someone other than who I used to be.”
“You’re in love with a man who’s running for the highest office in the land. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
She sighed. “That’s another part of me you don’t know. I’m always hardest on myself. I find it rather remarkable that I haven’t had a major breakdown by now.”
“Well, hold off on the breakdown till after the wedding, okay? And just leave everything to me. Want me to fill you in on the things I’ve already done?”
“Please.”
“Okay. Let’s start with the food. I spoke to the caterer and we’ve finalized the menu. It’s going to be amazing. As far as desserts go, Scarlet has promised her most beautiful cake yet. She also had the best idea for teacup shaped cookies. And teapots, too. We can wrap them individually and put them at each place setting as a gift. What do you think?”
“Sounds great.”
“She can even monogram them with your initials. It’ll be classy looking. Scarlet wanted me to pass along some sketches of the cake. I think you’re going to love it. It’s Victorian, through and through, and in your color scheme.”
“How horrible is it that I haven’t even had time to talk to my own cake decorator, Bella?” Victoria released a groan. “What kind of bride lets her coordinator do everything?”
“The kind who’s trying to help her fiancé win a bid at the White House.”
“Hmm.” She paused and I read doubt in the blank space.
“Anyway, I think you’re going to love the table settings. I have a vendor in Houston that specializes in fine china. They’ve found a pattern that’s perfect. I’ll send you a picture, if you like, but trust me. . .it matches the cake, the flowers, everything. It’s divine.”
At this, she laughed. “I get it. DeVine.”
“Oh, right.” I chuckled. “Anyway, it’s the most beautiful Victorian pattern you’ve ever seen. Perfect for Valentine’s and ideal for a tea party.”
“Tea party.” She sighed. “You do think the tea party idea is going to be pretty, right? I mean, I’m not just going along with it because of Beau—though he does love the idea. I hope my guests don’t think it’s too. . .political. You know? Do you think my guests will read too much into this?”
“No, not at all. They’ll just think it’s lovely.”
“Yeah. I hope so. Not that my guests even know where the wedding is going to be held. Craziest wedding invitations ever. Guests were all instructed to wait for a phone call the day ahead. My poor aunt from Montana didn’t even know how to go about booking her flight until I told her it was close to Houston. That’s all they would let us say to our guests. And don’t even get me started on the chaos this has caused between my parents and Beau’s mother. Everyone’s up in arms.”
“It’s just a season, Victoria. You know? I’ve been through seasons that I thought were impossible, but they all came to an end and a new season started. You’ll see.”
“If he wins the
“No need to apologize.” And that explained where she was at the moment. “I’d almost forgotten about tonight’s debate. I guess we won’t be watching this time. D.J. and I have Bible study and the rest of the family is going to the movies.”
“That’s okay. I understand. But don’t you see my point? You guys are living a normal life, not caught up in the political stuff. I’m about to be a bride, for pity’s sake. I should be stressed about my wedding, not an election, right? I mean, what kind of bride is so caught up in a presidential race that she doesn’t have time to discuss her wedding?”
“We’re discussing it now. And please don’t fret. You’ve got two weeks. So, deep breath.”
“This just isn’t like me. I’m the organized one. Very OCD. From the time I was a little girl I had all my ducks in a row. So the idea that I’m off in—where are we again? Oh, right, Iowa—means that I’ve become someone other than who I used to be.”
“You’re in love with a man who’s running for the highest office in the land. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
She sighed. “That’s another part of me you don’t know. I’m always hardest on myself. I find it rather remarkable that I haven’t had a major breakdown by now.”
“Well, hold off on the breakdown till after the wedding, okay? And just leave everything to me. Want me to fill you in on the things I’ve already done?”
“Please.”
“Okay. Let’s start with the food. I spoke to the caterer and we’ve finalized the menu. It’s going to be amazing. As far as desserts go, Scarlet has promised her most beautiful cake yet. She also had the best idea for teacup shaped cookies. And teapots, too. We can wrap them individually and put them at each place setting as a gift. What do you think?”
“Sounds great.”
“She can even monogram them with your initials. It’ll be classy looking. Scarlet wanted me to pass along some sketches of the cake. I think you’re going to love it. It’s Victorian, through and through, and in your color scheme.”
“How horrible is it that I haven’t even had time to talk to my own cake decorator, Bella?” Victoria released a groan. “What kind of bride lets her coordinator do everything?”
“The kind who’s trying to help her fiancé win a bid at the White House.”
“Hmm.” She paused and I read doubt in the blank space.
“Anyway, I think you’re going to love the table settings. I have a vendor in Houston that specializes in fine china. They’ve found a pattern that’s perfect. I’ll send you a picture, if you like, but trust me. . .it matches the cake, the flowers, everything. It’s divine.”
At this, she laughed. “I get it. DeVine.”
“Oh, right.” I chuckled. “Anyway, it’s the most beautiful Victorian pattern you’ve ever seen. Perfect for Valentine’s and ideal for a tea party.”
“Tea party.” She sighed. “You do think the tea party idea is going to be pretty, right? I mean, I’m not just going along with it because of Beau—though he does love the idea. I hope my guests don’t think it’s too. . .political. You know? Do you think my guests will read too much into this?”
“No, not at all. They’ll just think it’s lovely.”
“Yeah. I hope so. Not that my guests even know where the wedding is going to be held. Craziest wedding invitations ever. Guests were all instructed to wait for a phone call the day ahead. My poor aunt from Montana didn’t even know how to go about booking her flight until I told her it was close to Houston. That’s all they would let us say to our guests. And don’t even get me started on the chaos this has caused between my parents and Beau’s mother. Everyone’s up in arms.”
“It’s just a season, Victoria. You know? I’ve been through seasons that I thought were impossible, but they all came to an end and a new season started. You’ll see.”
“If he wins the
Similar Books
