Read Online Going to the Chapel: A Novella by Rita Herron - Free Book Online
Authors: Rita Herron
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like a stuffed animal on the pillow in the corner chair.
Wicked little thing. It had kept Izzy awake half the night wanting to play.
“Izzy, don’t keep us in suspense,” Aunt Dottie said.
“Yes, we have a client,” Izzy said, her pulse racing. “His name is Levi Fox, and he and his fiancée want a Christmas wedding.”
Aunt Dottie fluttered a hand over her cheek. “Oh, that’s wonderful. That’s when Harry and I got married, too.”
“Did you get a retainer?” Caroline asked.
Izzy winced, feeling chided. “No, not yet. But he’s coming back tomorrow for a tasting.” She turned to Daisy. “Can you compile some menus for him to look at, and maybe make some samples?”
Daisy rubbed her hands over her apron, hesitant. “I was planning to leave tomorrow.”
“Oh, Daisy.” Aunt Dottie‘s tone held a silent plea. “Everyone is town is excited about the coffee/dessert bar.”
“Then one of them can run it,” Daisy said, slightly annoyed.
Aunt Dottie propped her crutch against the wall. “But you’re such a wonderful cook. Just think—if you move back to Matrimony, you could have your own catering business.”
Daisy used a cloth to wipe the counter. “I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen.” At her aunt’s crestfallen face, Daisy added, “But I’ll make the samples before I leave.”
“Thank you, Daisy,” Izzy said. “I appreciate your help.”
Daisy’s gaze met hers, and Izzy wondered if her sister had accepted the olive branch she’d just extended. It was killing her to know that Daisy and Caroline still despised her.
Aunt Dottie adjusted her hat. “So tell us about this couple, Izzy. What are they like? Where are they from?”
Levi’s face flashed in Izzy’s mind, her heart stuttering. “He’s totally in love with his fiancée.”
“Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?” Aunt Dottie said. “That is, unless you like him.”
Izzy’s cheeks flooded with heat. She shouldn’t have confided to her aunt that her marriage had fallen apart. She might let it slip to her sisters. “No, of course not. We just met.”
“And you are a married woman,” Caroline pointed out.
Izzy bit her lip at the censure in Caroline’s tone. Technically she was. “Yes, I am. And this client is important. If this wedding is a success, we can use it for advertising to entice more customers.”
Caroline fiddled with one of the silver bells on the table. “Christmas is only a few days away. You can’t possibly pull off a wedding in that short amount of time.”
Izzy shrugged. Caroline had no faith in her.
“It will be difficult but . . . maybe we could do it together. Before you and Daisy leave. For Aunt Dottie, of course.”
Aunt Dottie clapped her hands. “That’s a fantastic idea.”
Caroline narrowed her eyes at Izzy, as if to say she knew she’d been railroaded. Saying no to their aunt was impossible.
All the more reason Izzy had to make this work. “Levi said the wedding party might stay at the B and B. We need to make sure the rooms are in order.”
“Caroline, can you coordinate things with Myrtle at the B and B?” Aunt Dottie asked. “The sewing circle and quilting bee are already working on the bedding and furniture.”
“All right,” Caroline said reluctantly. “But I have to get home before Christmas, so I won’t be here for the ceremony.”
A hole opened in Izzy’s chest. She hated for her sisters to leave without them patching things up.
Daisy cleared her throat. “Photograph the house and rooms so I can add the photos to the website. I’ll also send out a press release to the local paper announcing One Stop Weddings and featuring Matrimony as a romantic mountain getaway.”
“You’re not sending it to Nosy Nellie,” Izzy said.
Daisy frowned. “Of course not, although maybe we should. Everyone reads her column. And Uner Pinkerton can spread news faster than Twitter.”
Izzy laughed, and Daisy continued, “I’ll also send a release to
Wicked little thing. It had kept Izzy awake half the night wanting to play.
“Izzy, don’t keep us in suspense,” Aunt Dottie said.
“Yes, we have a client,” Izzy said, her pulse racing. “His name is Levi Fox, and he and his fiancée want a Christmas wedding.”
Aunt Dottie fluttered a hand over her cheek. “Oh, that’s wonderful. That’s when Harry and I got married, too.”
“Did you get a retainer?” Caroline asked.
Izzy winced, feeling chided. “No, not yet. But he’s coming back tomorrow for a tasting.” She turned to Daisy. “Can you compile some menus for him to look at, and maybe make some samples?”
Daisy rubbed her hands over her apron, hesitant. “I was planning to leave tomorrow.”
“Oh, Daisy.” Aunt Dottie‘s tone held a silent plea. “Everyone is town is excited about the coffee/dessert bar.”
“Then one of them can run it,” Daisy said, slightly annoyed.
Aunt Dottie propped her crutch against the wall. “But you’re such a wonderful cook. Just think—if you move back to Matrimony, you could have your own catering business.”
Daisy used a cloth to wipe the counter. “I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen.” At her aunt’s crestfallen face, Daisy added, “But I’ll make the samples before I leave.”
“Thank you, Daisy,” Izzy said. “I appreciate your help.”
Daisy’s gaze met hers, and Izzy wondered if her sister had accepted the olive branch she’d just extended. It was killing her to know that Daisy and Caroline still despised her.
Aunt Dottie adjusted her hat. “So tell us about this couple, Izzy. What are they like? Where are they from?”
Levi’s face flashed in Izzy’s mind, her heart stuttering. “He’s totally in love with his fiancée.”
“Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?” Aunt Dottie said. “That is, unless you like him.”
Izzy’s cheeks flooded with heat. She shouldn’t have confided to her aunt that her marriage had fallen apart. She might let it slip to her sisters. “No, of course not. We just met.”
“And you are a married woman,” Caroline pointed out.
Izzy bit her lip at the censure in Caroline’s tone. Technically she was. “Yes, I am. And this client is important. If this wedding is a success, we can use it for advertising to entice more customers.”
Caroline fiddled with one of the silver bells on the table. “Christmas is only a few days away. You can’t possibly pull off a wedding in that short amount of time.”
Izzy shrugged. Caroline had no faith in her.
“It will be difficult but . . . maybe we could do it together. Before you and Daisy leave. For Aunt Dottie, of course.”
Aunt Dottie clapped her hands. “That’s a fantastic idea.”
Caroline narrowed her eyes at Izzy, as if to say she knew she’d been railroaded. Saying no to their aunt was impossible.
All the more reason Izzy had to make this work. “Levi said the wedding party might stay at the B and B. We need to make sure the rooms are in order.”
“Caroline, can you coordinate things with Myrtle at the B and B?” Aunt Dottie asked. “The sewing circle and quilting bee are already working on the bedding and furniture.”
“All right,” Caroline said reluctantly. “But I have to get home before Christmas, so I won’t be here for the ceremony.”
A hole opened in Izzy’s chest. She hated for her sisters to leave without them patching things up.
Daisy cleared her throat. “Photograph the house and rooms so I can add the photos to the website. I’ll also send out a press release to the local paper announcing One Stop Weddings and featuring Matrimony as a romantic mountain getaway.”
“You’re not sending it to Nosy Nellie,” Izzy said.
Daisy frowned. “Of course not, although maybe we should. Everyone reads her column. And Uner Pinkerton can spread news faster than Twitter.”
Izzy laughed, and Daisy continued, “I’ll also send a release to
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