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Chapter One
Sanniyah
I stop in the middle of the sidewalk, and shift out of this sea of people. Closing my eyes I take a deep breath.
"Okay Yahya, stop panicking."
Clearly there is no way I can walk to my meeting in time. So rather than show up all late and sweaty, it's time to switch to plan B.
"Taxi!" I call, stepping out into the street.
As if by magic, a taxi rolls smoothly to a stop, and I hop in and settle back in the seat, relishing the air-conditioning. "14th and Houston, please," I tell the driver, already adjusting my makeup in my compact mirror.
What's the plan? Those words are my mantra, the constant refrain in my brain that has brought me to where I am today. Planning is what I do, and I'm the best at it. From the moment I got out of business school, I knew what my plan was: Open my own business, build my empire, and achieve my dreams.
And today is it. The linchpin to my dreams. I am scheduled to meet Camilla Easton in ten minutes.
If I can just get there in time.
I tap my fingers against my phone, studiously keeping it close. If I open it and see the picture of my mother and stepfather on my home screen, I am going to start crying and that will ruin everything. But even as I fight to keep my cool, my mother's voice is still echoing in my ear. Last night's conversation was quick and to the point.
"Yahya, the cancer's back. You need to be ready to say goodbye."
"No," I whisper softly. "Keep it together." I need to be on point. I need to sparkle and impress, and thoughts of my stepfather's cancer returning are not going to help that. I need to push that to the back of my brain, at least until after this meeting.
We are making good time, until a snarl of downtown traffic catches us in its vise. I can feel my heart rate starting to rise as the taxi inches along. We are close. Five minutes. I could probably walk faster.
In fact, I think I will.
I grab my phone and briefcase, and fling money at the driver. Slamming the door, I hit the pavement for the second time today, my heels clacking. The noon sun is pouring down on me once again, but I think I can make it without her seeing me sweat.
This is the biggest break in my career, and everything needs to go according to plan. When Camilla Easton called me, I had to hold back my disbelief. The Easton wedding was the event of the year and I had landed it. Every wedding planner in town had been vying for this one, but in the end she had called Sanniyah Jones Events.
Me.
If I play my cards right, this wedding will launch me into the next level. I can start the next stage of my timeline, licensing my name. Mentally, I make a note to release a PR statement as soon as I get back to my home office. This wedding is sure to land me a full page spread in the Styles section and the thought of the press and tabloid coverage makes me salivate.
And if Carter Easton shows up at his sister's wedding, that will bring even more press.
That thought makes my heart race even harder. No one has seen Carter Easton in two years. He disappeared, completely off of the radar. At the supermarket checkout the other day, I had actually seen a front page with his smiling face and picked it up eagerly, only to see that it was a speculation piece about his metal health. "The Broken Billionaire," they called him. "Why is Carter Easton Hiding?"
If he appears again at MY event, the press will go ballistic. Every little detail will be photographed and scrutinized. I might get TV appearances, consulting fees, my own reality show....
The thought makes me rush forward, almost sprinting right past the coffee shop where Camilla and I had agreed to meet. My sudden burst of energy is partly to do with excitement and partly to do with the ever-present nervousness I have to suppress every time I meet with one of my new, usually wealthy clients.
And Camilla Easton is the sister of one of the wealthiest men in the country.
"Yahya, you are not that girl anymore." I'm mumbling to myself as I hurry down the sidewalk. "You left that behind you."
Now, if only I'd believe myself and let go of the small, sad part of me that still held on to the deprivations of my childhood.
I stop and collect myself, catching a glimpse of my reflection in the plate glass window. I tuck a wayward strand of my long, jet black hair behind my ear, and let the diamond studs wink in the strong sunlight. My makeup still looks presentable somehow, confirming my belief that it is worth it to spring for the good stuff, especially on humid days like today. My high cheekbones are still highlighted with a light dusting of blush that sets off my mocha skin, and my light brown eyes are accentuated by a slight catlike curve to my dark gray eyeliner. Everything is still in place, in spite of my nerves. I could use some lip gloss on my full lips, though.
Unfortunately I had left that in my other bag. And Camilla Easton, and my dreams, are waiting for me.
Chapter Two
Sanniyah
This place is one of those coffee shops that treat the art of brewing as if it were some sort of magical alchemy. I grow impatient watching the baristas measure liquid in beakers and ended up just pulling my water bottle from
my bag and sitting down with a wide smile.
"It is such a pleasure to meet you, Miss Easton," I say, extending my hand.
The blushing young white girl in front of me is not at all what I was expecting. She pumps my hand enthusiastically, excitement shining in her wide blue eyes. I was expecting someone snobbish and refined, but Camilla Easton is as infectiously eager to please as a Labrador puppy.
"Call me Cammy," she says in a girlish voice. I know from my research that she is twenty-six years old, same as me, but she has such a young air about her that I instantly feel protective.
"Cammy, congratulations!" I smile all the harder. "What an exciting time for you!" It's my standard line, one I've used a million times before, but this time I find myself meaning it.
"It is," she looks down shyly at the gigantic, shining boulder on her ring finger and twists it nervously. "I'm sorry that Greg couldn't come today, he got called overseas last minute. Had to fly out this morning."
Of course I knew that her fiancé, Gregory Milton, is a hotelier eagerly expanding his empire. Briefly, I wondered which of his hotels would be the one to host this wedding
"He has a bit on his plate," I soothe, and she smiles at my reassurance. I reach into my briefcase and pull out my booking sheets, spreading them out in a fan shape for her to see. "When you made this appointment, you told me you were looking for an October wedding, correct?" I swallow hard.
"That's right," Cammy practically whispers. "I know it's short notice, but Greg's mother is in poor health..."
I wince a little. "Yahya, you need to be ready to say goodbye," she told me. How can I possibly say goodbye? I'm not ready for this. It's too sudden. This isn't supposed to be happening, he was in remission. He was fine!
Then I snap back to Cammy.
"Say no more," I say reassuringly, even though I don't feel reassured at all. "Tell me about your vision."
This is my favorite question, because it gets the brides talking and I can sit back and make notes. Typically, the bride will get so caught up in the descriptions of her perfect day that, just by listening closely, I get everything I need to do my job perfectly.
And then I get to take the credit when everything falls into place. It's a win-win really.
But instead of bubbling over about chocolate fountains and dress colors, Cammy just looks stricken. "I don't...really have a vision?" she sounds ashamed. "Or, rather...I did. But it changed."
I smile, discreetly cracking my knuckles. This will be a little harder than I thought. "Well, we can start with the basics. How many guests do you plan on inviting?"
"It really depends...." She is looking down, not meeting my eyes. I can feel my grip on her loosening, and I start scrambling.
"Low-key," I announce, blindly grasping at straws. "You're not a fussy girl and you don't like a fuss being made about you." I smile winningly as she looks up, meeting my eye for the first time since I walked in. Yes, I'm on the right track. I soldier on. "You don't really want a huge guest list, just those that are closest to you. Something casual, but elegant, full of personal touches. A real celebration of you and Greg and your love."
Her shoulders are moving lower and lower the more I talk. "Something low-key," she repeats. "That would be lovely."
"I can definitely do that." I am already picturing the shabby chic decorations, the simple ceremony. I make a note of the caterers that could supply and elegant menu with a rustic touch. The press release I will send out practically writes itself. "From the homeless shelter to haute couture, the improbably rise of Sanniyah Jones, wedding planner extraordinaire." That's good. That's really good. Discreetly, I write it down in the margins of my notebook while pretending I'm taking notes for Camilla. "You don't have to worry about a thing, Miss Easton. Sanniyah Jones Events is all about making your day specifically yours."
"Call me Cammy," she repeats, softly.
Oops. "Of course, Cammy. Like I said, you really don't need to worry about much. I can start location scouting as soon as today." October is only four months away. I am going to have to scramble, call in favors, plump some egos, but it's nothing I can't handle.
"I do know the location," she interjects.
I raise my eyebrows. Well this helps. "Ah. That's wonderful." One of her fiance's properties, I would guess. That would make catering easier. I lift my pencil. "I'll call and find out availability as soon as we're done here."
"I know it's available."
I scoff internally. All of the best places are already booked months, sometimes years in advance. I really hope I don't have to disappoint her. "Well that will make my job easier!" I say. "Go ahead and give me the name, and if you have a phone number, that would really help. But don't worry if you don't."
She looks around, then lowers her voice. "I have the number, but I don't want to say it out loud." She reaches for my pad of paper. Confused, I hand it to her and she scratches out a number with a strange area code. "They say you're the best in the business, Miss Jones. But this information comes with a confidentiality clause."
"You have my word." I can't make head's or tails of the number anyway. "I'll call them today and get everything lined up."
"Everything is ready for you already. The helicopter is at your disposal."
"I'll need a helicopter?"
"Yes." She lowers her voice further. "To get to Annika Island."
"Annika Island." The name rings a very faint bell. I am just starting to put it together at the same time Cammy explains, so that the realization hits me with a quick one-two punch.
"My brother's island. Carter is going to be hosting the wedding."
Chapter Three
Carter
I'm on hold, but not for long. By the sound of his huffing, Dennis Fallon must have sprinted to the phone the minute he heard I was calling.
"Carter! Good to hear from you! How's the weather?" he wheezes into the receiver. I wonder mildly what I'd do if my congressperson had a heart attack and dropped dead right now.
"The weather is pretty much the same as yours, Dennis. I'm only fifteen miles away."
"Of course, of course." He sounds embarrassed, and I'm getting annoyed. I was expecting news from him today and it's already 11:45 in the morning. "So how can I help you?"
"You know damn well why I'm calling, Dennis, cut the shit."
Dennis exhales heavily and I can picture him collapsing into his leather swivel chair. I used to spend a lot of time in his office...back before the accident. I had the layout memorized and I doubt he had changed anything in two years. Congressman Dennis Fallon was not a man who moved quickly...on anything. It was a quality I admired in him back in the day, but now I was impatient to see results.
"Dennis?"
He hears the warning in my tone and sighs again. "It's stuck in committee for the time being. I'm having a real hard time with these First Amendment nuts." His voice rises. "The rights of journalism and speech and all that."
"It's not fucking journalism," I explode. "It's harassment and it should be fucking illegal. My parents...."
"I know, Carter, believe me, I know. We're going to get justice, you just gotta hold tight on this. Laws like this are never easy."
I sigh and sit back, looking out the great, expansive window and over the bay. Dennis is somewhere over the horizon, a quick helicopter ride away. I could fly there right now, grease his palm again, speak the only language he seems to understand.
But I can't do that.
I'm already breaking out in a cold sweat at the very thought. My hands are shaking as I reach for the pills I always keep close by. I don't need Dennis to know that I have worked myself into a damn panic attack over his ineptitude.
And the wedding too, I remind myself. I promised my baby sister that I was well enough to host her big day and I'd be damned if I wasn't going to make good on my promise.
"Carter?" Dennis is shuffling the phone around. "You still there? Damn phone connection, cutting out...."
"Fine. Keep me informed," I i
nterrupt him crisply, and hang up before he can say goodbye.
I sit back in my chair and look back out over the water. The gulls are wheeling over the bay, and I can tell by the angle of the sun that I need to head out there if I want to get my daily swim in before my conference call. But I can't stop staring at the gulls as they swoop and dive en masse. How can they stand to be so near each other? Jockeying for food, resources...air itself?
Fuck. I turn my head away from the windows. It's a sorry fucking state of affairs if fucking seagulls are enough to trigger an attack of the crippling agoraphobia that has confined me to Annika Island for two long, lonely years. Time heals all wounds, they say, but the hurt is still right there, red and rubbed raw by guilt.
