‘This place just opened up,’ Eva told Maddy.
‘Very nice,’ Maddy said.
A woman in a forest-green gilet with old-money energy ran over. ‘Hello! I’m Claire Duboise!’ she announced.
‘You look around,’ Eva said to Maddy. ‘I’ll do the talking.’
Maddy nodded, pleased.
Eva then listened as Claire explained, with rehearsed enthusiasm, how the space flipped between ceremony and dinner: guests were ushered out into the garden for drinks whilestaff cleared the chairs, rolled in the tables, and transformed the room entirely before anyone was allowed back in. Eva then drilled her on capacity limits, power access, accessibility routes. Claire had acceptable answers.
As Eva noted down the answers on her tablet, Claire zeroed in on Maddy. ‘You’re the bride?’
Maddy nodded.
Claire gave her a selling smile. ‘Can’t you just picture walking down this aisle?’
Maddy froze for a fraction of a second before offering a bright, automatic, ‘It’s beautiful.’ The smile didn’t reach Maddy’s eyes.
Noted.
***
The second venue was a stately manor. And it made Maddy shrink almost imperceptibly. She nodded too eagerly at suggestions she clearly hadn’t processed.
Outside, on the way to the car, Eva asked, ‘Do you actually want a horse-drawn carriage?’
Maddy blinked. ‘I don’t know.’
Eva gave her a look. ‘You are allowed to say no.’
‘I know,’ Maddy said quietly. She paused. ‘Are you sure?’
Eva tutted, thinking that she didn’t have the energy to grow Maddy a spine.
Then Maddy smiled. Eva realised that it had been a very intentional joke. Maddy knew her brand.
Eva allowed herself to smile. ‘I can see I’ll have to watch out for you.’
Maddy giggled lightly.
Eva felt a sudden need to change gears. ‘Tell me something you dislike.’
Maddy hesitated for a long time. ‘I don’t want to pretend I’m a Disney princess.’
Hallelujah. A boundary.
‘Good,’ Eva said. ‘So, no carriages.’
Maddy nodded. ‘Yes. I mean, no.’ She sighed. ‘Sorry. Struggling with my words today.’
‘That’s all right. Nonverbal communication is my speciality. Blink twice if you get in trouble,’ Eva said.
Maddy giggled again. ‘It might come to that.’
***
The third venue changed everything.
