Grace nodded. “With AJ being chief of police we have to be careful we don’t slight someone. That means we’re inviting most of the town.”
“I understand. That’s definitely an added pressure and financial burden. You could skip pew and chair decorations. Serving beer and wine at the reception cost less than a full bar. Another cost-saving measure is eliminating favors. Most people won’t notice those small changes or if they do, they won’t care, but they can make a sizeable budgetary impact. You can start there, and if needed, we can look at other areas to cut costs.”
“I like your style and your thinking. How is it we haven’t become friends?”
McKenna swallowed her sigh. Why did Grace have to ask that question? When McKenna started in this business, she expected to form friendships with numerous brides and attendants. Then one day, her boss, Darby shared an experience from early in her career when she became friends with a bride. Between a controlling mother and a demanding mother of the groom, the bride fell apart on the wedding day. Darby gave the bride hugs and pep talks when she could but primarily focused on ensuring the wedding came off flawlessly. Afterward, the bride wrote a nasty review online saying Darby hadn’t been there for her emotionally on her wedding day.
McKenna had taken the advice, making a rule to never blur the lines between client and friendship. In a big city like Houston, not becoming friendly with clients, their friends, or family members hadn’t been a problem. Instead, she socialized with other wedding planners. But in a small town, her rule left her a social hermit.
Instead of sharing the story with Grace, she said, “I haven’t had time to socialize. When I first moved here, I was busy settling in and getting up to speed at work. Then Ginny needed surgery.”
“It’s time to fix that. Next Thursday the band we’re thinking of hiring for the reception will be at the Horseshoe. You should join us.”
McKenna bit her lip at the unexpected response. Most people nodded or said they understood when she tossed out her explanation. “That’s kind of you to ask, but I don’t go out on weeknights. It’s too hard to get up in the morning.” And on weekends she had rehearsal dinners and weddings to coordinate.
“I need you there,” Grace pleaded. “I want a recorded playlist for the reception, but AJ’s insisting on a band. I need your opinion and help negotiating the contract if we hire them. I don’t know what the going rate is for bands, but I assume you do?”
McKenna nodded. “That’s part of what you pay us for, to stay current on costs so you don’t get overcharged.”
“See, that’s why I need you there.”
“I’d be happy to negotiate the band’s contract, but all I need is their contact information once you decide who you want.”
“You’ve been living here, what? Three months?” McKenna nodded, and Grace continued. “It’s time for you to build a life outside of work. It’s not healthy to be so isolated. Trust me. I tried, and it was a disaster.”
Making friends? Maybe down the road. When she’d achieved more of her goals, but now she needed to focus her energy on impressing Ginny. “While meeting you at the Horseshoe sounds wonderful, with Ginny out I’m taking on a larger workload.”
“When Cassie offered me the job, I said I’d help her out for a while, but that was it.”
McKenna nodded, despite her uncertainty where Grace was heading with her comment. Couldn’t they move off this topic? Her hands on her lap twitched. “Do you have anything in mind for invitations?”
“First, I want to share something I learned when I moved to Wishing. People have a level of friendly for tourists and visitors, and another for folks who live here. To get the best deals from contractors and suppliers, people needed to see me as a local. They needed to feel they knew me to trust me. That’s not easy for us city girls. For you, it could mean people won’t hire you.”
“Thankfully, that shouldn’t be a problem since this is Ginny’s company,” McKenna said, dismissing Grace’s advice.
“But Ginny’s not here. You are, and you’re the one people have to trust.”
McKenna paused. Would Ginny’s absence make a difference? Was Grace right? Could being viewed as an outsider affect people’s decisions to hire Lucky Stars Weddings?
The message McKenna found this morning on voicemail replayed in her mind. Jenna Adams postponed her appointment to discuss final wedding costs, saying she wanted to talk with Tamara at Cedar Grove Ranch in Tyler first. What if Jenna’s decision had something to do with McKenna and a reluctance to trust her?
Maybe she should get out more. Make an effort to get to know people. After all, if her career went according to plan, Wishing would be her home.
“All right. I’ll meet you at the Horseshoe next Thursday,” McKenna said, reasoning attending would help her achieve her career goals. If people were nervous about Ginny’s absence, being seen with the chief of police’s fiancée would help reassure them. She’d also be supporting another local business. More comfortable with her decision, she relaxed. “Now that you’ve convinced me to abandon my hermit ways, let’s select your wedding invitations.”
Back in her element, she relaxed. This was how her days could be if Zane stayed out of the office and left her in control of clients and events. Apprehension twisted her stomach. Why did she have this bad feeling his steering clear wasn’t as simple as it sounded?
*
“How’s the firstweek gone in the wedding planning biz?” Ty asked when Zane arrived at the Bar 7, a six pack of Shiner in his hand to join his buddies watching the Texas A&M football season opener Saturday.
“It’s different,” Zane said as he followed his friend through the house. He couldn’t bring himself to tell Ty the week had been the longest of his life and working with McKenna would be the end of him. That he suspected her to be an alien sent from a hostile planet to drive him completely mad.
When they reached what Ty now called the media room, AJ and Coop had already staked out spots. With blackout curtains, leather theatre seats, and a sixty-five-inch TV, the room was great for watching movies and sports.
Zane grabbed a beer, dumped the rest in the small fridge behind the bar, and sank into an empty recliner to Coop’s left. After a long drink, he said, “Just to get it out of the way, I want to settle our dance bet. As much as it hurts to admit, I lost.” Zane placed his beer in the cup holder, pulled out his wallet, and withdrew the bills he’d gotten from the ATM earlier.
His friends stared at him as if he’d said he’d applied to the University of Texas to get a master’s degree in interior design.
