Page 119 of Book Club Confidential

“Mm-hmm,” he hummed. “And how soon can I see you again?”

“Absolutely yes, and depends.” Her gaze snagged on the calendar once more, and her marketing mind automatically went to work. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Oof. I know this tone,” he said. “I’m trying to set up a date, but I think you’re concocting a plan. Is this a business plan or an incredible date night with me?”

“Hopefully both,” she said. Then she told him the fuzzy idea taking shape in her mind, making notes on the side of a collapsed box so she wouldn’t forget the details. Grant had several incredible suggestions to add as well.

Tessa hurried to the living room when they disconnected, the flattened box in her hands.

“Hal!” she called.

Kate and Hallie clocked her arrival instantly, and both stood.

“What’s wrong?” Hallie asked.

Tessa wet her lips. “I think I have an idea.”

“About?” Kate asked.

“The reception venue is still yours all evening tomorrow?” Tessa asked.

Hallie nodded, confusion wrinkling her brow. “Yeah.”

Mrs. Montgomery peered around them from the couch. “I paid for it, and it’s too late to get my money back. No last-minute cancellations.”

Tessa smiled. “What if we use the Barn at Baker’s Farm to celebrate your new culinary adventure?” she asked.

Kate’s eyes went wide, and she bounced at Hallie’s side. “Like a launch party?”

Tessa nodded. “Hallie can prep a few simple dishes to test for the food truck,” she said. “We can contact the catering staff about using the ingredients they’ve already purchased for the meals. Kate can use her social media reach to promote the event, and I can use my connections in town to push awareness. We can set a small cover charge to help reimburse Mrs. Montgomery for the rental, or to help with repair costs for the truck. We can also charge for drinks and advertise the whole thing as a women-centric evening of celebration. A safe place to eat, drink, dance, and support one another. A one-night-only pop-up event.” Her eyes snapped to Mrs. Montgomery. “Do you think the catering company would consider changing all those sit-down meals to appetizers, finger foods, and hors d’oeuvres?”

Hallie looked so darn pleased. “For what it costs, we should get to do whatever we want with that food.”

Hallie bit her lip. “I don’t know. Is it super disrespectful to have a party tomorrow when I just left a man at the altar? More or less.”

Mrs. Montgomery leaned forward on her seat. “Absolutely not,” she said. “I had to go to the bank and leverage my car for this event. I took out a loan. I’ve been sitting here all night trying to figure out how long four hundred meals will last and how many I can fit in my deep freezer.” She looked to Hallie. “If you don’t want to do it, don’t do it, but don’t say no for someone else’s sake. Bryce and his people won’t be any less upset if you pack the meals into coolers and let the venue sit empty. You might as well make the most of this.”

Kate beamed. “I can take the photos. I have all the equipment, and the bulk of folks following me now are into books and real-life moments like this.”

Hallie’s lips parted. “I don’t know how much I can cook in a day. Will the catering staff help?”

“I’ll call and ask,” her mama said. “Do you have any recipes? If so, I can offer to send them over now so they can get things sorted on their side.”

Hallie reached for the familiar binder on her coffee table. “I have a dozen.”

Her mama rose. “Say no more. I’ll be right back.” She left the room, cell phone in hand.

Gina slid into the empty spot on Hallie’s sofa. “If the staff won’t help, we will.” She nodded at the room full of Montgomery women. “We know our way around a kitchen, too, don’t forget.”

Hallie’s lip quivered, and her eyes misted with unshed tears. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Well, what on earth is family for, if not to help throw a big-ass party?” she asked.

The next afternoon, amid the chaos of preparing for the largest open-invitation party of her life, Tessa slipped away to see her dad. Becoming the heroine in her story meant being true to herself, and the conversation ahead was decades overdue.

She paused in the driveway, watching as Devin used a power tool on the front door.

He stood and turned when he noticed her. “Hey.”