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Oh jeez, the number of people I would allow to call me "little lady" is a very short list. One name appears on that list; that name is Smitty.
"It's above and beyond. And legally I should be paying you, it's not right."
He shifts his hips and moves his arms so his arms are now folded while he leans, and it's just unfair how small his waist is in comparison to his shoulders. "If you insist on paying me then we should just go for it."
"Uhm… go for what?"
I suddenly feel thirsty. Looking around, I notice there's no water hookup in here, which could be a problem for the reception. Must have water, must have toilets. Anyway, focus, Campbell.
"Well, for starters," he says, "I have some ideas on how to get a petting zoo."
"You do?" Now I'm amazed and thirsty.
"And my guy will probably save Sam some money. Feel like going for a ride in the country?"
I smile curiously. "We are in the country."
"I mean, way out in the country. It's a long drive."
The thought of taking a road trip with this man should send off all manner of red flags, but it doesn't. I want to do this. I mean, right now I could run away to Mexico with the man and forget about weddings forever.
I nod in agreement, and Smitty jumps right in by making a phone call while I make calls to check on the DJ, flowers, and catering.
I soon figure out what he means by "a deal" on the petting zoo. When he tells me the price, I am in utter shock.
"Why would he do that for free?"
"Well, he's an old friend of Sam's. The only problem is, we have to go and get the animals and equipment ourselves because the guy's got an event happening at his farm there tomorrow night. And he said he could put us up for tonight since it's kind of a drive."
I look at the GPS map on his phone, and I realize what he means.
A few hours and two state lines later, we're barreling down a gravel road with Sam's livestock trailer in tow.
The countryside is somewhat flat and treeless, but the fields are pretty and dotted with white farmhouses, red barns, and windmills. It's like The Wizard of Oz but in color.
When we finally reach the long driveway, the iron arch over it reads, "Morning Glory Farms and Event Center."
It's the cutest little spread I never expected to find in the middle of nowhere. The rambling old farmhouse has a quaint wraparound porch. A bright red barn lies beyond the house, and beyond that is a directional sign pointing the way to the bed and breakfast and the art studio.
We follow the farm road out to the event center.
People are busy setting up rows of straw bales, a flowered bridal arch, a bandstand, and a dance floor under a massive tent.
Smitty introduces me to the couple in charge, Maggie and Jackson, who somehow seem to be doing all of this work despite having five, six, seven small children running around the property with another half dozen dogs and cats adding to the chaos.
The adorable couple shows us the petting zoo animal barn, filled with assorted calves, chicks, lambs, baby goats, donkeys, even baby alpacas.
"Do you think this will suit your needs?" Jackson asks.
"I think this is above and beyond. Wren is going to lose her mind," I say.
Maggie answers all my questions while Jackson and Smitty work out the details of transporting the animals in the morning.
Maggie and I make our way back to the men, who are finishing up with the wedding prep. "And I'll help you load up the animals first thing in the morning," I hear Jackson say.
"We don't necessarily have to stay if you need to turn over the rooms for the bridal party tomorrow," I offer, still not sure how comfortable I am with the idea of staying the night in the same pl
ace as Smitty. I'm not afraid of him—not Smitty, the perfect gentleman. I'm more worried about me jumping his bones in the middle of the night.
