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“Just trust me. We’ll discuss it with her soon.”
She turns back to the salesman. “What kind of deal can you make if we were to order, say, a hundred of these?” she asks.
“You buy the string of lights, the two pendants, and I’m sure I can cut you a deal on the lanterns. Come to my office, and I will crunch the numbers,” he says.
Willa follows him, and I take the opportunity to check my phone while they handle business.
A text from my dad and four missed calls from my office.
I type a quick reply and send it to my father, and then I step outside and dial my boss.
She answers on the second ring. “Hannah.”
“Hi, Mara. I’m sorry. My phone’s been off, and I just noticed you’d called. What’s up?”
“We had a last-minute wedding book for New Year’s Eve, and I was wondering if I could possibly lure you back to the city earlier.”
“How much earlier?”
“Is tomorrow too soon?” she asks.
I laugh.
“I’m not joking, Hannah. The bride asked for you specifically, and she said the magic words.”
“Money is no object,” I say.
“Those are the words,” she confirms.
“My mother came from Palm Springs, and I bought this fabulous gown to wear to the Holly Ball.”
“What’s a Holly Ball?” she asks.
“It’s a charity event that’s being hosted at the inn where I’m staying.”
“Hannah, please. I need you.”
“I’m sorry, Mara. I can’t. I’m sure one of the other girls would be more than happy to take the booking and bank the commission.”
“I’m sure they would, but the client wants my best.”
The door opens, and Willa emerges, waving the invoice in the air.
“Can I call you back later?” I ask.
An exaggerated sigh comes over the line.
“Fine. I’ll be here all day.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
I click off and drop my phone back in my bag.
“All set?” I ask Willa.
“Yep. And they can do the installation three days before the ball. Which I know doesn’t give us a lot of setup time, but it was the best they could do, and that was after a fit of embarrassing begging on my part.”
“Three days is more than enough time,” I assure her.
