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“Yes. If the weather doesn’t cooperate for an outdoor event at Raindrop Lodge, our first event in The Emily will not be a salute to classical movies but a wedding reception. That leads to this question. Is The Emily going to be a theater or an event center?”
“Can’t it be both?”
Genevieve nodded. “Yes, but is that what we want? We never sat down and discussed it. You agreed to allow Jake and Tess to use it for their wedding reception. Since then, the focus has been on flooring and flowers instead of playbills and popcorn.”
“I’m not focused on flowers,” he replied, flashing a grin. “That would be you. It’s completely understandable since you’re the mother of the groom and the wedding planner’s contact person.”
Not to mention being her nanny.
Something in her expression must have telegraphed her displeasure, because Gage arched his brows and asked, “Do you regret offering the theater to Jake and Tess?”
“No, not at all,” Genevieve truthfully responded. “It’s a perfect solution, and chances are we won’t need to use it. I just didn’t think…”
“You didn’t think what?”
She’d be so happy? So resentful? So fulfilled? So uncertain?So torn? No way was Genevieve going to express the thoughts tumbling around inside her. They didn’t make sense to her. Everything was at odds. Shewasthrilled to have Willow and the children living here in town. That was a truth. She loved her grandmother role. However, she’d also grown to love the new version of herself that she’d been creating here in Lake in the Clouds. Honestly, right now, Genevieve didn’t knowwhoshe was. Or, more precisely, who she wanted to be.
She couldn’t admit that to the confident man standing in front of her. Instead, she deflected. “I guess I’m simply the type of person who needs a little more organization with my projects. I think we need a mission statement. We need policies and procedures. Otherwise, I’m afraid we will look up one day, and we won’t have time on The Emily’s calendar for a film noir festival because we’re booked to the rafters with weddings.”
“I’m a rancher, Genevieve,” Gage said. “I don’t write policy and procedure manuals.”
“I know that. That’s not what I’m asking. I want a meeting. A brainstorming session, if you will, where we discuss our vision for The Emily going forward. We did that last year when we first began the project, but a lot has happened since then.”
“I don’t have a problem with that. Let’s get it on the calendar. Who do you want to attend? Willow might be good. She’s an organizational whiz, from what I hear around town.”
“No,” Genevieve responded, more sharply than she liked. “This is our project, yours and mine. I think we should get a good grasp on what we want before we offer the rest of the world an opportunity to tell us what we want.”
Gage eyed her speculatively. “Something has put a bee in your bonnet. Want to share with the class?”
Genevieve sighed, closed her eyes, and shook her head. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m in a mood, but it has nothing to do with The Emily or you. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment. Lots going on.”
“Understandable. The wedding is, what, a month away?”
“Six weeks.” And in all honesty, she wasn’t very involved in the wedding planning. Which was fine by her. Truly.
“Well, I’m happy to sit down with you and talk about The Emily.” He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and scrolled to his calendar app. “So, sometime in April, then? After the wedding?”
“Do you have any time this week?”
Gage glanced at her in mild surprise, then returned his attention to his phone. “How about this afternoon?”
“I can’t,” Genevieve responded with genuine regret. “I’m watching Drew and Emma this afternoon. Willow has vendor appointments.”
“Lucky you. I don’t get to see my grandson again for almost a month. Looks like tomorrow afternoon and Friday morning are best for me.”
Genevieve had promised to drive over to Eternity Springs with her sister on Friday for a day of shopping and to have lunch with their friend, Celeste Blessing, and Genevieve couldn’t cancel. They’d already rescheduled the trip once because the ballet class Emma attended scheduled a mini-recital for grandparents that Genevieve had wanted to attend. “Tomorrow afternoon works for me.”
“This sunshine we have now is supposed to hold through the end of the week. Want to come up to the Triple T? I’ll introduce you to Jarvis.”
“Jarvis?”
“My blue-ribbon bull. He’s a special one. Blue ribbons everywhere we showed him.”
Genevieve laughed. “Well, I can’t pass up that opportunity.”
“Come for lunch. Around twelve thirty or so?”
“Sounds great. Thanks, Gage.”
