“Are you kidding? He hates parties when he isn’t the center of attention. This one will be torture for him.”
“So should I make something up? Tell her that other event wasn’t canceled after all?” She looked scared. “I could get in trouble for that.”
“No, don’t. She could easily go somewhere else, and then we’ll have no control or inside information.” I slung my laptop bag over my shoulder. “Go ahead and tell her yes. We’ll get through it.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure. But I’m not going to let it be a surprise,” I warned her. “I have to tell him.”
“Will he go right to his mom?” Winnie’s brow furrowed. “She made me swear I’d keep it a secret.”
“She obviously doesn’t know you very well,” I said with a grin. “But I’ll make sure Hutton understands the situation.”
“Thanks.” Relieved, she smiled and sat back in her chair. “It’s going to be a beautiful party, I promise.”
“Keep it small,” I pleaded. “Intimate.”
“I told her the max the patio can accommodate is thirty. And Etoile is also open that night, so the kitchen can’t handle too much more food.”
“Thirty is perfect. Keep me posted.”
On my way to the market, I called Hutton’s cell.
“You know I hate the phone,” he said when he picked up.
“I do. But I can’t text and drive.”
“Never do that. Did you talk to Gianni?”
“Yes, and he said it’s not a problem. I can take Wednesday and Thursday night off. Ellie will cover for me.”
“Good. I’ll book the trip.”
“Yay!” My heart danced with excitement. “I’m heading to the market, and I was wondering if there was anything in particular you’d like for dinner,” I said, figuring I’d butter him up with his favorite dish before telling him about the party.
“Does it have to be vegetarian?”
“Nope. I can do anything.”
“Steak.”
I sighed. “Of course steak.”
“Hey, you said anything.”
“I did, and I will cook you a steak,” I said with a laugh. “It’s not that I don’t think they’re delicious—I know they are. I just don’t feel great after I eat meat, so I stick to other things. How’s your day going?”
“Fine, although I have a call scheduled later this afternoon with Wade that I’m not looking forward to, and not just because I hate the phone.”
“Is it about testifying?”
“Yes. He says he has more details about what questions I’ll have to answer. He’s in touch with committee members.”
“Well, more details are good, right? The better prepared you can be, the more confident you’ll feel. How was your run?” I asked, changing topics. “Did you see the Prancin’ Grannies?”
“Yes. They tried to accost me the minute I got out of my car. I had my earbuds in, so I pretended I didn’t hear them and just started running. They couldn’t keep up with me.”
I laughed. “Poor grannies. They just want your attention for a few minutes.”
“They’re vicious. You don’t know them. In fact, now that they think we’re engaged, they’re probably going to come after you. Better watch your back for those pink bedazzled shirts.”
I laughed as I pulled into a parking space in the grocery store lot. “I’ll be on my guard.”
TEN
FELICITY
I spent all afternoon in Hutton’s fabulous kitchen, creating some new recipes and photographing the results. At the market, I’d chosen the most brightly-colored, locally-grown foods I could find—apricots, raspberries, cherries, crisp greens, snap peas, broccoli, sweet cherries, radishes, honey. Next, I hit my favorite cheese shop and bakery, ducked into a reputable butcher shop for Hutton’s steak, and finally I hit the wine store, picking up a couple bottles each of red and white.
This is why you have no money, I told myself. It was true—my love for good food and wine and my dedication to using seasonal produce and small-batch products always trumped my desire to grow my savings. I couldn’t help it! But today, I was looking at it as an investment in my business, and in myself.
Hutton eventually wandered up from downstairs and opened his laptop at the kitchen table, where he sat and worked while I floated around in the kitchen, happier than I’d been in months. Even when I thought about that stupid Dearly Beloved review, it didn’t bother me nearly as much as it had before. Everyone faced setbacks, right? When you put yourself out there, whether it was with a plate of food at a restaurant or a recipe on the blog or a new business or a cookbook, you had to anticipate criticism, both deserved and undeserved. The important thing was to keep believing.