“I don’t know that it will be that easy. I promise that I’m going to be transparent in every decision I make and get your input. This is your company, too. We are all in this together.”
Desiree raised her hand, like we were in a classroom, and then spoke. “What’s going to happen?”
“Gerald doesn’t have any answers yet. Unfortunately I think we’re going to have to wait and see. We’ll reach out to the brides who have already hired us and see how they’re feeling about going forward. If we’re able to stay in business, things are going to change.”
It was time to let things go. I couldn’t be in control of everything. I continued, “Our rule about secrecy will most likely change. That and the no-dating-guests rule.”
There were a couple of gasps and some little cheers.
“I know how you guys feel about it. I was just afraid that if you got involved with someone from a wedding we’d get caught if we slipped up. Which happened anyways. I just wanted to, I don’t know, protect you guys.”
Desiree said with a patient smile, “We don’t need your protection. We are grown women who can take care of ourselves.”
“I know that. I wasn’t trying to imply otherwise.” I took a deep breath, willing myself not to get emotional. Did they know how important they were to me?
“And we appreciate it,” Krista interjected. “We know how much you care.” There was a murmur of agreement from the rest of the group.
“Thanks,” I said. “And we are where we are. We made our bed, and I guess now we have to lie in it.”
Krista said, “At least we did a really good job of it. There’s a fancy comforter and a bed skirt and pillows no one’s allowed to sleep on.”
“Thanks, guys,” I said with a smile. “Get in touch with the brides you’re currently working with and I’ll meet with you individually later to see where things stand.” People got up, some left the room, others grabbed doughnuts. Krista came over and hugged me, correctly sensing that I needed it.
She walked back to my office with me. “Can I get you anything? A coffee? Crumbs from the doughnuts that haven’t been devoured yet?”
“I’m good. Thank you.” I had some damage control to do. Gerald had advised against me contacting Bridezilla Amber or Angry Vinnie. He wanted me to do all my communication with them through him and I didn’t pay the man hundreds of dollars an hour to ignore his advice. But there were other clients, both current and former, that I could reach out to.
Brinley burst into my office, carrying a stack of pink notes. “Rachel! You’re here! I didn’t know you were here!”
“I came in the back,” I said, pointing over my shoulder. “What’s up?”
“What is up?” she repeated, pushing her glasses back up her nose. “Do you see this? There is a pile of voice mails and messages that I’ve taken this morning.”
My stomach sank. “From clients who are upset?”
“What? No. This is from people who want to hire us.” She shoved the pink messages into my hands. “People are clamoring for our services. And we’ve had at least thirty different phone calls from media outlets—newspapers, magazines, online sites—who want to talk to us about what we do. They’re calling you a genius for ‘filling an obvious need in the market.’ This has blown up in the best way possible!”
I sat down in my chair, ready to put my head between my knees. This was such good news. Such. Good. News. I’d thought I’d ruined everything and to find out that I hadn’t? I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so relieved.
“I’m going to tell everyone,” Krista said.
I got her inclination. I sort of wanted to do that, too.
Brinley handed me another message. “This woman said you have to call her first, right away. That it’s very important. She made me swear.”
My first thought was that my mom had gotten impatient, but then I saw the name. Sadie.
I dialed her number immediately and Brinley left my office, closing the door behind her.
Sadie answered on the first ring. “Hello?”
“It’s Rachel! How are you?”
“I’m great. It’s you I’m worried about. I left you a couple of voice mails. How are you?”
I got that throat-thickening sensation, but I wasn’t going to cry. “I’ve been better. I saw your video. Thank you for that. I was so worried that my entire company would immediately fold, but our phone has apparently been ringing off the hook with people who want to hire us.”