“I bought you a horse and Pops bought you a pink tractor,” he points out the other two gifts that are also on the best gift I ever got list. To say I was spoiled was an understatement.
“Okay, fine,” I huff, “you got me good gifts also.”
“Good,” he says, chuckling. “Okay, I’m heading into the gym.”
“Have a great day, Dad. I love you.”
“Love you more.” He hangs up the phone, and I place mine beside me.
I take another sip of my coffee and press the button to open the shades, the sunshine coming straight in. Slipping off my bed, I walk over to the window, looking out at the trees that are all around me. This is definitely not where I thought I would end up. When I was in high school, I dreamed of going to Chicago, LA, or New York and planning events. I wanted to be in the glitz and glamor. To set up the best events I could, with a whole team under me. But instead, I came to visit my aunt, Harlow, and fell in love with this town. One weekend here and all my plans went out the window. Plus, Harlow’s sisters-in-law owned their own event company. It’s as if it was fate. I finish my coffee. “Time to meet my first ever client.”
Three hours later, I’m walking up the steps of the little bungalow they built with five offices where the bedrooms would be. The living room and dining room are where the waiting area is, it’s filled with pictures of past events they have done. I take a second to look at the side of the barn. Or at least what looks like a barn. Once you get inside, you’ll find rustic wooden floors and exposed wooden beams that can be dressed up. It can fit up to five hundred and fifty people. Right behind the barn is a kitchen where the caterers can set up.
Taking a deep breath, I turn the handle on the door to start my very first day as part of the team. “Surprise!” is screamed by Clarabella, Shelby, and Presley.
I put a hand to my chest in shock. “What is this?” I ask them as I step into the cool room.
“Why did we think a surprise was a good thing?” Clarabella looks over at her sisters.
“I specially said that it was stupid, but no one listened to me,” Shelby states, folding her arms over her head.
“I don’t even think I was part of the conversation,” Presley complains to them, and they glare at her. The three sisters have become my closest friends. I would do anything for them, and I know they have my back.
“Well, whatever it was,” I say, smiling at them, “it’s wonderful.”
Shelby steps forward. “Are you ready?” she asks, and I just look at her confused.
“For today?” I say, putting my hand to my stomach. The nerves have been going since I opened my eyes at 5:00 a.m. “Not even a bit.”
“What time is the appointment?” Clarabella asks.
“Ten,” I reply, my fingers shaking a bit. “So I have an hour to get all my ducks in a row.” Even though I went over the file three times already.
“Well, we will have drinks as soon as you land this client,” Shelby announces, and I just hold up my hands in the air. I walk over to the side and step into my new office. It was an empty office before I came in, and slowly, when I was interning with them, it became mine.
The white L-shaped desk sits against the right side of the room. A vase of white peonies is at the corner of the desk with a gold card holder in front of it. Behind the desk is a chalkboard with the calendar on it. There are also frames about love and romance, as well as a couple of events I helped plan while I was still in school. My computer is set up on one side of the desk, right next to a white and gold lamp that is just for show. The pink chair faces the door, and two more pink chairs face the desk. I put my purse on one of the chairs before I walk over and sit down.
I turn on the computer to see if anything came in from when I left home until now. I pull up the email we got from Helena again. When it came in, Shelby came by and handed me the file and said, “Good luck.”
I read the interest form she filled out on the website. It really doesn’t tell me much. She left blank spaces everywhere. I put together a couple of pictures from past weddings that we have done to give her an idea of what we can do. It’s an hour later when I push off from my desk and get up to take one look at myself before I make my way into the waiting room.
Standing in front of the long mirror, I look at myself, the baby-blue pants fit me tight around the hips but loose all the way down to my ankles. A matching thick belt around my waist is paired with a white, sleeveless bodysuit. A matching blue jacket completes the look with neutral, peep-toe Christian Louboutin shoes. My brown hair is parted down the middle and then tied at the nape of my neck in a ponytail. I twirl the end of the ponytail, placing it over my right shoulder. “It's showtime,” I tell myself, grabbing the file and walking out of my office.