All eyes turned to Julia.
Ginger glowered at her. “What is it?”
“A month isn’t much time, but I’m convinced we can give Tiff the wedding she wants. Let’s look at the resources we have.” Julia lifted the remote off the table, turned on the wall monitor, and made a few swipes on her tablet. A list like the one he’d rattled off at the pier appeared on the screen. “We already have the big pieces in place.”
Ginger read the list twice. “This is nice, but it’s not enough. What about invitations? They should have been sent months ago.”
“We’ll get to the invitations in a minute,” Julia replied. “First I’d like to settle a few things.”
“Such as?” Ginger’s voice was acid.
Julia met her gaze with a strong one of her own. “The wedding is set for Saturday, September twenty-second. Tiff and Derek both want an outdoor ceremony at sunset, so I’m suggesting six o’clock.”
She clicked to a photograph Zeke recognized from the hotel website. It had been taken from Golden Point, a lookout that offered a spectacular view of sprawling meadows and the rugged mountains to the east. When the sun hit at a certain angle, the earth and sky shimmered with beams of yellow, orange, and pink light.
“This is Golden Point,” Julia explained. “Tiff and Derek want to take their vows here at sunset. It’s beautiful, but we might have access problems. With Zeke’s help, I plan to scout out other sites and consult with everyone. Since the invitations will direct guests to the main building, we can make the final choice later.”
Julia focused on Ginger, silently inviting her to share an opinion. When Ginger answered by arching her brows, Julia turned to Zeke instead. “Does this seem reasonable so far?”
“Very.”
They traded a familiar look, the one where they did a Vulcan mind meld of sorts, then she clicked the PowerPoint to a screen that read Invitations & Guests.
“Ms. Travers mentioned invitations. This is where we break the rules for the sake of expediency. We’ll send traditional paper in the next twenty-four hours, but Tiff is already calling, texting, and emailing.”
Ginger scowled at Tiff. “You’re doing this too casually.”
“Ms. Travers?”
Zeke hoped Julia had her protective shields up, because Ginger stared at her with laser intensity. “Let me guess. You’re going to tell me times have changed, and this is the right way to do things.”
“No. I’m not.”
Zeke didn’t envy Julia. Somehow she had to please Tiff while appeasing Ginger, who had no interest in being appeased.
Julia passed out paper samples. They were white with gold embossing, very classy and traditional. “Tiff and I discussed the invitations yesterday. The address list is ready to go, but we can add anyone you or Mr. Travers would like. If you approve of what Tiff and Derek chose, and if we skip hand calligraphy, the invitations can be in the mail by five o’clock tomorrow.”
“But still—” Ginger grabbed her own pen, not the one from Julia. “This is just so rushed. Guests need time to plan.”
Zeke was tired of Ginger’s fault-finding, but Julia seemed nonplussed, maybe even a little smug, when she exchanged a look with Tiff.
“Are you ready?” Julia asked her.
“I am.” Tiff laced her hands against her chest. “I hope you like the invitation, Aunt Ginger, because it’s straight from my heart. My mom and dad would like what I wrote. I hope you do too, because this is the invitation I want to send.”
Julia clicked the remote, and the screen went to words written in a traditional font.
Mr. George Travers and Ms. Ginger Travers
Honorary Parents
Request the joy of your presence
At the marriage of their goddaughter
Tiffany Ann Reid
Daughter of the late Tom and the late Laura Reid
To
Derek M. Wilkins
Son of William and Susan Wilkins
Etc.
Zeke choked up when he read the words Honorary Parents. With his own mother and father in heaven, he knew how it felt to miss important people on important occasions.
The silence suffocated them all until Ginger snatched a tissue from the box on the table and pressed it to her eyes. “Tiff, dear, I’m honored. You’re the daughter I always wanted to have.”
“So you’re okay with everything?” Tiff sounded far younger than her twenty-two years.
Ginger dabbed at her tears, showing the side of her that rescued ornery goats. She loved Tiff fiercely, and it showed when she narrowed her gaze at Julia. “You’ve impressed me, Julia. I admit it, but I’m also skeptical. Can you guarantee me that Tiff’s wedding will be worthy of this beautiful invitation?”
ten
Julia was too much of a professional to be bullied into making a promise no human being could keep. Ginger Travers was everything Zeke had implied, and everything Tiff had described in yesterday’s phone call. Poised. Polished. And a human bulldozer.
“I can only promise you this,” Julia replied. “I’ll do my very best to make this wedding everything Tiff and Derek want it to be.”
Tiff placed her hand over Julia’s and squeezed. “Thank you.”
Ginger studied her a moment longer, then acquiesced with a nod. “All right then. This wedding has my full support.”
Tiff launched out of her chair, hurried to Ginger, and wrapped her in an awkward sitting-down hug. “I can’t thank you enough. And Uncle George too. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Julia felt the same way about her own mom. Ellen had supported her through all the ups and downs of the past few years by doing what she was doing this very minute—staying behind in LA to take Max to the pediatrician. This morning had been terrible. Between Max’s sore throat and fever, Hunter’s late arrival to the school meeting, and working until three in the morning on today’s presentation, she could barely hold back an eye-watering yawn.
Fighting the urge to slouch, she turned to Zeke. When his eyes met hers, they traded a smile. She started to relax until she realized Ginger was watching them. She broke Zeke’s stare with a crisp nod, and they both turned to Ginger. Tiff went back to her seat, and Ginger picked up the Dare to Dream pen to make a note.
Julia indicated the invitation on the monitor. “If we all agree, I’m going to send this to the printer right now.”
“Go for it,” Tiff replied.
“This is final,” Julia reminded her. “So read it carefully for typos, especially the names, date, and time.”
Four pairs of eyes studied every letter. When Tiff, Ginger, and Zeke each signaled their approval, she emailed it to the printer.
For the next hour, they hashed out details. Ginger skimmed the invitation list, added a few names, and promised to email additional addresses to Julia by the next morning. Tiff reported on the bridal party. The bridesmaids and groomsmen were all confirmed, and her wedding dress was in her closet. When Ginger asked about bridesmaid dresses, Tiff showed off a selfie with her three friends wearing matching rose-gold sheaths.
“Did we miss anything?” Julia asked with one eye on the clock. By now, her mom and Max would be back from the doctor.
“That’s it.” Tiff pushed her chair back and stood. “This is fun. Let’s all have dinner together.”
Julia opened her mouth to decline and almost yawned. Zeke saw it and answered for them both as he stood. “Thanks, but Julia and I need to go over a few things.”
“Of course.” Ginger joined Tiff at the door.
Zeke told Julia he’d be back, then escorted the other two women to the lobby. The break gave her a chance to call her mom. Ellen picked up on the second ring.
“How’s Max?”
“He’s doing just fine. Dr. Barrett prescribed the dreaded pink medicine.” Amoxicillin. Max hated it. “Tylenol is helping, but you know how he gets.”
“He wilts.” A piece of Julia’s heart wilted too. “I wish I could be there.”
“We’re fine,” Ellen replied. “In fact, we’re curled up on the couch watching Cars.”
His favorite, along with The Incredibles. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Mom.”
“You’d find a way.”
“Maybe, but it wouldn’t be easy.” She’d still be working as a temp. Rent, food, and daycare would devour her budget, and she’d be using Hunter’s support money to live on instead of depositing it in Max’s college fund. That money came with strings and gave Hunter power over her decisions, so she was glad not to need it.
Thank you, God, for taking care of us. Her throat tightened with love for Max and her mom, and the sad awareness that Hunter wanted to be a good dad but didn’t know how.
Julia let out a breath. “Can I talk to Max?”
Ellen chuckled. “He’s already grabbing the phone. Here you go.”
“Mommy?”
“Hey, big guy. How are you feeling?” She spoke in her mommy voice, the next best thing to a hug.
“My ear hurts.”
“Again, huh?”
“Yeah. But Grammie says it’ll get better, then we can go on vacation with you. I want to go swimming. Grammie says there’s a pool with a slide.”
“Yes, there is.”
“Mommy?”
Her son’s voice, even nasally, was music to her ears. “Yes, honey?”
“I miss you lots.”
“I miss you too.” She blew a loud kiss into the phone. It was a game between them, one he’d outgrow all too soon. She heard footsteps, looked up, and saw Zeke waiting in the doorway with an amused smile on his face. “I have to go now,” she said to Max. “Give the phone to Grammie, okay?”
Zeke signaled that she should take her time, but she was too self-conscious to talk to Max in front of him. She needed to tell Zeke about Hunter, and this seemed like a good time.
Ellen’s voice came on the line. “Julia?”
“Zeke is back. I’ll call you later, okay?”
After a quick good-bye, she set down the phone, looked at Zeke, and opened her mouth to say, “Oh, by the way, do you remember Hunter Adams?”
But when her gaze met his, she lost herself in his twinkling eyes. No wonder he’d been dubbed Glitter Man in college. Everything about him was shiny, strong, and ready to fight for his cause.
A long time ago, that cause had been her. She didn’t realize it at St. John’s, but when they first met, Zeke had tried to be Jesus to her. He never intended to date her. When she started to flirt with him, he invited her to a campus group called Bread on the Water and introduced her to several of the girls. She became part of the group, but she didn’t make the faith leap. She might have, but when her dad died, she abandoned those friends.
Even so, Zeke stuck with her. He let her rant about God and fate until she was hoarse. They were in love. But for Julia, that love had been the “just for now” kind she used to believe in. For Zeke—
“Julia?” His voice pulled her back to the present. “Is everything all right?”
No, it’s not. I hurt you and I lied. You deserve to hear the truth, and I need to tell it.
Her throat tightened, but she managed to nod. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
He propped one hip on the conference table. “We can talk about ceremony sites later. You must be exhausted.”
“I am.” She leaned back in the chair. “It was an awful morning. I’m sorry I was late. Ginger was probably counting the seconds.”
“Every one of them, but she’s happy now. You nailed everything.”
“The meeting turned out well in the end.” Excellent, actually. “Now I just have to pull off the wedding of the century.”
“We.”
“We?”
“As in you and me.” Zeke smiled. “I’m not going to leave you alone to square off with Ginger. She’s demanding, but she means well.”
It was just like Zeke to see the good in everybody. In Berkeley he had even been decent to Hunter, though he often gritted his teeth at Hunter’s mocking. Eager to unburden herself and be done with it, she opened her mouth, but Zeke spoke first.
“I overheard you talking to your mom. Are she and Max here?”
“They stayed behind in LA.” She told him about the ear infection and the trip to the pediatrician. “We’ve been through this four times now. I don’t know what I’d do without my mom. Like today—she took over so I could be here.”
“We need to get Max signed up for the children’s program. I’m sure we have something for his age group.”
“That’s great.”
“We can talk more tomorrow. Right now, you need to get settled.” He lifted the two-way radio to his mouth.
“Zeke?”
“Yes?” His eyes met hers, but he went ahead and pushed the radio button. “GM calling Javier.”
The concierge answered immediately. Zeke directed him to escort Julia to one of the cottages, then he faced her. “What’s up?”
Oh, by the way sat frozen on her tongue. She couldn’t bring Hunter up now. “What time should I be in the office?”
“The work hours are nine to five-thirty, but that’s flexible.”
“Is that when you come in?”
“It varies.” He pushed the door wider for her. “We’re a 24/7 operation. If I work late, I sleep in. Tomorrow’s an early day.”
“How early?” If she was going to fill in for Irene, she needed to know Zeke’s habits.
“Six o’clock for a golf lesson.”
“Mr. Carter would be impressed.”
“Not with my swing, but I’m working on it.”
He ushered her through the door to the lobby. Javier greeted them, and Zeke handed her off with the promise he’d see her tomorrow. Outside, the valet was waiting with her car and a vehicle for Javier.
When Julia saw the cottage, she fell in love with it. White stucco with a red tile roof, surrounded by bottlebrush and pink hibiscus in full bloom, the house promised respite. As soon as she climbed out of her car, she snapped a picture and sent it to her mom and Max.
Javier cleared his throat. “May I show you the house, Ms. Dare?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
He unlocked the door and pushed it wide. Julia stepped past him into the entry, inhaled deeply, and smelled lemon furniture polish. With her heels clicking on the Spanish tile, she took in textured walls, dark ceiling beams, and overstuffed furniture that made her want to flop down and kick off her shoes.
“It’s lovely,” she said to Javier.
He gave her a quick tour of the three bedrooms, showed her the kitchen, and ended in the dining area where a gorgeous flower arrangement decorated an oak table designed to seat six. A card with her name on it poked up from the mix of lilies, roses, and carnations.
When Javier left to get her luggage, she plucked the envelope from the holder, opened a card with the CS logo, and saw Zeke’s familiar handwriting. Welcome to Caliente Springs. We hope you enjoy your stay.
The note was signed with his full name and title, and below it were similar notes from the maid assigned to the cottage and the head concierge. Zeke probably signed these cards by the dozen, but somehow this one felt special to her.
She propped the note up on the table, then sniffed a rose. That Oh, by the way conversation needed to happen, but it was far more pleasant to enjoy the flowers, the cozy house, and the sweet anticipation of planning a beautiful wedding.
eleven
Julia arrived at the office shortly before nine o’clock the next morning, heard the intercom give a two-ring blast, and picked it up. Fortunately, she knew the phone system from her temp days. “Julia speaking.”
“Who?” A male voice. Not Zeke.
“My name is Julia. I’m filling in for Irene.”
“I heard about that. I’m Kevin, the maintenance manager. Would you tell Zeke the backhoe broke down again? He’ll know what it means.”
“Sure thing.”
She didn’t see a phone message book, so she jotted a not
e on a pink Post-it. Before she finished, the intercom rang again.
This time it was Katrina Andersen, the woman who ran Katrina’s Kitchen. She welcomed Julia, asked about Irene, and left an invitation for Zeke to sample the autumn specials before she ordered menu inserts.
When a regular phone line rang, Julia grabbed her third Post-it Note. Fifteen minutes later, a clothesline of pink squares hung from the bottom of the computer monitor.
Zeke, dressed in khakis and a white golf shirt, strode through the hall door, saw the Post-its and lifted a brow. “You’ve been busy.”
She unstuck the notes and handed them to him. “They’re all for you. We’ll need to talk about how you handle calls, messages, that sort of thing, but Kevin’s message seems the most urgent.”
Zeke grimaced. “The backhoe again?”
“He said you’d understand.”
“Unfortunately, I do. It breaks down all the time, and we’re not budgeted to replace it for another two years.” He skimmed through the notes and set them back on her desk. “This can all wait. Before you settle in, let’s go meet some people.”
A veteran at learning new jobs, Julia picked up a notepad and pen and followed Zeke down the hall. For the next hour, they walked around the main building and greeted key staff members. Zeke rattled off names, giving her tidbits about each person and patting that person on the back at the same time. Almost everyone asked about Irene’s surgery, scheduled for later that day.
Julia couldn’t help but be impressed by Zeke’s easy ways. Just like at St. John’s, he made people feel important. The last stop was Katrina’s Kitchen, where they sampled fresh pumpkin bread and left with full cups of coffee.
When they returned to Irene’s desk—her desk now—Zeke told her to make herself at home. “Ashley’ll be here soon. She’ll train you on the hotel software. In the meantime, feel free to pester me if you have questions.”
“Thanks.”
He started to walk away but stopped midstep. “Does today remind you of anything?”
“My first day at St. John’s?”
“Exactly.”
Julia lifted the paper coffee cup in a kind of toast. “To the Caffé Med.”
Someone Like You Page 9
