by Leigh Duncan
Table Of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Orange Balsamic Roasted Carrots
Sneak Peek of The Story of Us
About the Author
A Cottage Wedding
Copyright @ 2020 Leigh D. Duncan
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereinafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Print ISBN 978-1-947892-60-6
eBook ISBN 978-1-947892-61-3
www.hallmarkpublishing.com
Chapter One
Jason Heart tugged on the door of I Do Cakes and stepped into the bakery. A sea of voices rolled over him like a wave, drowning the merry tinkle of the bell that announced his arrival. He brushed an unseen fleck from his starched white shirt while he took a second to regroup. The noisy crowd had thrown him off-stride. Even though he was right on time, owners and managers of the town’s businesses already crowded the dining area. Chairs at the small tables were filled. Along the back wall, people had already laid claim to the best spots for leaning against the pink-and-white striped wallpaper. No matter. Unlike previous meetings that had gone on for hours, this one was just a formality—a final review of the agenda in preparation for the arrival of the Executive Editor for Weddings Today. He headed for the closest empty space.
“Jason. Here. Sit by me.” Mildred Morrey beckoned with an age-spotted hand. “It’s about time you got here,” she groused, though the lines in her face softened into a smile. The owner of Forget Me Knot Flowers removed a gargantuan purse from the chair beside her. “I’ve had to fight off three people who wanted this seat. One more, and you were out of luck.”
“Sorry. I meant to get here earlier. I was waylaid by an anxious bride on my way out the door.” Jason bent his long frame into a pretzel and squeezed in between the woman who’d taken him under her wings ages ago and Cheri Clark, the owner of the area’s premier bridal salon.
“Are you ready for all the chaos?” Mildred asked once he’d gotten settled.
“You don’t really expect it to be as bad as everyone says, do you? After all these months of preparation, I’d expect everything to go pretty smoothly.” For a town that put on more than two hundred weddings each year without a hitch, playing host to one woman ought to be a snap, even if she was one of the most influential people in the industry.
“I keep forgetting that you’ve never been through one of these.”
Jason’s throat tightened with a familiar ache. He coughed dryly. During the last review, his dad had still been in charge of the Captain’s Cottage. At fifty-five and otherwise healthy, David Thaddeus Heart had complained of indigestion in the weeks leading up to the editor’s visit. The diagnosis—pancreatic cancer—had been handed down at a doctor’s appointment shortly after Heart’s Landing had once again been named American’s Top Wedding Destination. Over the course of the last two years, Jason had learned a lot about running one of the country’s busiest wedding venues, but every once in a while, something came up that he’d never handled, like the magazine’s biannual competition.
“We all miss your dad.” Mildred played with an earring that dangled among her silvery curls and cleared her throat.
“He was a good man,” added Cheri.
“Thanks. He was always sprucing up something. I bet he’d have enjoyed all the changes we made this spring.” Jason glanced out the bakery’s front window. With the magazine’s evaluation looming, practically every storefront in town had been treated to a facelift. But the heart of Heart’s Landing was, as always, the Captain’s Cottage.
Jason’s mouth tugged to the side in a wry grin. “Cottage” was hardly the word for a house the size of the one his great-great-great-grandfather and the town’s founder, Captain Thaddeus Heart, had built. Fourteen bedrooms and two enormous ballrooms took up only a small portion of the home a scant hour southeast of Newport, where wealthy families like the Astors and Vanderbilts had once vacationed on their own enormous estates. Many of those mansions had fallen into disrepair, but the Captain’s Cottage looked better than it ever had. Working around a schedule crowded with weddings and celebrations, the housekeeping staff had polished the one hundred twenty-five-year-old hardwood floors, carefully dusted every globe in chandeliers the size of small cars, vigorously shaken out rugs, and repaired even the tiniest nicks and smudges. Outside, white masonry walls gleamed in stark contrast to black shutters and trim. The season’s roses had been trellised along the veranda, and every plant on the acres surrounding his family’s ancestral home had been carefully manicured.
Mildred nudged his shoulder. “The pressure to retain our number one ranking is intense. Then, there’s the fact that Regina Charm is handling the evaluation herself this year. She isn’t the most pleasant person to deal with.”
“Humph. You can say that again. A cold fish, that’s what she is.”
Jason smiled at Cheri. “Don’t hold back, now. Tell me what you really feel.”
The woman’s face colored. “Oh, I shouldn’t talk about our clients like that. But Regina pushed all my buttons.”
“Mine, too.” Mildred’s voice dropped to a whisper. “She has that whole New York vibe working for her—aloof, snooty. Nothing was good enough for her when she was planning to get married here. And once her dreams of having a Heart’s Landing wedding hit a snag—”
“When did that happen?” And why was he just hearing about it now? Jason threaded his fingers through hair that brushed his collar. It sounded like Regina Charm was a real piece of work. No wonder everyone in town was on edge.
“A year ago this spring. Remember the leak at your place?”
How could he forget? He’d taken a rare weekend away from his responsibilities at the Captain’s Cottage last April. While he was in Boston, a bad storm had taken out one of the estate’s massive oaks. To make matters worse, the uprooted tree had broken a pipe. Water had backed up into the Blue Room, causing severe damage. Among the many phone calls he’d swapped with Alicia, the venue’s event coordinator, he seemed to recall a vague reference to a bride who’d been less than pleased that her ceremony had been shifted to the larger, more beautiful Green Room. But by the time he’d arrived back in town, Alicia had worked everything out. Or at least, he’d thought she had. “You’re saying that was Regina’s wedding?”
“It would have been. She and her fiancé called the whole thing off.” Mildred sighed heavily. Though the breakup had
nothing to do with Heart’s Landing, the town prided itself on delivering a perfect wedding to every bride. On those rare occasions when they weren’t able to meet that goal, it hurt. Even a year later. “Let’s just say, I don’t think she’ll be looking at us through rose-colored glasses.”
Jason stifled a groan. “I hope we’re up to this.”
Thank goodness repairs to the Blue Room had finally been completed. He’d hired Ryan Court, the best restoration contractor in the business, and had personally overseen every detail. Not that he’d needed to. Ryan had done an excellent job of painstakingly restoring the wainscoting to its original beauty. Refurbished with new drapes and paint, the second-largest ballroom had once again become a popular spot with the brides who chose the Cottage for their ceremonies and receptions.
“You’ll do fine.” Mildred patted his hand. “I’m sure you dealt with your fair share of CEOs and celebrities in Boston.”
She had a point. He’d started out as the booking agent for a small comedy club and moved up to manager of one of the area’s largest convention centers. Over a span of ten years, he’d worked with the most popular bands and artists on the music scene. But all of that paled in comparison to the importance of the next ten days. Placing second or third in the Weddings Today competition was not an option. Maintaining their spot as the first choice for brides from one end of the country to the other was critical to the success of every business in town.
At the front of the room, Mayor Greg Thomas rapped firmly on the hostess stand. The low buzz of conversation died down.
“If I can have everyone’s attention.” Greg hitched a pair of khakis higher on his round belly. “We’ll run through the agenda, item by item, and get this over with. I know you all want to get home to your families, and I don’t want to keep you a minute longer than necessary. Let’s dive right in, shall we?” He glanced at the notes he’d spread across the makeshift podium. “Regina Charm is due to arrive at three PM on Friday afternoon. She’ll go straight to the Captain’s Cottage. Jason, why don’t you take it from there?”
“Yes, sir.” Jason unfolded his legs and stood. Around him, the familiar faces of people he’d known his entire life nodded their encouragement. Everyone in the room shared one thing in common. Their livelihoods depended on a perfect score from Weddings Today. Determined to do his part, he cleared his throat.
“Much like it was done in the Captain’s day, the entire household will turn out to greet Ms. Charm. I’ll assume Thaddeus’s role, as usual, but I’ve asked my girlfriend Clarissa to fill in for Evelyn.” Well, not exactly. He and his cousin Evelyn had appeared at quite a few weddings and receptions dressed as the Captain and his wife, Mary. But when Clarissa had heard that the Executive Editor for Weddings Today would be in town, she’d begged to play a leading role. Which reminded him, he needed to confirm Clarissa’s travel plans. He jotted a mental note and continued. “We’ve set aside the Azalea Suite for Ms. Charm’s use while she’s in town. It’s the largest of our bridal apartments and has been recently updated. Once she’s settled in, we’ll turn her over to you, Mr. Mayor, and get ready for the meet-and-greet at six that evening. It’ll be in the Green Room. You’re all invited, of course.”
He took his seat as the mayor nodded. “That’s good. My only concern is in the timing. Since Ms. Charm opted to drive up from New York, rather than take the train, I’d be watching for her to arrive any time after noon. She’s known to throw things off schedule a bit. Shows up early for interviews. That sort of thing. She likes to test people’s reactions.”
When a murmur of agreement passed through the room, Jason nodded. So, Regina Charm liked to spring surprises on her hosts, huh? Well, she wouldn’t catch him napping. He’d post one of the house staff on the widow’s walk bright and early Friday morning. They’d sound the alarm the moment a car turned onto the long, curving driveway that led to the Captain’s Cottage.
Greg cleared his throat. “Everyone should have Ms. Charm’s agenda.” From a list that included practically every business in town, the editor had selected the places she’d like to see, as well as events she wanted to attend. It was more than enough to fill a crowded schedule. “Like I told Jason, Regina is prone to surprises. If your shop isn’t on her list, she still might pop in for a quick visit. Stay on your toes.”
One by one, the mayor called for brief reports on the plans to entertain the editor. From Something Old, Something New on Bridal Carriage Way to the bed and breakfast on Union Street, owners had arranged for tours of their businesses. Restaurants in the area had signed up to host Ms. Charm and her party at so many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that the woman was in danger of needing an entire new wardrobe before she headed back to the city. Invitations to several weddings had been issued by brides who were eager for the opportunity to have their special day mentioned in Weddings Today. Plus, plenty of leisure activities had been planned in case the editor wanted to take advantage of the warmth of early summer. Last, but certainly not least, Regina would be the guest of honor at a special presentation of the Heart’s Landing pageant. Usually performed in the fall, the play portrayed the time Captain Thaddeus had braved a hurricane in order to make port in time for his wife’s birthday.
“I guess that sums it up.” Mayor Thomas rubbed his hands together. “I’ll be on call to serve as Ms. Charm’s escort and answer any questions she might have throughout her visit here. One final word. I don’t have to tell you how important this competition is for our town. With ceremonies taking place 365 days a year here in Heart’s Landing, we pride ourselves on delivering the perfect wedding to every bride. But hard times lay ahead if we lose the designation of America’s Top Wedding Destination. If anything goes awry, and I mean even the smallest hiccup, I’ll expect to hear from you right away.”
Greg scanned the room, his blue eyes meeting and registering agreement everywhere. Satisfied that his team knew what to do, he grinned. “All right now, we’ve got this. Let me hear that good old Heart’s Landing spirit. What do you say?”
Jason, along with everyone else in the room, lifted an imaginary glass of champagne. He chimed in with the rest in the familiar toast. “The best is yet to be!”
“Yes, it will.” Greg ran a hand over his bald pate. “Okay, folks. Time to head home now and get some rest.”
Jason couldn’t agree more. If Regina Charm was half as difficult to deal with as Mildred and Cheri said she was, everyone in town would need to keep their wits about them during her visit.
Chapter Two
On the fourth floor of the Weddings Today headquarters, a flourescent light hummed in the ceiling over Tara Stewart’s desk. The air handlers for the towering office building in lower Manhattan kicked into high gear. Tara pulled her cardigan tighter as tasteless, odorless air spilled cold into her cubicle. Her chair emitted an annoying squeak when she tipped forward, but her focus on the image on the computer monitor didn’t waver. She traced a finger over one of a dozen photographs. Grabbing her magnifying glass from the pencil holder, Tara ignored the bride’s smiling face, the ostentatious cascade of flowers clutched in a pair of perfectly manicured hands, the fortune in diamonds that sparkled from her neck and ears. Instead, she panned the lens slowly over the wedding gown. “Well, if that don’t beat all,” she whispered.
Her breath on hold, she unearthed several designs from the scattered stacks on her desktop. Ideal for summer weddings, the gowns had been featured in last November’s edition of Weddings Today. She thumbed through the pile until she found the one she wanted and treated it to the same scrutiny she’d given the image on her computer. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. There was no doubt about it. Kate Steven had worn a Sophie Olsen original when she’d walked down the aisle on an exclusive Long Island estate. Remorse stirred in her chest. Tara batted it down. She’d worked at Weddings Today long enough to learn that climbing the corporate ladder meant stepping over someone else. In this case, Kate Steven.<
br />
This is big. Really big.
Paper rustled as Tara’s fingers trembled with the thrill of being the first to stumble onto a hot story. Afraid she might drop the magnifying glass in her excitement, she returned it to the holder. What next?
“Van?” She swiveled toward her cubicle mate and one of two dozen other junior staff who were hungry for a byline in the nation’s top wedding magazine. “I need a second pair of eyes on this. Do you see the same thing I do?”
“What’s up?” Three feet away, Vanessa Robinson ran a hand over the wiry, jet-colored hair she’d tamed into sleek braids. She spun toward Tara. Her dark eyes bright with expectation, she studied the screen beyond Tara’s shoulder. Van’s mouth formed a round O. “Are those pictures from Kate Steven’s wedding?”
“They are. They just landed in my inbox.” Among her many tasks as a cub reporter for Weddings Today, Tara wrote the tag lines that accompanied candid shots from the dozen or so weddings featured on the collage page of each edition.
“Oh, my word! I never thought I’d see an A-Lister like her relegated to the back of the magazine.”
“I know, right?” Tara nodded. The wedding of a spokesmodel for one of the country’s biggest designers would normally receive top billing. But any hopes of splashing Kate’s picture on the cover of Weddings Today had been dashed when the bride had insisted on an uber-private ceremony and had turned down the magazine’s request for press credentials. “See anything else odd?”
“Well, Kate looks gorgeous, but that’s nothing new.” The supermodel was knocking on the door to forty, but the camera still loved her flawless skin and shiny golden hair. The not-so-blushing bride had chosen a slinky off-white gown that draped the curves of her six-foot frame like it was made for her. “I love the cut of that dress. It’s so dreamy and...” Vanessa fell silent, her eyes narrowing as she traced the lines of the gown on the screen. Her hand and her jaw dropped. “Isn’t that a Sophie Olsen? What’s she doing in that?”
