Love Letters From Ladybug Farm - Donna Ball [18]
Traci said suddenly, “I like it.”
Everyone stared at her.
Catherine prompted, “The vineyard theme?”
Traci spared her a glance that was surely reserved for only the most imbecilic of her acquaintances, pushed a final button on her telephone, and pocketed it. “The farm,” she explained with exaggerated patience. “The grass, the mountains, the sheep.” She made a vague gesture with her hand. “Very now. Local, organic, outdoors, simple, back to basics, very Obama.” She gave a firm, decisive nod of her head, and for the first time she smiled. “Let’s do it.” She stood. “Give them a deposit. I’m going to get a close-up of the sheep.”
Catherine’s eyes widened with delight even as her shoulders slumped with relief. “Why it is, isn’t it?” she declared. “Very Obama! Perfect!” And suddenly she sat up straight, turning to Paul. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“The rose garden!” The two of them spoke in unison, and Paul held up his palm for a high five.
“There really isn’t a lot of room for guests in the rose garden,” Lindsay pointed out worriedly. “It’s mostly paths.”
“How many guests are we talking about anyway?” Cici said.
“Fifty,” Bridget reminded her. “Fifty.”
“Do you know what would make it perfect?” exclaimed Catherine excitedly. “One of those marvelous twig arbors!”
“It has an arbor,” Lindsay reminded her. “A gorgeous white arbor with gingerbread details.”
“But it’s on the wrong side of the garden, isn’t it? We want it to frame the mountains. I wonder how difficult a twig arbor would be to build? Surely there’s some local craftsperson.”
“White would be better,” Paul pointed out, “for the photographs.”
Catherine looked reluctant, and then asked Cici, “How difficult would it be to move the arbor to the other side of the garden?”
Cici’s eyebrows lifted into her bangs. “It’s anchored in two feet of concrete.”
Bridget pointed out, “A garden wedding can be risky around here in June. What if it rains?”
“Well, that’s the beauty, isn’t it?” exclaimed Catherine happily, waving an arm at her surroundings. “We won’t even have to rent tents—we have a built-in rain plan. The house is plenty big enough, and that barn looks brand-new! It could probably hold four or five hundred people, and how much fun would that be to decorate?”
“Well, I’m not sure...” Cici began.
Catherine reached across the table to squeeze Paul’s hand. “You are a genius, darling, and I’ll owe you for this for the rest of my life. I knew when I saw the photographs this was exactly what Traci wanted, but you’re the man who made it happen! How can I thank you?”
Paul preened under her praise. “Call it an early wedding present,” he said. “And, of course, a chance to visit with three of my favorite people in one of my favorite places in the world.” He winked at Cici. “Now I suppose there are a few details to work out...”
“Nonsense,” declared Catherine, “whatever is easiest for these lovely people is fine with us.” She unsnapped her purse and took out her checkbook. “The children,” she confided to Bridget as she uncapped her pen, “are so counterculture chic I was afraid we’d end up having the ceremony atop some mountain in Tibet. Can you imagine the logistical nightmare? I mean, the Sherpas alone would cost a fortune. So believe me when I tell you, we will do whatever it takes to work with you!”
Cici glanced quickly at Paul and then at the other two. “We’re not really professionals, you know,” she began. “I’m not sure—”
Catherine gave a dismissive wave. “Don’t worry a thing about it. Our wedding planner will take care of everything from setting up the chairs to ordering the flowers. Of course...” She paused thoughtfully. “It would be better to work with a local florist. I don’t suppose you could recommend someone?”
She tore a check out of her checkbook and presented it to Bridget. “Will this serve as a deposit? We’ll negotiate the catering separately, of course. Oh, and I do want to talk to you about providing gift baskets for the guests, and of course we’ll want to order much more elaborate, custom gift baskets