“Cut down that beautiful magnolia? That would be a crime!”
“That’s pretty much what Logan said. Only maybe not quite so elegantly,” Kinley agreed wryly.
“I won’t ask the name of the other planner, because I don’t believe in gossiping about my competitors, but I will say I think that request was out of line.”
“To give her credit, she wasn’t pushy or insistent with the request, though she got defensive when Logan snapped at her. She said it was merely a suggestion. I would have turned her down more tactfully. Logan just didn’t react well.”
“I wouldn’t think so.” Alexis couldn’t help biting her lip against a rueful smile when she pictured Logan’s reaction to someone suggesting he cut down one of his carefully tended trees.
“Hence, my new policy. No more client meetings for Logan. I’m the liaison.”
“That’s probably a good plan. Though I don’t mind if he wants to join in on our meetings in the future. I’m used to him by now,” she added casually.
Kinley laughed. “You’ve always been able to handle him better than most outside the family.”
“As I mentioned, I have a brother myself,” Alexis replied lightly.
Kinley changed the subject then, to Alexis’s relief. They chatted a bit about the preparations for Josie’s wedding and then Kinley glanced at her watch and grimaced. “Guess I should be going. We both have a lot to do before tomorrow’s wedding.”
Alexis looked toward her desk and sighed. “I’m afraid so. But I’m glad you stopped by. I enjoyed the break.”
Kinley stood and smoothed her tailored slacks with her left hand, on which gleamed a gold wedding set with a sparkling stone. “So did I. Thanks for the tea.”
She paused in the doorway on her way out. “Alexis, just curious—are you seeing anyone?”
After only a momentary pause, Alexis replied candidly. “I’m seeing someone occasionally. Why?”
Kinley laughed rather sheepishly. “I had a sudden matchmaking inspiration. But never mind, it was probably a bad idea, anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Clearing away the remains of their tea break, Alexis thought of that odd exchange. Since they’d talked about Logan at the start of their visit, it was likely that Kinley had momentarily considered nudging her and Logan together. Ironic, but likely. And this, she thought somewhat wistfully, was why she hadn’t made a stronger attempt to become close friends with Kinley and Bonnie. Too many potentially uncomfortable moments.
Maybe after she and Logan stopped seeing each other, she’d make more of an effort with his sisters. Invite them to dinner or something. Because she and Logan had made a pact from the start that the end of their affair would be amicable, uncomplicated, with no regrets and no repercussions on their future work collaborations, it shouldn’t be awkward for her to hang out more with his sisters afterward.
Still, as much as she liked Kinley and Bonnie, she found herself hoping that change in their relationship wouldn’t happen too quickly. She was enjoying those stolen hours with Logan too much to give them up just yet.
* * *
Any wedding without a rehearsal required a bit more effort on Alexis’s part on the day of the wedding. Fortunately, the entire party had agreed to gather ninety minutes before the two-o’clock event, giving them plenty of time to run through the sequence of events, familiarize themselves with the setting and dress for the ceremony. Josie and Ted had no compunctions about seeing each other
prior to the wedding—after all, they’d been living together for more than a year, Josie said cheerfully—so they mingled among their guests during the brief instruction session Alexis conducted. Bonnie had set out drinks and snacks on the deck, and the plates emptied rapidly.
“Where’s that cute dog?” Josie asked at one point, looking around. “And his cute owner,” she added with a wink. “I wanted to tell Logan what a great job he’s done with the decorations.”
Alexis couldn’t argue with that. Logan and his crew had made the grounds look beautiful for the wedding. The big baskets of bright flowers had worked exactly as she’d hoped to hurry spring to the gardens. He’d draped garlands of ivy and daffodils around the gazebo, matching the clusters attached to the end of each row of folding white chairs. Cheery yellow, orange, green and white paper lanterns hung from tree limbs and danced in the light breeze, compensating for the leaves that had not yet unfurled. The result was a cross between an outdoor wedding and a casual garden party, exactly what Josie had requested.
She glanced toward the side lawn, where the post-ceremony celebration would be held. There, in lieu of a tent, Logan and his crew had erected tall metal poles strung across with wires. More paper lanterns hung from the wires, providing overhead color for the party. Long tables with yellow-and-white gingham linens sat ready to hold the picnic-style snacks to be served by the caterer Alexis had hired, and the rustic wooden farm wagon she’d rented had been pushed carefully into place at one end of the lawn. Decorated with baskets of bright yellow daffodils and white tulips, it would make a charming stage for the bluegrass band waiting to entertain the guests.
“Logan keeps his dog fenced in his backyard when he doesn’t have him out on a leash. And if you don’t get a chance to see him today, I’ll be sure and pass along your compliments.”
Josie smiled and gave Alexis an impulsive embrace. “You’ve done an amazing job, too. This is exactly the way Ted and I wanted to celebrate our wedding. Thank you so much.”
Alexis laughed and returned the hug. “The wedding hasn’t even started yet. I just hope nothing goes wrong.”
Her friend and client waved a hand dismissively. “As long as everyone has a good time and Ted and I leave here legally married, I’ll be happy. And I’m so glad you agreed to sing for us at the reception. I used to love to hear you sing in all those high school performances.”
Thinking of all the years of training, practice and performances since those high school programs, Alexis smiled somewhat wryly. Performing at weddings was not something she wanted to make a habit of, but because Josie was an old friend and had been such an enthusiastic client, she’d agreed to do a number at the reception party.
“Oh, and there’s one other thing.”