Page 12 of Dreaming of You

Shari raised an eyebrow. "He is really annoying you."

"This is just crazy." She waved her hand in the air. "How can a divorce attorney and a wedding consultant share the same office building?"

"It is ironic, but you need to try to calm down. The Simpsons will be here in five minutes. And you have a full schedule the rest of the day."

"You're right. I'm just so mad. That man is…"

"Really getting under your skin," Shari finished.

"I want him gone."

"Are you sure that's what you want? Because I've never seen you this worked up over a guy."

"You haven't met Barrett Fox."

"No, but I'd really like to," Shari said with a gleam in her eyes.

"He's going to be bad for our business."

"We'll make it work. It's not like we have another choice. We have a lease. And this is a great location for us."

She really hated that Shari was making so much sense. "I know you're right. I just don't like it."

Shari gave her a thoughtful look. "What's really bothering you, Kate? You're always the cool, calm, poised person. You soothe anxious brides and work your magic on controlling moms. You can handle one cynical divorce attorney."

"I know I can. But he made fun of my business. He thinks I'm creating a wedding day that no marriage could ever live up to. He blames over-the-top weddings for the increasing divorce rate. They set expectations too high. The bride and groom aren't living in reality but in a dream world."

"But you don't believe that."

"No, I don't, but he did make a point." Not that she'd admitted that to him. In fact, she'd denied that any of her wedding clients had problems, but that wasn't completely true. "Look at Gretchen's wedding last year—it was completely over-the-top, and now she and Joel are talking about a separation. Was I part of the problem?"

"Gretchen is a looney tune. Forgive my bluntness, but it's true. Joel just took a long time to figure that out. You give people their dream, and that's a wonderful thing. You create happiness. You bring lovers together. Barrett Fox just cleans up after the ones that don't work."

"You're right. And you and Todd are still happy together, and you were my second client four years ago, so that's saying something. I don't know why he made me doubt myself."

"I don't, either, because you never doubt yourself. You've been single-minded and focused since I met you. It's been all business all the time."

She had a feeling that was part of the problem. With her last two friends getting married, she was beginning to wonder if she'd put too much time into her business and not enough into her personal life. She was starting to question a lot of her decisions. But regardless of whether or not she worked too much, she loved her job. And it was time to get back to doing it.

"I'm going to review the Simpson file. I'll be in the conference room."

"I'll send them in when they arrive. And, Kate, if you ever need to talk, I know I'm not one of your girlfriends from college, but I am here."

"You are one of my best friends as well as my right-hand person. I couldn't do this without you. I know I don't say that enough."

"We're good." The phone rang at the end of Shari's statement. "Back to work."

"Back to work," she echoed, happy with that thought. She knew how to work. It was what she was good at it, and the rest of her life would just have to figure itself out.

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