Page 55 of Dreaming of You

"They both have big jobs and children, and they wanted me to take care of all the details: the flowers, the music, the photography, the food, etc. It was actually a nice change, and they have been great to work with."

"Do you ever get to just have fun on a weekend?"

"Sometimes, but I like to be busy on the weekends; that usually means business is good."

"Would you ever hire someone to help? Or does Shari cover the weddings as well?"

"No. Shari doesn't do the weddings. She handles all our financials and our paperwork and the stuff I am not as good at. But dealing with the brides, their families, and the actual wedding is not her thing. I, on the other hand, think that's the most fun."

"Then you're in the right business."

"I know I am. What about you? What are you doing this weekend?"

"Tomorrow, I'm going to run a 5K down the Great Highway and through the zoo in a fundraising race for diabetes research. My grandfather had diabetes, and I grew up watching him give himself shots. He eventually died from the disease. Since then, the Fox Foundation has been a sponsor of this particular race."

"That's great. I didn't realize your family had a foundation."

"Both Matt and I are on the board. My father used to be involved but not so much anymore. Philanthropy is not really his thing. He prefers work that increases his profit margins." He paused. "Too bad you're busy—you could have joined me."

"I could have cheered you on at the finish line, but I'm not in condition to run a 5K. Are you?"

"I've run three times this week, so I'm ready."

"When do you have time to run?"

"When I first wake up."

"But it's so cold in the mornings right now."

He laughed. "Not once you start running. You should come out sometime."

"I might get on a bike but running is not my thing."

"Then maybe we'll do a bike ride one day."

She liked the sound of that, only because it involved them getting together again. No matter how many times she told herself to just say goodbye to him and mean it, she couldn't seem to actually do it.

"Are you working on last-minute wedding prep tonight?" he asked.

"No, tomorrow is set. I'm trying to finalize my proposal for the Hunts. They want to see three scenarios with different venues and different price points. They want me to surprise them with my amazing creativity," she added. "That's a direct quote from Mrs. Hunt. In other words, if I don't knock their socks off with some idea that they never would have thought of themselves, I probably won't get the job."

"Do you have any amazing ideas?"

"The problem is that what I think Candice will love, I don't think Olivia will. And I have to please both of them." She let out a sigh. "Right now, it feels fairly impossible. But I have to find a way. It's a huge job."

"What does Candice want? It seems like pleasing her is the priority."

"It is, but I want to make both of them happy."

"I've known the Hunts for a long time, and rarely do Candice and her mother agree on anything."

"That's not helpful."

"Sorry. Tell me some of your ideas. Maybe I can help."

"Olivia wants a hotel venue like the Fairmont, the Four Seasons, that kind of thing, but Candice is more interested in a Napa winery or an art museum."

"They have weddings in museums?"

---