Page 34 of Wedding Bells in Silverwood

Viola squeezed her pen and bent over a notebook in the chateau kitchen. “That would be perfect, Christelle. I’ll text you the details. Okay. Bye.”

She set down the phone and clasped her hands to her chest with a smile. Now that she’d secured a complete team for the catering gig, she could breathe easier.

Viola glanced at her laptop monitor, checking over the final menu proposal once more before emailing it to Holly and Nick. It was close to what they had originally planned with their former caterer, with additional special touches that were all Viola’s. She was confident they would approve.

Despite chalking up wins, she still suffered spells of self-doubt. Whenever those moments hit her, she mentally recited the adage her culinary schoolteacher loved:All progress takes place outside the comfort zone.

Checking the time, she frowned. The tree lighting ceremony would be over by now. Though she hadn’t arranged definite plans, she had hoped to bring her mom to the festival. It always warmed her heart how her mom’s eyes lit up at the illumination. Viola made a mental note to take her mom to see the tree one night.

She stood from the small desk in the corner of the kitchen. A pile of papers in the inbox caught her eye. She grabbed the three unopened envelopes from the top of the stack. Going straight home would be more appealing than dealing with invoices, but a voice in the back of her mind nagged her not to put it off.

When she ripped into the second envelope, she gasped. “Oh, no. This isn’t for me.”

The correspondence was addressed to Jonas Brickman. Viola was willing to bet Mr. Brickman was still in the building, probably holed up in his office, shutting himself off from humanity. She could wait until the next time she returned to the chateau, but that nagging voice was at it again.

After slipping the paper back into the envelope, she began her journey to find Jonas’s office.

A light shone in a corridor off the main room that led to the winter garden. Viola wondered if Susan might be in there. If she was, Viola could ask her to pass on the piece of mail so she wouldn’t have to confront Jonas.

Viola stepped into the winter garden and looked around. The inverted-lotus-shaped ceiling lamp still burned, but the room was vacant and peaceful in the silence of the evening. Romantic. Comprised of floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors, this was where Holly and Nick would exchange their vows. It was lovely, especially in the daytime, with its breathtaking view of the mountains across the lake. Viola remembered how excited Holly had been when she had told her about the charming white chairs she’d picked out for the guests, the ivory runner that would stretch out between the entrance and the altar, and how the place would be filled with pale, pink roses, lilacs, and freesia. There would even be a wedding arch the happy couple would stand beneath.

Holly had also disclosed that wedding bells had been installed a few years ago. It was a nice touch and a true selling point for business.

Viola sighed, musing over how lucky Holly and Nick were to have found each other. To have found love. Viola wondered if she’d ever be so fortunate.

Running her fingers over the envelope, Viola turned and continued her search for Jonas’s office. When she couldn’t locate it on the main floor, she decided to try upstairs.

The curved staircase stretched before her, the carpeted steps muting her footfalls as she ascended. Wall sconces provided a soft illumination in the hall on the second level. She went left, searching an unfamiliar corridor, and discovered a dressing room, which she assumed was intended for brides to prepare for their ceremonies. There were other rooms, but none were Jonas’s office. She changed direction and explored the other end of the hall, the carpet muffling her footsteps. Silence pushed in on her. The building seemed to be empty.

Then, a bit farther along, the quiet finally broke. Jonas’s firm voice filled the hallway in spurts of short sentences.

He must be on a call.

Viola slowed her steps, wondering if she should wait or come back later. She was about to leave when Jonas’s tone grew more serious.

“Of course, I want to go back to Lacey, but I need to handle things here first.”

Lacey? Does Jonas have a girlfriend?Viola rolled her eyes at her thoughts.What does it matter? It’s not as if I like him or anything.

She hugged the envelope addressed to him against her chest and backed away. Three steps into her retreat, her elbow connected with something. By the time she swiveled her head to see the vase toppling from its pedestal, it was too late. Viola winced as the decoration crashed onto the floor and shattered.

“Let me call you back,” Jonas said in his office.

Viola whirled around as he emerged, cringing at the sight of him. “Sorry.”

Jonas’s brow furrowed as his focus went from Viola to the shards of scattered ceramic. “Did you need something?”

“No. I mean, yes.” She held out the piece of mail. “This got delivered to me by mistake.”

Jonas took the envelope. “Did you open this?”

“I did. But it was an accident. What I mean is I opened it before I realized it wasn’t for me.”

He rubbed his jaw and glanced back at his desk. “And just now, were you listening in on my conversation?”

She raised her hands. “I didn’t intend to.”

He pressed his mouth into a straight line and breathed audibly through his nostrils. “You know, I don’t appreciate nosy associates. Are you aware I filed a lawsuit against the catering company that worked here before you?”

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