Page 30 of Wedding Season
“It was my idea to meet with all three of you.”
Mariella turned as Avery Keller Atwell walked toward them. “I’ve stopped in the store a couple of times to chat, but I know you’ve been busy.”
The graceful blonde slipped into the chair next to Mariella, and she felt heat creep up her cheeks. Since her arrival in town, Avery had taken over marketing and community relations for Magnolia, and she was good at her job. Sometimes too good. She could convince even the most stalwart non-joiner to get involved, so Mariella had indeed avoided her during her recent pop-ins to A Second Chance. Avery wanted something, and Mariella felt like the only way to keep a distance would be to stay clear.
Mariella thanked the barista when she placed a drink on the table in front of her and then turned to Mary Ellen. “You set me up.”
“Not exactly.” At least the older woman had the grace to look guilty.
“What are you doing here?” Mariella asked Luann. “I understand that Heather is here representing the company, but small-town sponsorships don’t seem like they’d be your deal.”
“You’re my deal,” Luann said, tapping a glossy nail on the table. “I told you I want things buttoned up with your agreement to take over my role sooner than later. The Fit Collective is sponsoring this little blossom festival deal, so that seemed like the perfect chance to introduce you as the new face of the brand.”
“Not my idea,” Heather ground out when Mariella’s gaze shifted in her direction.
“Does Alex know about this?”
Heather squirmed. “He knows we’re meeting about the festival. He’s really into getting involved in the community.”
“I love that,” Avery said. She smiled at Luann. “Your reputation in the fashion world precedes you. But I’m sure you know what you’re doing handing the design reins over to Mariella.”
“I don’t want the reins,” Mariella said, choking on a bite of muffin. “I don’t even like horses.”
“Are you allergic?” Heather asked suddenly.
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“Me, too,” the girl whispered.
“I love horses,” Luann said, her tone dreamy. “My third collection was inspired by the US Olympic Equestrian Team. Ralph Lauren wasn’t the only one who could get his polo club on.”
Avery’s smooth brow puckered. “We’re getting off track.”
“So far off track,” Mariella muttered.
“The reason we’re here today is because I need some boots on the ground as far as organizing things for the festival in these final few weeks. Our summer tourism campaign is in full swing, and I’m getting bogged down with details for that. I don’t want anything about the blossom festival to fall through the cracks.”
Mary Ellen beamed as she took both Mariella and Heather’s hands in hers. “I suggested the two of you. The three of us will make a wonderful team.”
“And I made Heather give me the meeting details because you aren’t returning my calls,” Luann said to Mariella across the table.
She should have gone for a ten-mile run and then headed straight home for the shower. For the past couple of years, she’d managed to be a part of the town without really getting involved in the community. It was easy with the store because she always had that to fall back on for an excuse or a topic of conversation if things got too personal.
Yes, Emma and Angi knew her well, but she kept even them at arm’s length. She’d seen an opportunity to partner with Emma on the inn, and the idea of creating something new had called to Mariella. But she did it on her terms, only giving as much as she wanted to each event. The day-to-day running of the property and the care and feeding of guests she left to the other two.
“Does Emma know about this? Because I think if you’re looking at the inn as a sponsor, she’s the face of it.”
Mary Ellen tsked. “You know very well that Emma has her hands full with the wedding season.”
“Assuming she doesn’t get a whole bunch more cancellations,” Heather said under her breath.
“What are you talking about?” Mariella demanded.
Mary Ellen lifted her hand quickly in a lame wave and stood. “Okay, Jennifer,” she said, “I hear you calling.”
“Nobody was calling you,” Mariella told the woman.
“Pretty sure she was. My job was to get us together. I need to check on something in the back anyway. You and Heather decide when you’d like to meet next and I’ll be here.”
