Page 25 of The Magic of Sea Glass
Stephanie nodded the way Lauren was used to nodding when people expressed their sorrow and took a slow sip of her iced tea.
“With no other living family members, she leaned on Brody for support,” Melinda added.
“He was so caring and thoughtful—you know how he is.” She shook her head. “And Melinda took me under her wing, too.” Her features lifted. “Brody’s like a brother to me. After the Harrison family got me back on my feet and helped me with managing by myself, I went on to college, and that’s where I met Mitchell.” She patted Mitchell’s knee, positively glowing with affection for him. “He proposed two years later, and here we are.”
Mary clasped her hands together. “And here we are!” she repeated excitedly.
“We couldn’t be more ecstatic to have you plan the wedding,” Stephanie said to Lauren.
This was the perfect time to interject—before they all got their hopes up too much. “Speaking of planning the wedding, I was thinking that two of the Sugar and Lace team members might be a good fit for this, since I’ll be so busy with duties here at the inn.”
Stephanie’s face crumpled. “What do you mean—instead ofyou?”
“They’d be able to devote more time than I would.”
“Nonsense,” Mary said. “I’ll pull back on your duties if I have to. This is wonderful PR for the Tide and Swallow.”
“It’s important to note, though,” Lauren countered carefully, trying not to let her emotion show, “that if people begin to take notice, I no longer own Sugar and Lace, and won’t be available to provide wedding services to future guests. This would be a one-time event. That is, unless I pull in the Sugar and Lace team and get them involved. Then they can be available if anyone else wants to get married here.”
“You don’t own it anymore?” Stephanie asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
“I don’t,” Lauren confirmed. “I sold it to my business partner, Andy.”
Stephanie put her hand to her chest. “I had no idea. I teased Mitchell that he better get used to the fact that he might be on the show, just in case they wanted to shoot our wedding.” She laughed. “I’d have been all for it.”
“It just wasn’t for me anymore,” Lauren said, producing her best smile while taking a glass of sweet tea and holding it in both hands nervously. “I never really got used to being on the show.”
“Well, I’d love it if you could plan the wedding instead of the team,” Stephanie said. “You’re the reason we moved locations.” Stephanie’s anxiety over it was clear, despite the fact that she was smiling to cover it up.
Mary’s head bobbed in encouragement. “I was thinking we could have it on the week of the seventeenth.” She addressed Lauren. “Think it can be done?”
Lauren sat holding her glass, all eyes on her, waiting for her to answer. To them, she had absolutely no reason not to do this for Stephanie. “Yes,” she replied, with not a clue as to whether it could really be completed the way the couple would expect it to be. “And not to worry, I’ll plan it.”
Stephanie jumped up with a squeal and ran over, throwing her arms around Lauren. “This is so exciting,” she said.
“What’s exciting?” Brody walked in just then and kissed his mother on the cheek.
“Lauren’s going to plan our wedding,” Stephanie told him as he offered Mitchell a friendly handshake and a clap on the back.
She racked her brain for a silver lining. If only she could recall some genius words from Mason to give her strength, Lauren thought to herself, although she doubted that anything he’d said to her could make this feel less difficult.
Just then Brody leaned down and picked up something off the floor. “Looks like you lost your bracelet,” he said, holding it out to her.
“Oh, it must have come unclasped when Stephanie hugged me.”
She held her breath when Brody took her wrist and draped the string of sea glass over it, fastening it for her once more.
“Well, no harm, no foul. It’s back where it belongs.” He flashed her a grin before turning to Mitchell. “So we’ll have a lot of time to fish while the girls are off planning.”
“That sounds fantastic,” Mitchell said.
“Not so fast.” Stephanie stopped them. She poked Brody’s chest. “Youare the best man in the wedding, remember? We’ll need you to be working on the best man duties.”
“I already ordered all the tuxedos; Mitchell said he doesn’t need a bachelor party, so we’re just going out for beers; and I’ve got the wedding party’s arrival organized.”
Stephanie got up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Then she turned to her fiancé. “And you’ll need to focus, too, which means the two of you will be modeling your tuxedos before thinking about fishing.”
“We can do both,” Mitchell insisted.
