Page 68 of Once Upon a Holidate
“Holly, what are you talking about?”
“Rex proposed! We’re getting married.”
“What?” Joylyn sat upright. “That’s so great. When did it happen? What did he say? Were you shocked? Have you set a date? Tell me everything!”
“He proposed last night. We had dinner and then walked on the beach and before I knew what was happening, he went down on one knee. It was so beautiful and I said yes and we both cried. I love him so much.”
“I know you do.” Joylyn thought about Chandler’s proposal and how happy she’d been. “You’re going to have a wonderful life together.”
“I know we are, but first we want to get married.” She hesitated. “And really fast. We’re both up for new assignments, and if we’re married, we can request something where we’re together.”
Joylyn’s mind started working through possibilities. “Then we have to put together a wedding as quickly as we can.”
“Oh, we don’t have time for a wedding. We need to be married before the end of the year. We’re just going to city hall or something.”
Joylyn knew that Holly didn’t have any family, so there was no dad to walk her down the aisle or siblings to help out. But she had friends.
“You have to want a wedding,” she said.
“Sure, but it’s not practical. I want to be married to Rex more than I want to wait and plan something fancy.”
“You need a wedding. It will be something you’ll remember forever. I’m living in a destination wedding town right now. My next door neighbor knows people who put on weddings for a living. I’m making a thousand little snowmen for a wedding that’s coming up soon. Let me talk to Wynn and get her advice. Even if all I learn is just ways to have a fun reception, it will be good information.”
“Thanks. I would like something more than a civil ceremony, but there isn’t much time.”
“Let me go talk to Wynn and I’ll get back to you later today. Then you can decide.”
“You’re a good friend.”
“I love you and I’m super happy for you. He proposed! Yay!”
They talked for a few more minutes, then Joylyn got in her car and drove to Wynn’s business. She and her mother had taken nearly a year to plan her wedding. She had no idea how to throw something together in a couple of weeks. It might not even be possible, but Joylyn wanted to find out for sure.
She walked into the printing and graphics company. There was a long counter on one side and several complicated-looking machines available for the public to use. Signs advertised different kinds of services: printing, shipping, design work, wedding invitations.
There were about six employees, all working away. Joylyn was about to ask one of them where Wynn was when she spotted the other woman in her office.
Joylyn walked over and knocked on the open door.
“Hi. Do you have a second?”
Wynn stared at her as if she’d never seen her before. Joylyn was about to take a step back when Wynn shook her head and smiled.
“Sorry. I was lost in thought. It’s been one of those mornings with a lot of unexpected disasters, but I’m good now. Come on in.”
Joylyn sat on the chair across from Wynn’s. “I need your advice. A girlfriend of mine just got engaged. She and her fiancé are both Marines. It’s really great—they’re perfect for each other.”
“That’s wonderful. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. Anyway, they want to get married before the end of the year. It’s a whole thing so they can be assigned together. She was talking about going to city hall, but I know they would both hate that. I wondered if I could get some advice about pulling a wedding together in a couple of weeks. How do you do that? I want to help, but I don’t even know where to start. I met Renee when my dad took me to The Boardroom a couple of weeks ago and again at your place on Thanksgiving. Do you think it would be all right for me to get in touch with her and ask her thoughts?”
Wynn picked up her phone. “I’m sure it would be, but let’s find out.”
She pushed a couple of buttons, then waited.
“Hi, Renee. It’s Wynn. Joylyn, Garrick’s daughter, is here with me. She needs some advice on putting together a wedding. Do you have some time to talk to us today?” She paused, nodding as she listened. “We can come right now,” she said, looking at Joylyn.
“I’m free.”
