Page 25 of Faking I Do
“What if we use some of this stuff for theme weddings?” I fingered the edge of Zina’s flowery headband. “So far we’ve got typical wedding decor, cherubs, Renaissance stuff . . . we could come up with some fun themed decor from stuff we already have right here.”
“You know what? I think you’re onto something.” Zina smiled.
“Really?”
“Sure. What bride wouldn’t want her guest tables decorated with unicorn poop?” She opened the top of the box in front of her and lifted a bundle of rainbow-colored streamers.
“I’m serious.” I swatted at the ribbons.
“Oh, I’ve no doubt you are.” Zina took off the flowery headband. “Just let me know how I can help.”
“Really?” I turned toward my friend.
“I know I’m going to get roped into this one way or another. I guess I’d rather go willingly.”
“That’s the spirit.” I glanced around at all the boxes we hadn’t checked yet. “I wonder what kind of wedding Adeline wants.”
“Knowing her, nothing but the best. Are you really going to let her be your first client?”
“Someone’s got to be first. May as well be her. You know she’ll get the word out.”
Zina shook her head. “She’s never had a problem with being the center of attention.”
“You know . . .” I tapped a finger to my lip. “You’re right about that.”
“Uh-oh. I know that look. What are you thinking?” Zina asked.
“What if we use Adeline’s wedding as a publicity move? I could see if I can get a magazine or newspaper or something interested in doing a piece about it.”
“That might actually work.”
“Really?” Zina usually shot down my ideas before they fully formed, so the fact she supported this one made it seem almost too good to be true.
“Sure, why not? Adeline would be thrilled, you’d get some free publicity,”—she shrugged her shoulders—“What have you got to lose?”
“All right. Let’s do it.” I nodded. “I’ll start looking into places to contact tomorrow.”
“Who’s going to coordinate with the bride-to-be?” Zina’s brow arched.
My stomach pitched at the thought of spending time with the woman who’d made my high school years such a living hell. “You said you’d help, right?”
“Oh hell to the no on that. I can’t stand to be within five miles of that woman.”
“Then I think it’s going to have to be me. Until we have a chance to get things set and have enough funds to hire someone to manage things, this will probably be a volunteer effort.”
“On top of working at the Burger Bonanza and being mayor?” Zina continued to stare at me, her brow lifted into a perfect arch.
“It’s not like I have much of a social life. It’ll be good to stay busy. Besides, the town needs this.”
“The town needs this, or you need this?” Zina’s gaze bored into mine. “I know you feel like you’ve got to polish off the Cherish name after your dad?—”
“It’s not about that.” I nodded, trying to convince myself that Zina hadn’t hit the nail square on the head. “If I’m going to be mayor, I’ve got to look out for the whole town. That means the economy, the people?—”
“And if you do enough good maybe people will forget about how your dad’s term ended?” Zina pressed.
I let out a gruff breath. “Fine. If that’s a side benefit, I’m not going to complain.”
“So when is this big sale happening?”
