Page 46 of Tell Me (Savannah 3)

“What’s wrong?”

“Care to drop everything and come over to Mom’s to discuss chairs and the color of slipcovers with Ariella?”

He groaned audibly. “Is that where you are?”

She glanced at the house, where her mother was just turning on the lamps and gazing out the window. “Uh oh, the jig is up. Mom’s seen me.” Charlene was standing on the other side of the glass, impatiently waving her inside.

“I think I’ll take a pass.”

“Chicken.”

“You can handle it.”

“Why do I feel abandoned?”

“Because I’m bagging out on dinner tonight too.”

“Again?” she asked, disappointed.

“But I’ll be over later, if I’m still welcome.”

“You’re never going to be welcome at my place again and you know it.” As he laughed, she caught her reflection in the rearview mirror and saw the twinkle in her eyes.

“You’re a tough woman, Nikki Gillette.”

“That’s why you love me.”

“Just one of the many and various reasons.”

“I’ll expect a list tonight. When you come over.”

She heard another voice, muffled in the background, as, no doubt, someone at the station needed his attention. “I’ll see you later,” he said.

“You’d better,” she said, but he’d already clicked off.

Her mother was still in the window, hands on her hips, giving Nikki the evil eye, so she tucked her phone into the pocket of her purse and steeled herself for her entry into the lion’s den of white linen, ivory lace, and furrowed brows.

CHAPTER 14

“So that’s it?” Charlene eyed the chiffon bows with a dubious eye, and her lips turned down a bit. “No slipcovers? Just this fabric woven and tied through the wooden slats on the backs of the chairs?” Tapping a fingernail on the portfolio, open to a picture of a table set for eight, chairs visible, Nikki’s mother obviously wasn’t a fan of anything so untraditional as the sleek bows.

“I love the look,” Nikki said, daring to speak up. She’d been at her mother’s house for nearly two hours and was wired, her nerves jangled from the three cups of coffee she’d drunk as they’d discussed in excruciatingly minute detail every aspect of the reception decor. They’d settled on a beach theme, with shells and candles on off-white linens.

“But I thought you were doing a Christmas theme. Holly sprigs, mistletoe, and white and red roses,” Charlene had whispered at one point.

“Reed and I like the beach. The ocean. You know, something fresh. Airy.”

Charlene, poring over the array of idea books set upon the table, slid one across for Nikki’s perusal. The book was open to a photo of an elegant lobby of white lights, with snowy-looking blossoms tucked into holly wreaths. A heart-shaped ice sculpture held center court in a room bedecked with cedar garlands and tables draped in white. “It’s December.”

“In Georgia. Mom, people won’t be coming here in sleighs.”

“I think you’re becoming a bride-gorilla,” Charlene said tartly.

“The term is bridezilla, Mom, and no, I’m not.”

“I know the term, Nicole. I was just double-checking to see if you were even paying attention.”

“What Nikki’s chosen will be really beautiful,” Ariella cut in, spreading oil on the emotional waters yet again. Slim, with olive skin, dark eyes, and ringlets of dark hair, she’d gone to school with Nikki years before and after college had somehow gravitated to wedding planning. Her business had taken off, and she now had three assistants on the payroll but, because she knew Nikki, was handling this wedding herself. “We can twist a little bit of metallic ribbon in the bows, the same aquamarine shade as the place settings, and the look will be stunning.” She found a narrow strip of sea-blue ribbon that shone in the light. “The metal will reflect the light from the candles and the holiday pearl lights, which will not only touch on the ocean theme, but the season as well.”

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