Page 24 of Travis

Liam and Hanna are dressed nicer this time, and I detect a charge in the air when the three of them are introduced, but I don’t say anything. Greg puts on the charm, complimenting what I have in store, and we go through some of the plans that we’ve come up with, along with the items that I had prior to Greg’s arrival. Hanna has some wedding favors that are holiday themed that she shows me, and I tell her that I’m meeting with the photographer tomorrow. “Do you want a daytime or nighttime wedding, just so we can capitalize on the lighting.” I ask.

“Oh, daytime for sure.” She waves. “Can you ask if the photographer can stay late though, just so that we can get some great shots at night, too?”

“Most definitely.” I nod. “I was at the ranch earlier, and Laura’s really getting the place ready for your engagement shoot. Do you want to go for silly, like with elf costumes, or Santa hats, or just have traditional photos, but with the holiday backdrop?”

“I think we’ll do both, and decide from there, if that’s okay?”

“Sure.” I pause. “Oh, and Laura wanted me to ask if you two would like the horses involved in the ceremony or the pictures?”

“Well, is that even possible? I mean, I’ll be in a white gown, with a red satin cloak, lined with fur, like Santa.”

“Anything is possible.” I answer. “Laura has a very docile horse that’s been in several of the weddings that have been there. It’s your preference at this point.”

“I don’t know.” She says, indecisively, biting her bottom lip. Then she calls over to Liam. “Do you want the horses in the wedding or the pictures?”

“That is totally your call.” He chuckles. “I’m sure, with my luck, I’ll end up falling off one, or one’ll shit on me. I’ve never had great luck with them myself, but I’ll leave that up to you.”

Hanna smiles, laughing. “Okay, nix the horses.”

“Fair enough.” I smile. “Are you sure y’all want to get married at a ranch, Liam?”

“I’m sure. If it keeps me in the good graces of my folks and Hanna’s folks.”

“That’s a good answer.” Greg agrees emphatically. Then they both walk over to see the favors. “These are great.” He comments, checking out the Christmas snow globes with the year and ‘Liam and Hanna’, with an insert for a photo of the couple. “Where did you get these?”

Hanna blushes. “My mama picked them up for us special. Lord knows how she got them put together so fast, but she did it.”

“It’s amazing what people will do for the right price.” Greg comments good-naturedly, and I cringe, wondering if Liam or Hanna will take offence, but they don’t seem to, so I let the breath out that I realize I’ve been holding. And just as we start up a conversation about wedding food, my phone rings. It’s Sara.

“Do y’all mind if I take this? It’s my sister. It won’t be a minute.”

“No, go ahead.” Hanna says, showing Greg something in the kitchen.

I walk towards the long, imposing hallway, and answer the phone. “Sara, I’m with a client. What’s up.”

“Oh. Well…how come your car is in the driveway then?”

“We took Greg’s car.”

“Who’s Greg?”

“He’s my assistant? The one I told you about?”

“Oh…is that why Travis left me a voice message. It was all jarbled, and it sounded like he was asking about a wig, but I guess he was saying ‘Greg’.” She laughs.

“Why in the hell is he calling you about him?” I ask myself.

“I have no idea. That’s why I was coming over…to sort it out.”

“Well, can you come by later? I figured you’d be busy at work.’

“My showing cancelled. Deal fell through. I’ve got another one tonight, but that’s after supper. Why don’t you come by and have dinner with us?”

“Okay. I’ll see you then.”

“See you.”

We run through several more key points and leave with a robust to-do list, before bidding them adieu, with a promise to meet again within the next day or two. Greg turns the key in the ignition and is suddenly quiet. He says nothing on the way back to my place, and then he says it all. “I’m not sure if I can keep this job, Becky.”

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