Ruth took in a breath so deep Carrie could see her corset move. “I guess so.”
Carrie frowned at her. “Shouldn’t you be more excited on your wedding day?”
“I am.” A huge grin broke out across Ruth’s face. “I can’t tell you how... I’m just trying to keep it under the surface. I’m afraid I might float off otherwise.”
Laughing, Carrie moved to the door, and checked the hallway for anyone trying to get a peek at the bride in her underwear. “Then I’ll definitely send the other girls up to keep a hold of you.”
She’d almost made her escape when Ruth reached out and grabbed her arm, tugging her back from the door. “What?” Carrie watched as Ruth bit into her lower lip. “Is it Graeme? Because, really, the stag night...”
“It’s not Graeme,” Ruth said. “It’s you.”
Carrie shut the door. “Me?”
“I just... I know you’re focused on the inn at the moment. But I really think...” Ruth trailed off and stared at Carrie, eyes wide.
“You think...?” Carrie prompted. “Wedding planner doesn’t actually translate to mind reader, you know.”
Ruth dragged her closer to the bed, and sat them down on the fresh, white covers. Carrie was pretty sure there wasn’t any champagne in the room yet, but all the same, she was a little leery of a repeat of the hen night.
“I just want you to have what I have,” Ruth said, clinging to Carrie’s hand. “And I think you could have that with Nate. And I don’t want you to blow it because you’re too busy to see how crazy he is about you.”
“I’m not...” Carrie sighed. “Well, I’m not that stupid, for a start. I know this isn’t just a one-night thing. But, Ruthie, I’m not going to go and propose to Nate because you think we belong together.”
Ruth looked faintly disappointed at her pronouncement. “But you’re going to give him a chance this time? Because you do have a bit of a history...” Carrie stared at her cousin until she continued. “Well, seriously, Carrie. Can you think of a single relationship you’ve had in the past six years where you’ve actually allowed it to continue long enough to find out if there’s something real there?”
Carrie shifted a couple of inches away on the bed, but Ruth wouldn’t let go of her hand to let her move any farther. “I was working a lot. I’m still working a lot.”
“I know. And maybe those guys weren’t right for you anyway.” Ruth squeezed her hand. “But maybe this one is. I just want to know that you’ll give him a chance.”
Carrie looked down at her lavender satin-covered knee and thought of Nate persuading his gran to help him dye roses to save Ruth’s wedding, or persuading his ex-girlfriend to produce a new show so Carrie wouldn’t have to sell off any of the gardens. Thought of him talking about her with such faith the night before, even in the face of Anna bloody Yardley. Thought about him saying he’d be there at the Avalon for her, any way she needed him. I need him.
“I’ll give him a chance,” she promised.
Ruth grinned. “Excellent. I’ll aim the bouquet at you later, then.”
* * * *
Anna found her as soon as she reached the lobby. Carrie clutched her clipboard closer, and wished she didn’t feel like such a child next to Anna in her immaculately tailored silver-grey suit and groomed hair. Carrie, on the other hand, was wearing lavender satin shoes, surely something nobody over the age of five could reasonably get away with. Standing beside Nate’s giant tree, she felt like a little girl on Christmas morning, waiting to be told she could open her presents.
“Carrie, I am very concerned about a number of aspects of this day.” Anna dragged her into the bar, where the groom, his father and brothers, and the best man, were getting a head start on the day’s festivities. “Let me see your list.”
Carrie handed it over, deciding this was one of those battles you had to lose to win the war. Or whatever that metaphor was.
“Now, see, you don’t have anything on here about the centerpieces, and when I just checked a moment ago I noticed the top table doesn’t even have one yet.” Anna looked up at Carrie, obviously waiting for an answer. Carrie was so relieved that this obviously meant the other tables did have flowers, that she didn’t even both to point out the line on her list reading Check centerpieces.
“It’s on its way, Anna,” she said, trying not to sound too irritated. “You don’t want it to wilt too soon, do you?”
Anna, unfortunately, had more experience with wedding flowers than Ruth and her mother, and snorted. “You mean it’s not ready yet.” She shook her head. “And that’s not the only thing. There are no ribbons on the chairs in the ceremony room, and I know we specifically asked for them.”
And Carrie knew they’d been there when she went in for dinner the night before, because she’d checked. She wondered how early Anna had needed to get up to thoroughly sabotage all her work.
“There’s cracks in at least four of the plates set out in the dining room. The terrace is going to be utterly unsuitable for photos, so I hope you have an alternative lined up. And there are no seats reserved for the family in the ceremony room.”
Anna paused for breath, and shook her head. “And these are just the problems I’ve noticed this morning. God knows what sort of a state things will be in by the time dinner rolls around.”
“Anna, I really think you’re overreacting here.” Carrie tried to keep her voice light. “I can fix...”
“And I think you’re underestimating the effect matters like these can have on a bride and her family. I wouldn’t be surprised if your uncle decided to hold back some of his final payment as compensation, if things aren’t perfect for his little girl.” It wasn’t unheard of. Carrie had advised couples to do it herself, when a venue had offered up subpar standards on their big day. Still, she thought Anna must be getting a bit desperate if she thought Uncle Patrick would hold back payment over ribbons. “In fact, I think I’ll be honor bound to suggest it myself.”
“Anna, I said I will fix it,” Carrie started, but her ex-boss had already swept away in a cloud of perfume and hairspray. Carrie took a calming breath, then set about putting things right, starting by pulling out her mobile.
“Cyb? I need a favor. Can you get Stan to take you to buy twenty meters of ivory ribbon and bring it to the Inn as soon as possible? I need bows on the back of the chairs in the ceremony room.”
“I thought we already did that?” Cyb said on the other end. “Never mind, I’ll sort it.”
Her next call was to Moira, to ensure that the top table flower decoration was going to make it on time. “Nate’s bringing it up now,” she assured her.
The photographer was already outside taking some setting shots; she could collar him and ask why the terrace was unsuitable, and see if he thought some festive shots in the lobby with the Christmas tree would work.
Which just left the cracked plates, which Carrie was certain hadn’t been cracked when she and Izzie had laid them out the day before. Still, they’d laid in some spares just in case, so it was an easy job to go and switch them. Carrie ticked the last item off her list and headed to the kitchen to find the plates.
Instead, she found utter chaos. Water seeped across the tiled floor, under the counters and doors, with the occasional prawn floating past. Carrie stepped back to try and save the shoes, and called in, “What the hell’s happening here!”
Jacob turned from where he was examining the wall. He held up a wire with a plug at the end. “Someone unplugged the fridges and freezers.” His face was tight with anger.
Carrie closed her eyes. “I’ll give you one guess who.” She allowed herself ten seconds to be absolutely, incandescently furious, before getting down to business. “Everything ruined?”
Jacob fished out a lobster from the rapidly swelling lake. “Everything.”
“Right. Then we’re going to have to go with Plan B.”
* * * *
Carrie found Anna on the terrace with the photographer, who was saying, “Really, Miss
Yarnley, I think the terrace will be perfect for the photos. With the mountains in the background...”
“Yardley,” Anna corrected. “And I’m concerned about the state of the wood. You wouldn’t want it to collapse under our bride, would you?”
“Actually, we’ve just had this whole end replaced,” Carrie said, stepping in. “So you really mustn’t worry. Anna, a word?” She cocked her head at the other end of the terrace, and started walking without checking to see if Anna was following.
She was, though, and once Carrie thought they were out of earshot of the open bar doors, she turned back and said, “Why are you doing this?” as calmly as she could. Which wasn’t really all that calm at all.
“Doing what, dear?” Anna asked, her eyebrows raised above innocent eyes. “I’m just trying to ensure that everything runs well for you today.”