Snow is Falling, Cocoa is Calling! (The Coffee Loft Series: Fall Collection)

8. Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

CAITEY

M rs. Hearst took Caitey’s hand in hers, a look of motherly kindness in her eyes. “We’ll get you settled into your room so you can take a break from all of us and unpack before dinner.”

A woman in her late 40s appeared from another door on the opposite side of the drawing room.

“There you are, Maggie,” Mrs. Hearst said. “Please show Caitey to her room and help her with anything she needs.”

“Yes, ma’am, my pleasure.”

Caitey blinked her eyes at being waited on. She was used to carrying her own luggage, but Maggie, the housekeeper, was a whirlwind of energy and efficiency. Her salt-and-pepper hair was pulled back into a neat bun, and out of nowhere, she had Caitey’s suitcase and handbag in hand to lead her up the first set of beautiful circular staircases .

“Wait for me,” Jenna called before hurrying right behind Caitey. She took Caitey’s hand in hers and squeezed it.

“We’ll let the men bring it all in, and after dinner, we’ll go through the wedding things you brought and decide where the decorations will look best.”

“Sounds great,” Caitey said, following Maggie up the curving stairs and then down a hallway where there appeared to be bedrooms, bathrooms, and a lovely open sitting room with cozy, feminine furniture. She leaned in to Jenna. “Where is your room?”

“I’m right next to you, so no worries. You won’t be alone. It’s all kind of overwhelming, huh? But when Logan brought me here last year, I fell in love with the place and his parents, and I thought it would be the perfect place to get married. Cozy to be married at home, but infinitely more beautiful than a rented hall or outdoor venue in case of severe weather.”

“But aren’t you getting married outside?”

“We are,” Jenna said in a sing-song voice. “The flower gardens are still blooming so lovely, and yet, I always wanted a fall wedding when the leaves were turning yellow, gold, and red. I got both. As I mentioned earlier, the dancing will be inside the drawing room. That’s where most of the decorating will happen.”

“We can decorate the chairs and the arbor in the backyard, though. I brought all that with me.”

Jenna clapped her hands in delight. “I can’t wait to see how it all looks. ”

Maggie stopped at one of the white-painted beveled doors and opened it with a key taken from a jangling set of keys. It reminded Caitey of Mrs. Hughes in the Downton Abbey series, with her large metal ring heavy from all the keys to the manor house attached at her waist.

“Miss Caitey, please,” she said, extending a hand. “After you, ladies.”

Caitey smiled at Jenna as they walked inside a bedroom suite obviously meant for a woman. Mauves and pinks with dark wood accents in a large rectangular room with ten-foot ceilings. A broad picture window overlooked the gardens and rear grounds.

A four-poster bed with a thick comforter and tons of piled pillows sat in the center on plush carpet.

A sitting area, a desk for writing, and an ensuite bathroom through a separate doorway, complete with a shower, a separate tub with jets, and a long vanity for all her personal stuff.

“Wow, Jenna, Mrs., um, Maggie . . . this is gorgeous.”

“Just Maggie, my dear,” the housekeeper said. “Let me show you how all the faucets work so you don’t get snagged while showering or dressing later this evening or in the morning. Nothing more frustrating than going to a hotel and being unable to figure out how the handles work, right?”

“So true,” Caitey said weakly, following her into the large white bathroom with gold faucets, cozy rugs, and a double sink.

Everything was fresh and clean, and the suite was immaculate.

“I do the bedroom suites myself,” Maggie bragged. “The housekeeper service that comes in weekly does the main house, but I care for the bedrooms myself to ensure they’re done right. Especially for the lady folk.”

“Oh my, there are fresh flowers on the bureau and on the small table in the sitting corner,” Caitey said. “You think of everything.”

“All it takes is a list and a keen eye,” Maggie said, her smile growing into a wide grin. She smoothed her hands along the sides of her work dress. “I love checking off my lists. Doesn’t everybody?”

Caitey laughed. “Me, too. That’s what I’ll be doing later. Checking all my wedding lists and making sure I brought everything with me—even though I checked at home before I drove up here. Even so, I worry every time that I’ve forgotten something.”

“Human nature, my dear,” Maggie chuckled. “Totally normal.”

“Even if you forgot something,” Jenna said, “that just gives us an excuse to go shopping.”

“Are the Hearst’s inviting anyone new that’s not on my list of expected guests?” Caitey asked.

“Nope,” Jenna said, her eyes going to the ceiling as she thought out loud. “A few neighbors and long-time friends, but only two or three couples. Logan’s parents have a couple of siblings and a few cousins up in the Bay Area. They already sent lovely gifts in case they couldn’t make it.” Jenna said, her eyes sparkling. “But,” she added, “I don’t think they’re inviting business associates since we decided to go smaller and more intimate. But everyone who is coming to the ceremony will stay for the reception dinner.”

“Sounds perfect. You asked me to plan for about twenty, so that’s the number of decorations for chairs and tables I brought, with a few extras for those ‘just in case’ moments. Oh! You were able to pick up the chairs and the arch for the arbor, right?” Caitey asked.

“No worries, they’re all here!” Jenna said gaily. “We just have to set it all up and add the goodies—as in flowers, ribbon, etc! Of course, Logan still hopes his older brother and wife can get the time off to fly in from Maine, but they haven’t been very optimistic. With two young children, finding childcare, and taking three flights to get across the country, they might not make it.”

I will let you unpack now, Miss Caitey,” Maggie said. “But if you need anything, you can call me on the house phone sitting at the bedside table. I’m available day or night. My name and extension are listed, along with Reginald and Gus, the cook.”

“Night, too?” Caitey repeated in awe. Wow, a house phone, too. This place was like out of a movie.

“I live on-site in my cottage far back on the grounds. You can’t see it from here, which gives me and the family our privacy. Reginald is also on-site, but the cook only comes in for weekends and special occasions. Mrs. Hearst does the weekday cooking. She took cooking lessons a few years ago and insists it’s one of her hobbies and pleasures now.”

“It can be a fun hobby, especially for experimenting with recipes.”

Maggie headed to the door. “And now I will say au revoir until later.”

As soon as the door closed behind Maggie, Jenna wrapped her arms around Caitey and hugged her. “I am so excited! I can’t stand it. I’m getting married in less than two days!”

Caitey took a deep breath. “I hope I can pull together exactly what you want.”

“I’m not worried about it at all. And if we need anything else, we’ll just go shopping ! Right now, unpack, have a lie-down, and I’ll meet you in Mrs. Hearst’s study before dinner to look through all the wedding stuff.”

“When is dinner again?”

“Seven o’clock.” Jenna grinned. “Sorry, I keep forgetting you’re new here. I’ll knock on your door, and we’ll go down together so I can show you where the study is.”

“You’d better!” Caitey threatened with a laugh. “I’ll get lost and the guys will tease me to no end.”

“Just in good fun. Logan can be quite entertaining. I don’t know Marcus as well, but I’ve met him a couple of times before now when I was here visiting and first met the family last year.”

“Um, Marcus can be intimidating,” Caitey admitted, trying to sound nonchalant .

“It’s the Navy SEAL regimentation built into him. Don’t let him bother you. He’s really very sweet. And,” Jenna said, lowering her voice to nearly a whisper, “he has some kind of secret past .”

Caitey’s eyebrows raised so high they were probably in her hairline by now. “Secret past?! Dare I ask what that’s all about?”

She hadn’t told Jenna about the photograph of the gorgeous woman falling from his wallet. But this news was not surprising from Marcus’s reaction to get that picture out of sight as fast as possible.

“I honestly do not know. Logan won’t even talk about it. He said it was a private matter and not his to divulge. I told him that after I become his wife, he’d better give me a tell-all session. He and Marcus talk practically every day.”

“Have you heard any rumors?” Caitey was now deathly curious.

“Nope. I haven’t ever gotten any vibes from Mr. or Mrs. Hearst about it. If it was something major, they probably know as well, right?”

“It makes sense if their son is such a long-time friend of Marcus.” She paused, then added, “His impassive face and erect posture make me think I should call him Mr. Stirling .”

Jenna laughed. “That’s the military training in him. He’s honestly a good guy. You have to get to know him.”

“For now, I think I’ll steer clear.”

“Oh, Caitey, you’re being silly. Since we will be together for several days, we should all be friends. Stay up late playing games, eating popcorn, and laughing ourselves silly.”

Caitey gave her a small smile. “That sounds nice. I haven’t done that since I last visited you in New Orleans a year ago! By the way, how are you and Logan making your long-distance relationship work?”

“He moved to New Orleans a few months ago. I thought I’d told you! I’m sorry,” Jenna cried. “I’ve been busy opening another Coffee Loft franchise in the suburbs. Building, staffing, and the grand opening have taken over my life the past year!”

“I knew it would,” Caitey said. “Have you bought a house together yet? I remember you saying that you were house shopping.”

“Yes, and we’re moving in after our honeymoon. It’s being painted right now, and all our furniture is in storage. Can. Not. Wait!”

Caitey reached over and embraced her. “This is like an exotic trip for me, too.”

“Okay, my beautiful cousin,” Jenna said. “Take a break after your drive and craziness today. I’ll see you in a little while at dinner.”

When Caitey closed the bedroom door and sagged against it, fatigue slammed into her. A “lie-down” was precisely what she needed. Especially to get some energy back before dinner with everyone in a couple of hours.

The idea was intimidating. This house was intimidating. The Hearsts were genuinely nice and welcoming, but their worlds were vastly different.

After unpacking her suitcase, hanging up blouses and dresses, and laying out her makeup bag in the bathroom, Caitey slipped off her shoes, climbed onto the gorgeous bed, moved aside some pillows, and stared at the beautiful four-poster damask hangings.

Staying here was like a vacation—except for the wedding work—because it was like living in a castle.

Just before closing her eyes, she realized she still needed to tell Jenna about the photograph Marcus Stirling had dropped at the Coffee Loft shop.

She strongly suspected the photograph was the key to figuring out that inscrutable, and puzzling, man.