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

9. Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

CAITEY

W hat seemed like ten minutes was suddenly more than an hour when a relentless knocking startled Caitey awake.

She sat up, completely disoriented. The late afternoon shadows had darkened the bedroom. But wow, the bed was dreamy and soft and perfect. She’d sleep like a log tonight.

“Caitey . . . Caitey, wake up!” Jenna was hissing through the door when she slipped off the bed and ran to open it.

“You fell asleep,” her friend said immediately as Caitey pulled the door open.

“More tired than I thought,” Caitey admitted with a wan smile.

“We both have had some crazy months lately. You did two weddings recently? ”

“Yours is the third one this autumn season,” Caitey admitted weakly.

“Yikes! I hope you got paid well. And I’m sorry I piled my wedding so soon after the others.”

Caitey’s lips broke into a wide smile. “Well, first of all, I received a very nice bonus from one of the weddings and went shopping, and second of all, I’ve been looking forward to your wedding the most, of course!”

“That dress you’re wearing is beautiful on you! But we’ll probably have to don jeans for the decorating party.”

“True, true.” Caitey’s stomach growled. “Hope I didn’t miss dinner.”

“I would never do that to you. I remembered to set my alarm. I’m excited to go look at what decorations you brought.”

“Let me comb my hair and freshen up first.”

In the bathroom, Caitey brushed her teeth, ran her fingers through her thick hair, and then added a touch of color to her lips, checking that her mascara hadn’t smudged.

When they arrived downstairs, Mrs. Hearst was nowhere to be seen, but she had left the door open to her study. The contents of Caitey’s SUV were neatly stacked on tables and desks, but the heavier items were on the floor.

“Here, Caitey,” Jenna said, handing over a glass of lemonade that had been on a tray on one of the open spaces of the desk. “I figured I wasn’t the only one feeling parched. It’s homemade by Maggie. I raided the kitchen before I woke you up.”

Caitey took a sip and then another. “Wow, that’s delicious. Just what I needed.”

“Show me everything!” Jenna said excitedly. “Where should we start?”

“Let’s discuss the ceremony first, then the outdoor reception. Any differences between the people attending the ceremony and the dinner reception?”

“No, everyone has been invited to both. We figured about twenty people and it’s still about that. If Marina and Wade are here. Less if they don’t make it.”

Caitey rummaged through the first box, pulling out her detailed notes and a timeline of events. Her cousin rushed forward and tugged out a charm bracelet from the smaller box.

“You still have this?” Jenna asked, her face lighting up with amusement.

Caitey bit her lips, embarrassed. Would Jenna make fun of her sentimentality?

“Of course,” she swiftly replied, trying to exude confidence. “A charm for every wedding I’ve planned and executed successfully.”

The pewter and gold-plated or glass charms were all couples dressed in their wedding finery. The grooms with a top hat, the brides with flowing gowns and veils. Her very first charm had come from the bride as a thank you gift for planning a successful—Caitey’s first ever—wedding.

The amount of work just about killed Caitey, but it was so gorgeous with no major problems, that she was proud of her accomplishment and the beautiful little charm of the couple. The bride had even painted their faces and eye colors.

So far, the bracelet boasted ten little silver charms. Jenna’s and Logan Hearst’s wedding would be the eleventh she had executed over the previous few years since striking out and building her own business.

Jenna fingered each charm, smiling, and then lifted her eyes. “This is super cute.”

“Maybe it’s just superstitious, but I think—I hope—it brings me luck. So far, ten out of ten have been pretty darn good—and all ten couples are still married. I consider that a roaring success.”

“Indeed!” Jenna said with a small laugh. “It must have been the secret sauce in the cake.”

“Or the rum!” Caitey said, giggling. “A major coup d'état of revenge after getting fired from my old job.”

“Indeed! I love these silver bells you found. They’ll look great lining the patios, like we discussed. Perfect for a fall wedding,” Jenna said, digging into one of the boxes and pulling things out.

“Look at this ribbon. It matches the shade of silver and the mauves you wanted perfectly. I’ll string it between the stakes with the bells. Which makes a better and more elegant ‘rope’ line than regular old rope, of course.”

Jenna gave her a humorous smirk. “But not nearly as effective as actual rope where you can strangle the drunk guest making passes at the women.”

“Quite true!” Caitey retorted. “I ordered the flowers for the arch that you wanted, twenty black, comfy chairs for the guests, a rug for the aisle, hanging lamps, and lots of tulle that I’ll decorate with roses and lilies.”

“When do we pick all the rest of it up?” Jenna asked.

“Tomorrow for sure, so we can get it all decorated. Except for the flowers, of course. We’ll pick those up first thing on the morning of the wedding.”

“I made sure Logan ordered my bouquet and boutonnieres for him, his dad, Marcus, and my father. I also told him to get one for Reginald, who will be our Master of Ceremonies, so to speak.”

“Perfect!” Caitey exclaimed. “Have you given him instructions yet?”

“He’ll usher all the guests to the ceremony outside, and then the wedding party into the drawing room afterward, and make sure everyone is seated properly. He told me—with a tiny, wry smile—that he would be honored. And I know he’ll be splendid.”

“He’s like every British butler you see in the movies.”

“I told you we’ve invited a few neighbors up here on the mountain, right?”

“Yes, you mentioned that.”

Jenna laughed at herself. “I confess my head is spinning. Maybe I should start making lists like you do! The Hearsts have a few close friends in Santa Barbara, another one of Logan’s old college roommates, and Marina and Wade, of course. ”

“When do they arrive?”

“They’ll fly in that morning. Which is nice for them because they’ll gain two hours in time, and the ceremony isn’t until mid-afternoon. Marina still has a bit of morning sickness, so she’s worried about being tied to the bathroom and throwing up during the festivities. Her doctor prescribed anti-nausea pills, although she’s been using them sparingly.”

“Do they know if they’re having a boy or a girl?”

Jenna shook her head. “The two of them are old-fashioned and plan to be surprised. I’ll bet the nursery will have plenty of antiques.”

Caitey smothered a laugh and shook her head. “Too perfect. A wooden rocking horse, porcelain dolls, an antique crib, and furniture. I love it.”

They opened the rest of the boxes of decorations and snowy white tablecloths, plus the crystal-cut centerpiece bowls they would fill with orchids and lilies.

“I’ll ask Maggie to iron these tablecloths,” Jenna said as a bell rang from the entrance hall. “Wow, it’s already time for dinner. Don’t show me anything else, Caitey. I want to be surprised.”

Caitey had just opened her mouth to finally ask about the photograph of Marcus Stirling since she was dying to get the scoop on the woman, but she was skunked again.

She would have to wait until after dinner . . .

The dining room was magnificent with gold and green wallpaper, a mahogany table, and fine china and crystal goblets for ice water and red wine.

Caitey ate the tender beef bourguignon, observing the rest of the group’s banter. They all knew one another so well that she felt more of an outsider than she thought she would.

At least she had been seated next to Jenna at one end, so all eyes weren’t on her while she attempted to properly cut her food and appear as refined as the rest of the group.

Mrs. Hearst turned to her. “How is your suite, Caitey? I hope it’s suitable and to your taste.”

“Oh, it’s gorgeous. Such a beautiful room with a perfect view of the gardens. Even the bed is soft and cozy. I admit I laid down for a bit.”

“As you should. You had a long day of driving.”

Sitting next to her was her husband, Charles William Hearst. He had a sturdy build and a jovial expression as though he loved a good joke or two. His hair was beginning to gray, and his full hearty laugh matched his warm eyes.

Dressed casually in slacks and a dark green button shirt, Mr. Hearst appeared completely comfortable with who he was. An attorney who never got rattled. Even-handed with an approachable demeanor.

“Where did you drive from Caitey—north or south?” Mr. Hearst asked now.

“San Diego. Well, actually Coronado Island is where I grew up. Normally, my parents aren’t too far away when they’re not living overseas for my dad’s job with the government, but I’m currently living in their house—the house I grew up in—while my father’s working at the American embassy in Portugal.”

“How fascinating,” Mrs. Hearst exclaimed. “Are your parents able to attend the wedding when they’re living so far away?”

“Oh, yes, they’re flying in tomorrow evening,” Caitey replied. “My mother is Aunt Vicki’s sister so they wouldn’t miss Jenna’s wedding for the world.”

“Coronado Island sounds like a great place to grow up,” Mr. Hearst said.

“It was—is,” Caitey admitted with a smile. “So beautiful and laid back.”

Marcus suddenly spoke up, his eyes on her face. “You must be a beach girl, then?” he asked with a teasing smile.

Caitey blinked her eyelashes at him, quirking her mouth. “I was always at the beach as a kid, but now it’s a treat. Once you become an adult, it’s hard to get away for fun, isn’t it?”

“Very true,” Mr. Hearst immediately agreed. “Can’t remember the last time I went to the beach! How long have you been a wedding planner? Our new daughter-in-law is quite enthusiastic about you.”

“Jenna is completely biased,” Caitey said with a laugh, and the rest of the table laughed with her. She finally began to relax a little—while trying not to stare too much at Marcus Stirling across from her.

“How long has wedding planning been your career?”

“Seven years now. I majored in business with a minor in interior decorating, which fits me perfectly. Besides, I adore weddings. They are such happy occasions. I admit I’ve attended more than my share over the last decade. All my college roommates, my older brother who lives in Georgia, a neighbor, and a good friend from high school are now married. At least I could capitalize on their nuptials,” she added as a joke.

The rest of the table laughed at that, and Caitey was glad she could relax a little. This environment was so very different from how she grew up. But so far, everyone had been welcoming and friendly.

The only person she wasn’t sure about was Marcus Stirling. His secrets intrigued her, even more so since his mostly quiet demeanor during dinner.

“That is very true,” Mr. Hearst said. “Even if a wedding is stressful for the bride and her mother. I, of course, speak from personal experience, and I’m just the father of the groom.”

Everyone around the table chuckled at that.

“The estate is the perfect spot for a wedding,” Caitey said. “I visited Hearst Castle with my family when I was eleven, and then again during college with friends. I was sure that I’d been transported inside an enchanted fairytale. At eleven, I hoped to spot a princess around every corner.”

Everyone around the room chuckled at her description, but the women nodded in agreement.

“The original Hearst home is quite a magnificent piece of real estate. To put it mildly,” Mr. Hearst added. “We live as paupers in comparison. The answer to your question is yes. He is my third great-grandfather. He had five sons, and the third son is my great-great-grandfather. I never knew them personally, of course,” he added with a chuckle. “Their lives are as foreign to me as the king of England.

“It’s beautiful, and the gardens and flowers are magnificent.”

“We’re lucky they bloom most of the year,” Mrs. Hearst said with a smile. “The wedding is just in time to use it. Probably the last outdoor event we’ll enjoy until spring. We do get a bit of snow up here in the mountains during December and January. Despite only being a two-hour drive from the ocean.”

“That’s part of the beauty of living in California,” Mr. Hearst spoke up across the table just as dessert—crème br?lée—arrived. Served by stately Reginald in a crisp white shirt and cufflinks. “We get every kind of weather.”

Jenna leaned in to whisper, “The cook makes this himself. You will eat so good this week that you’ll put on ten pounds, minimum.”

Caitey grinned. “I’ve been forewarned.”

When she glanced up, she noticed that Marcus was stealing glances at her. He’d been doing that most of the dinner hour.

The man seemed nice enough, but she after the scare he gave her, she was uncertain of how she felt about him. And she still only knew a little about his background. But the attraction was definitely there.

Caitey touched her spoon to the dessert to break the crackly glazed crust. Taking dainty bites to make it last longer, she closed her eyes at the cuisine’s excellence. Better than any restaurant.

When she swallowed, Marcus caught her eye again and smiled at her. He raised his spoonful of crème br?lée in a toast toward her, and Caitey wished she could smother the tingling sensation of attraction running down her spine.

There was something there—some sort of connection—but she was determined not to give in to it. Marcus Stirling was still an unknown quantity, and there were secrets in his chocolate-brown eyes.

Did she want to know more? Or was that entirely too risky?