Page 12 of The Wedding Toast
“Want to walk or sit?”she asked when they reached the bottom of the steps.
He met her gaze, and she laughed.“Right.Walk.Walk and talk.Tell me what’s going on.”
He ran his hand through his hair.“Nothing’s going on.At least nothing bad.There’s no panic or anything.There’s just…” He blew out a sigh.“Elena told me about something – an arch – that might be the perfect addition to the wedding, but I don’t know if I can make it happen.And I don’t even know if I should try.”
Willow gave him a puzzled look.“And you’re asking me because…?”
“Because I think you’ll be able to give me the perfect mix of logical assessment and female insight.”
Willow laughed.“Thanks, I think.I’m going to take that as a compliment, although part of me wonders if I should be offended.”
Jacob laughed with her.“It’s definitely intended as a compliment, but I can see how you might not take it that way.”
She shrugged.“Either way, it’s irrelevant.Tell me about this arch.Tell me the pros and cons.”
“Thanks, that’s exactly why you were the one person I wanted to check with.”
He told her about Elena’s phone call yesterday and how he’d been trying to get in touch with Alara ever since.
“She hasn’t returned your calls?”Willow asked.
He shook his head.
“And you really think this arch might be the cherry on top of all your already elaborate wedding plans?”
Jacob took his phone out and found the photographs Elena had sent him.“I think it might be,” he said, before handing his phone to her.“But at the same time, I’ve noticed that I’m tending toward the emotional or sentimental side at the moment.So perhaps I’m going overboard.Perhaps it would be too much.And the logistics – if I can even get ahold of her – may not be ideal.Adding in one more person, one more job...”
She took his phone.“Well, you know you came to the right person to tell you either way.”A big smile spread across her face when she looked at the photos.“You need to talk to this woman,” she said immediately.“I know enough about your plans from what you’ve said, from what Bentley’s shared, and from seeing all the cornflowers lining the driveways on the estate.If you can get this arch, I think it’ll be perfect, Jacob.”
She handed his phone back.
“But…?”he asked as he watched her expression change.
She lifted a shoulder.“My only concern now is that you’ll be disappointed if you can’t get it.”
“You’re right.I will.”
“So, call her again.Call her now.”
“Thanks, I will.”
“Is there anything else I can do?”she asked.
He chuckled.“Not unless you know where a woman living in a camper van might be staying.If she won’t return my calls, I’m considering trying to hunt her down.”
Willow laughed.“Call her again first.I’ll see what I can find out.”
“And how exactly do you plan to do that?”Jacob asked.
She grinned.“I’ll start with Elena, then move on to her friend, Lupe.The arch you just showed me was at Lupe’s daughter’s wedding, right?The daughter may know where this Alara is staying, or where we might find her if we can’t get her on the phone.”
“Thanks, Willow.”
She reached out and touched his arm.“There’s no need, Jacob.I’m happy to try to help.”She chuckled.“And I should warn you now that although I’ll keep my mouth shut until you get this arch in place – and I’ll never speak a word if you don’t manage to make it happen – I may tease you about it afterwards.”
Jacob gave her a rueful smile.“That’s fair, and it’s a price I’m happy to pay.”
She checked her watch.“Well, if that’s all, you go call her.I’ll go back to work.I’ll check in with you later.Let me know if you talk to her and I’ll call off my hunt.”
