Page 6 of Forgive Not Forget
“She’s still tied to the abbey,” Anna finished.
Katherine tapped her notebook with her pen. “Indeed.”
“Well, as long as she keeps out of our way in Spain, then we have nothing to complain about. Right, ladies?” Carrie said in an upbeat tone.
“Right,” Anna and Katherine repeated dully.
They both knew Carrie well enough to know her optimism alone could have carried theTitanicsafely to New York, had she only been on board at the time.
“The new restaurant manager, Daniel, starts in two weeks. Carrie, I know I suggested that you stay in your current office, but he’s requested one and he’d like it to be in the same building as the restaurant rather than out in the barn, which is understandable.”
Carrie shrugged. “Oh, of course, I don’t mind moving into the barn.”
The relief that crossed Anna’s face didn’t escape Katherine. Despite reassurances that she would be fine alone in the barn, Katherine hadn’t been totally convinced, and so had suggested to the restaurant manager that he might like to have his own office and then offered Carrie’s. She felt a little sneaky arranging it that way, but decided it was for the best.
“There was no delaying the start of his contract, then?” Carrie continued.
Katherine sank a little into her chair. “No, it was signed before the building work was stopped, so we didn’t have a leg to stand on legally. He’d already handed his notice in too. He kindly agreed to take some annual leave initially, which is why he won’t start for two weeks, not today when he should have been managing the fitting out of the restaurant.” She looked at her watch. “Sophie and Mark should be along any minute with the results of the survey.”
“How many wedding enquiries did we get at the opening, Carrie?” Anna asked, opening her laptop.
Carrie checked some papers in front of her. “Fifteen. I think seven were quite serious.”
“I can’t possibly organise that many. I’ve never organised a wedding.”
“You’re organising ours?” Katherine pointed out.
“You know I mean from the other side.”
“It’s an event, Anna. Treat it like any other. We’re only supplying the venue and staff this year, so it’s only a matter of coordinating, and you are a coordinating genius.”
Anna lifted one side of her mouth.
“How about we see how things go this year and what bookings we get for next year, and we’ll think about hiring a dedicated wedding coordinator,” Katherine said.
“That’s all I ask. With all the other events the abbey will be holding throughout the year, it’s going to be stressful enough without being held responsible for multiple bridezillas’ big days.”
“Did the people come from the registry office this morning, Katherine?” Carrie asked.
“Yes, they seem happy with the barn as a venue; they were perhaps a little concerned about the building work, despite me showing them endless folders with all the health and safety measurements in place.”
“How long until we get approval?”
“They will put the notifications out immediately, which gives anyone twenty-one days to object. They said there may be a stipulation that we don’t take confirmed bookings until the building work is complete.”
“I’m not sure anyone would want to get married with a building site for a view anyway,” Carrie replied, examining her notes. “The more serious enquiries we got on Saturday were all for next year anyway.”
“If we’re unlikely to have any weddings this year, then we’ll need to work hard to increase the number of other bookings on the barn,” Katherine remarked.
Anna let out a groan as she exhaled. “No pressure then.”
“On that note, I know you have the Easter bunny trail coming up, but the trustees have requested you submit your plans for the rest of the year with full costs and predicted revenue.”
A knock at the door interrupted them before Anna could voice an objection to the trustees’ request. Sophie popped her head around the door.
“Come in, take a seat.” Katherine gestured to the table.
Sophie took the seat next to Anna, and Mark placed himself opposite her, beside Carrie.
