Page 7 of Unpredictable
I looked up at her, knowing it was true. But that didn’t make me feel any better. “Yeah, but you should’ve seen her face. She stormed out of the restaurant. She’s never been upset with me—not like this.”
“You both are upset because you care.” I nodded at her words. “But Harrison, you need to accept that Olivia’s a grown woman. She can make her own decisions.”
“I know.” I dipped my head, chagrined. But apparently Talia wasn’t finished.
“And just because your marriage didn’t work out doesn’t mean Olivia is destined to follow the same path.”
I swallowed hard, knowing she was right.Fuck.
I pounded my fist on the table. I was letting my own issues get in the way of my daughter’s happiness. She loved Connor, and he loved her. That much I knew. Would they make it for the long haul? I hoped so.
And while I could’ve expressed my concern in a million different ways, I’d lost it on her. I’d ruined what should’ve been a special moment and twisted it into something ugly. I needed to fix this.
I tugged at the neck of my shirt, glancing side to side before meeting Talia’s gaze once more. “Do you think you can help me fix this?”
Talia folded her hands on the table, a smile playing at her lips. “What do you have in mind?”
I started brainstorming ideas. Hiring a wedding planner would certainly go a long way in proving to Olivia that I supported her and was there for her. I knew Talia had hired party planners in the past for her twin boys’ birthday. If nothing else, maybe she’d be able to connect me with someone who could help.
“I think…I need a wedding planner.”
“That’s a step in the right direction,” she said. “I’ve worked with an event planner in the past, and I think she and Olivia would get on well.”
I exhaled a sigh of relief, knowing I was on the right track. “Great. Let’s get this ball rolling so I can apologize.”
Talia nodded and grabbed her phone. She tapped on the screen, then placed the phone on the table when it started to ring.
“Juliana Wright Events,” said a male voice.
“Hi, Landon. This is Talia Winters.”
“Hey, Talia. How are you?”
“Good, thanks. Look—” She crossed her legs, and I noticed a subtle shift in her demeanor. She was in business mode. “I have a client of mine here, and we were wondering if Juliana has any appointments available today.”
“She’s actually out of the office the rest of the day. And she’s booked solid for the next few weeks.”
I cursed under my breath. I knew there were other event planners, but I wanted someone with a personal recommendation.
“I hate to ask, but are you sure she’s not available—even for a quick phone consult?” Talia pushed, and I appreciated her dedication.
A keyboard clicked in the background. “She doesn’t have any openings until next month. But…she will be at the Vu Hotel for a wedding expo tonight.”
Talia glanced at me, and I nodded. “He’ll be there. And please let us know if something opens up.”
I knew I should be grateful to Talia, but all I could think about was that I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready for my baby girl—my only child—to get married, let alone become a mother. Though, when I’d found out Camille was pregnant with Olivia, I hadn’t been ready then either. But it didn’t matter. Because when you were a parent, when you had a child relying on you—regardless of how old they were—you stepped up. You did what you had to do.
And so, that’s exactly what I was going to do now. I would be there for Olivia, like I had been every day of her life. And I would be there for her until the day I died.
Chapter Three
“Are you drinking enough water?” Landon offered me a water bottle.
“I swear to god,” I ground out, peering past him toward the crowded ballroom. “If you ask me one more time, I’m going to dump that bottle over your head.”
“Okay. Okay.” He held up his hands. “Geez… I’m just trying to help. Can’t have you passing out in the middle of your speech, now can we?”
I glared at him.
