Why Not Tonight (Happily Inc. #3)(48)
Pallas typed on the computer and pulled up a picture of the city. “This is just one option. There are dozens of others. Ellen, do you want me to send you some to consider?”
“Barry and I will find the one we like best and send it to you,” Ellen said, pulling a pad of paper out of her handbag. “I really like that idea.”
“I’m going to have a lot of scraps of paper left over from the flowers.” Natalie fingered the petal of a flower. “I wonder if I could create table numbers from them. It wouldn’t be that difficult and it would keep with the theme. I could also edge the pages of the guest book with the same paper.”
“Perfect,” Barry said. “Now, we’re doing the groom’s cake in the shape of the car, right?”
“Yes, and today you’ll pick the flavors of the two cakes.” Pallas put up pictures of possible cake decorations. There were the obvious black and yellow and one cake was decorated with ivy, but the one Natalie liked best was more subtle—three round layers frosted in cream with the classic bat shape in a darker ivory.
“That one,” Barry and Ellen said together, then laughed.
They all continued to brainstorm. Ellen’s mother wanted a photo booth with a fun backdrop of words like Wham! and Pow! Natalie and Ellen had a long conversation about flowers, with the bride deciding on black and white calla lilies trimmed with ivy. Once all the decisions were made, the parents signed off and the bride and groom tasted cake and cocktails.
Three hours flew by. When Barry and Ellen had left, still talking drinks with Silver, Natalie stayed behind to help Pallas tidy up.
“That was amazing,” Natalie said. “So much work, but really fun. I can see why you love what you do.”
Pallas stunned her by sinking into a chair and dropping her head to the table. “I can’t do it. I just can’t.”
“What’s wrong?” Natalie settled next to her. “Tell me what it is and I’ll fix it.”
Pallas looked at her, her eyes filled with tears. “It’s not bad, I swear. I’m thrilled, but I just can’t keep doing this.” She drew in a breath. “I’m pregnant.”
“What? That’s fabulous.” Natalie hugged her. “You’re going to have a baby. Why are you crying?”
“Because I’m exhausted. I’ve been sick since the first day. I can’t sleep. The doctor says I’m perfectly healthy but that I’m having a horrible reaction to my body’s changing hormones. She swears it will get better, but so far it hasn’t and I’m drowning here.” She tried to smile. “My mother is over the moon, which is its own kind of weirdness, but we don’t have to discuss that.”
She sniffed. “The weddings are too much. Especially this one. There are a thousand moving parts. I’m in the process of hiring an assistant, but that’s going to take a while. Do you think you could help me for a few weeks until I have someone in place?”
“What? Of course. I’d be glad to.” Natalie hesitated. “But, Pallas, I don’t know anything about weddings.”
“You did great today. You have excellent taste and people like you. That’s a big one. So if you’re willing, I’d love to hire you. And I do mean hire. I’d pay you for your time. I’m just so busy right now and I feel awful every second of every day.”
Natalie hugged her friend again. “I’m yours to command. I mean that. I’ll talk to Atsuko and see about shifting my hours so I can be available when you need me. I can make the flowers for the wedding at night or early in the morning. Seriously, I can do this.”
“It’s not too much?”
“No. It’s just enough. I want to help.”
Natalie was happy to be there for her friend, but just as exciting was the thought of extra income. If she added the money she earned helping Pallas to what she made from the flowers, she might have enough to take a two-or three-week sabbatical from her day job, and have two or three months of paid rent. That would allow her to focus on one or two big art projects and wouldn’t that be amazing!
“You’re the best,” Pallas told her. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“We’re both the best and this is going to be so much fun.”
*
RONAN DIDN’T KNOW why everyone had a burr up their ass about his birthday. When Mathias had told him about the party, his first instinct had been to say, “Hell, no.” The problem with that was Natalie had been standing right there, looking all happy and excited, and he just couldn’t figure out how to disappoint her. Which was why he was now stuck going to The Boardroom for some ridiculous party that he wasn’t going to enjoy.
He’d spent the day working from home so he could shower and change before driving into town. He was going to meet Natalie at the gallery and then walk over with her. At least she would be a distraction, he thought. A sexy one, but still. A party?
He had no idea who was going to be there. He supposed if things got awkward with his brothers, he would just mention Pallas’s pregnancy and that would change the subject.
He got in his truck and started down the mountain. He still couldn’t believe Nick was going to be a father. Elaine must have been giddy at the thought of a grandkid. He doubted Ceallach would care—not unless his grandchild showed artistic ability. As for Nick, Ronan figured he had to be two parts terrified, one part thrilled.