A Very Exclusive Engagement(43)

Ariella nodded, but Francesca knew she was deep in planning mode. “Good. That’s the hardest part with a quick turnaround. We’ll have to use the hotel caterer, so I’ll need to get with them soon about the menu for the reception. Did you guys have anything in mind?”

Francesca was ashamed to admit she didn’t. As a child, she’d always fantasized more about her marriage than her actual wedding. And even if she had dreamed of a princess dress and ten thousand pink roses for the ceremony, none of that seemed appropriate for this. She wanted to save those ideas for her real marriage. One that would last longer than a year.

“We will be happy with whatever you two can pull together on short notice. We don’t have room to be picky.”

Ariella reached into her purse and pulled out her planner. She used her phone for most things, but she’d told Francesca that weddings required paper and pen so she could see all the plans laid out. “Color or flower preferences?”

“Not really. Whatever is in season and readily available. I’m not a big fan of orange, but I could live with it.”

Her friend looked up from her notebook and frowned. “Live with it? Honey, your wedding isn’t supposed to be something you live with no matter how short the notice. Tell me what you want and I’ll make it happen for you.”

She could tell Ariella wasn’t going to let her off the hook. She would give her friend her dream wedding no matter how much Francesca resisted. She put aside her reservations and closed her eyes. Fake or no, what did she envision for her wedding day with Liam? “Soft and romantic,” she said. “Maybe white or pale-pink roses. Candlelight. Lace. A touch of sparkle.”

Ariella wrote frantically in her book. “Do you like gardenias? They’re in season and smell wonderful. They’d go nicely with the roses. And maybe some hydrangeas and peonies.”

“Okay,” she said, quickly correcting herself when Ariella looked at her with another sharp gaze. “That all sounds beautiful. Thank you.”

“What does your dress look like? It helps sometimes with the cake design.”

Francesca swallowed hard. “My appointment is tomorrow morning.”

“You don’t have a dress,” she said, her tone flat.

She’d been engaged less than two weeks. Why would she have a dress already? “I don’t have anything but a groom and a ballroom, Ariella. That’s why I need you. I will make sure that Liam and I show up appropriately attired. The rest of the details are up to you.”

“Please give me something to work with here. I know you trust me, but I want you to get what you want, too.”

“I’ve got to buy off the rack with no alterations, so I’m not going in with a certain thing in mind because it might not be possible. I’m hoping to find a strapless white gown with lace details. Maybe a little silver or crystal shimmer. I don’t know how that would help with the cake. It doesn’t have to be very complicated in design. I prefer white butter cream to fondant. Maybe a couple flowers. I just want it to taste good.”

“Any preference in flavor?”

“Maybe a white or chocolate chip cake with pastry cream filling, like a cannoli. My mom would love that.”

“I can do that,” Ariella said, a smile finally lighting her face.

“And speaking of food, I did invite you over here for lunch. Are you hungry?”

Ariella shoved her notebook into her purse and stood up. “No time to eat, darling. I’ve got a wedding to put together.”

Francesca followed her to the door and gave Ariella a huge hug. “Thank you for all your help with this. I know I haven’t made anything easy on you two.”

“Do you know how many bridezillas we usually have to work with? You’re easy. Anyway, that’s what friends do—pull off the impossible when necessary. It’s only fair considering you just talked me off the proverbial ledge over this stuff with my birth mother. And taking on a huge job like this will take my mind off everything, especially that upcoming reunion show.”

The president had agreed to Liam’s show proposal right before the gala. Francesca had jumped from one event to the next, getting everything in place for the televised reunion. “You don’t have to do it, you know. You can change your mind.”

“No, I can’t.” Ariella smiled and stepped through the doorway. “I’ll email you our preliminary plans and menus to look over tomorrow afternoon.”