UNFINISHED BUSINESS

“Lorraine really wants the circus theme,” Lana Covey said, a note of appeal in her voice.

It was a tone Tessa Monroe knew well—the desperate cry of a woman who has spoiled her baby girl for so long she doesn’t know how to stop. As one of the top Event planners in Solmere, Tessa got her share of spoiled princesses and their bizarre wedding requests, but this was right up there.

“A circus themed wedding is certainly unusual,” Tessa said smoothly. “You don’t get a lot of them.”

“I understand that,” The mother of the bride nodded. “Hudson took Lorraine to see a touring production for their first date. They think it would be romantic to recreate the circus theme for their wedding.”

“Well, I guess we can be happy he didn’t take her ice fishing for their first date.” Tessa said.

The woman smiled weakly. “I suppose so.” She straightened the perfectly straight hem on her Gucci skirt.

Already Tessa suspected that this ceremony was going to be one of those nightmares. The mother of the bride had shown up for the appointment, but no bride. Always a bad sign. She was conscious of a wish to tell the woman to take her flying circus acrobats and find another wedding planner, but she didn’t. “Let me see what I can do. I’ll put together a proposal for you and we can meet again, shall we say in two weeks? Perhaps with the bride this time.”

When the mother left, Tessa sat for a few minutes, typing her notes into her computer, then she got up and walked through the office. “I’m going to see Pearl,” she said to her assistant, Megan, on the way out.

The young blonde girl who was both support staff and her assistant wedding planner nodded, unsurprised, since Tessa took the short walk to her caterer and good friend’s premises at least once a day. She trekked to Hammond & Co. to discuss jobs with Pearl Hammond, her exclusive caterer, or simply to chat with the woman who’d become a close friend. And if she walked the two blocks briskly enough, that was as good as fifteen minutes on the treadmill.

Slipping on sunglasses and a light coat, she strode toward the storefront where Pearl sold takeout gourmet food and coffee while she ran her growing catering business from the huge industrial kitchen in the back. Upstairs was a small apartment that she used as her office.

Pearl was placing a heaping bowl of salad into the display case when Tessa walked in. The caterer—blessed by nature with a long, slim body that was neither top-nor bottom-heavy, but just right—smiled her rich, slightly mischievous smile at Tessa as she straightened from her task. “Perfect, you’re just in time for coffee.”

“Make mine with cream. And I want one of your lemon bars to go with it.”

Since Tessa was on a perpetual diet, Pearl raised her brows. “Bad day?” she asked.

“The bride wants a circus theme.”

Pearl poured two cups of coffee, deftly popped several decadent treats onto a plate and called out to someone out of sight in the back kitchen, “I’m taking a break upstairs. Keep an eye on the front and call me if you need me.”

“’Okay,” came the reply.

They hiked up the stairs and Tessa said, “I wonder if the wedding night will feature trapezes and human pyramids.”

“Your cynicism is showing,” Pearl said, as though it were a slip hanging below her skirt hem.

Tessa sighed. “I know, but I'm bitter and everyone knows it.”

“No, you're not,” Pearl soothed. “You just hate marriage.”

“No I don't.” replied Tessa. She gazed longingly at a brownie. “I planned my two best friends' weddings.”

“So?” said Pearl, her brown eyes twinkling. “That's your job.”

“Whatever,” Tessa sighed, almost snatching the yellow confection off the plate.

When they’d first met, Pearl Hammond had just returned from cooking school and was trying to launch her own catering business. When Tessa had tasted the woman’s food and chatted with her for a few minutes she’d experienced the gut deep excitement of knowing she’d found the missing piece of her Event planning business. She’d pretty much signed up Pearl on the spot to be her exclusive caterer.

Pearl opened a computer file on her desktop computer. “When is this wedding circus scheduled?”

“I'm not sure yet.” She shook her head at the enormity of the task ahead of her. “We will need a huge space, lots of height. The bride thinks she might want an honest-to-God circus tent.”

“I’ll play with some ideas for food.” Pearl twisted her mouth to one side. “Not that circus exactly screams matching food. I’ll have to work on decoration and presentation.” She typed a few more words. “Laurel’s the one who’ll be thrilled.”

Laurel Matthews was a cake maker and decorator of such extraordinary talent that her cakes were true works of art and architecture and, equally amazing, they tasted delicious. An If You Can Dream It wedding was notable for meticulous planning, delicious food, and a cake that always surprised and delighted.

“You’re right. She’ll love the challenge. I can’t even imagine what she’ll dream up,” Tessa said.

“Which is what’s so great about her cakes.”

“I’ve got another prospect coming this morning—she’s looking for a May or June wedding next year, is that a problem for you?”

Pearl glanced up, looking slightly puzzled. “No, why would it be?”

Tessa had been trying delicately to find out when this woman who was engaged to the man of her dreams was actually getting married. So far, subtle hadn’t worked. “I’m wondering when you and Peter are getting married. Won’t you need some time off?”

Pearl waved a hand, her engagement ring catching the light and sending out a spray of fireworks. “Don’t worry. We’ll get around to it.

We’re just both so busy right now.”

“That man needs to stop playing hard to get,” she snapped.

Tessa still hadn’t entirely forgiven Peter Bradley for making a deal with Pearl to pose as his fake fiancée in order for him to snag a promotion at work. Of course he’d fallen in love with Pearl along the way. Who wouldn’t? She was gorgeous, a gourmet cook and one of the sweetest women Tessa had ever met. So, had he snapped up this amazing woman when she’d obviously loved him? No, of course not. Being a man, he had no idea when the greatest woman in Solmere was right under his nose. Instead, he’d almost lost her.

Tessa would never forget the heartbroken woman who had taken refuge in this very space, living in the small suite she now used as her office while she struggled to get her business going and forget Peter, the man who had broken her heart. Fortunately, he’d come to his senses just in time and now they were engaged for real, living in his amazing town house.

“He’s fine. Really. We’re both fine.”

Tessa didn’t believe it for a minute, but she also knew that Pearl wasn’t one to unburden herself easily. She’d talk to Tessa when she was ready.

Deciding she had too much on her plate with circus acts and new business coming in every day to worry about why her friend wasn’t in a hurry to marry the man she was engaged to, she reluctantly drained her coffee cup.

When she returned to her office, Tessa felt calmer. The taste of lemon clung to her lips and the idea of a circus for a wedding seemed more ludicrous than annoying.

“The Swensons