Lib Novel Page 3
Maggie nodded. “Yeah, any idea how we can make the property look like it has snow all around?”
Sarah laughed and fell back on her mother’s bed. “Oh, Mom, you’re not serious? That’s just not going to happen. I know Beth wants a Christmas-themed wedding but snow is impossible. By the way, how does Becca feel about this theme? I can’t imagine that she and Beth are on the same page. They are two completely different people.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “You’ve got that right. Have you seen their dresses?”
Sarah shook her head. “No, are they awful?”
Maggie pulled the photos up on her cell phone. “Look at these. Beth is wearing a traditional wedding dress and Becca has this modern short thing that looks like she’s wearing a beach coverup. I want to scream.”
Sarah put her hand over her mouth. “Oh no. I guess that’s what you have to expect with a double wedding. You’re just not going to get two brides wanting the same things. Actually, have Beth and Becca agreed on anything?”
“Not much. Becca wants a buffet, Beth wants a sit-down served formal dinner. Beth wanted a live band, Becca wants a DJ. Beth wants a professional photographer and Becca wants to leave cameras on the tables and let the guests take the photos. Beth wants acorns in her bouquet and Becca wants to carry one orchid. I’m going out of my mind.”
“Well, if it’s advice from me that you want, I suggest you forget a double wedding and have them do their own thing somewhere else.”
Maggie shrugged. “That advice might have been helpful five months ago, but now, it’s too late and I have to make this thing work, one way or the other.”
“Okay, then how can I help?” Sarah asked.
“Is there any way that you can talk to these two brides and see if you can get them closer in their selections? Right now, they are so far apart that it’s been difficult to hire outside vendors. Chelsea, Ciara and I have been stuck with creating all of these details ourselves. I honestly won’t be able to make both brides happy at this point.”
“Mom, it’s only six weeks away. How are we ever going to hire anyone at this point?”
“I don’t know, will you just try? If we can get them somewhat on the same page about even one thing, it would make my life so much easier.”
Sarah nodded. “I’ll see if I can get them to video with me. I’ll do what I can. By the way, I hate to make you worry about anything more, but have you seen the weather?”
Maggie shook her head. “No, why?”
“Well, of course, it’s still too early to predict, but there is a chance that a hurricane might hit the island.”
Panicked, Maggie asked, “What? When?”
“More than a week at least. I think we ought to think about preparations for a major storm. Even lots of wind and rain could cause damage.”
Maggie ran her hand through her thinning hair. If the cancer hadn’t take all her hair, her stress would finish the job. “I’ll talk to Paolo. He hasn’t mentioned a thing to me about it.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t want to worry you, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with preparing just in case. Trevor told me about it last night. He said his company is already getting ready by boarding up some of the properties that haven’t been occupied. They’re getting the word out now to those who are living in the gated community as well. I have to assume that Captiva and Sanibel are more vulnerable than Fort Myers, but I’m not sure.” Maggie had enough to worry about with the wedding, she couldn’t imagine what she’d do if the inn suffered too much damage.
“I’ll have to talk to Chelsea as well. If the storm does hit Captiva, I think we should board up her place and have her come stay with us.”
“Mom, what are you thinking? If the storm hits, you, Chelsea and all our friends need to leave the island days ahead of this thing. I don’t want you riding out the storm at the inn. It’s not safe.”
“Where would we go?” Maggie asked.
“Probably to the east coast. We’ll figure it out, but I can tell you that the weddings in December will be the least of your problems if the inn gets too much flooding. You have flood insurance, right?”
Maggie nodded. The thought of the island’s businesses under water frightened her. It wasn’t about the flood insurance that had Maggie worried, but the potential loss of life.
Sarah was right, they’d all need to leave the island to be safe. This would be Maggie’s first hurricane since moving to Captiva Island. She had no idea what it meant to get prepared, but she knew the one thing she’d do if the storm came ashore.
Rose Johnson Lane’s journals and all historical documents and books would need to be protected. Maggie decided to put aside wedding planning just long enough to get those items packed and ready to move off island. Whatever stayed behind required more than good packaging…they’d need prayers and a miracle.
CHAPTER 2
Lauren Phillips finished looking through her mail and then checked her watch once again. She’d called her grandmother several times this morning, but never reached her.
Her grandmother, Sarah Garrison, was an independent woman who didn’t take kindly to the constant hovering by her grandchildren which had become necessary of late.