Captiva Ever After (Captiva Island Series #7)

“Yup. We’re having a girl.”

Chelsea joined the group, and hugged Grace.

“Hey Chelsea. I’m glad you’re here too. I’ve got a bit more to tell you both.”

Riley couldn’t keep the news to herself. “Let me tell them. Tropical Vegan is doing great and they have so many people working there, it practically runs itself. So, I asked Grace and Connor if they’d be willing to work with Iris and me to cook for the weddings.”

Grace put her arm on Maggie’s shoulder. “It’s the least Connor and I can do considering the support you gave us when we started our restaurant. Not many people know this but Paolo and Maggie helped us financially when we got married. We were so happy to see that the inn was still standing after the hurricane.”

Maggie wanted to cry. For weeks, she feared the weddings would never happen but now she was convinced her friends were creating a beautiful memory for her children.

“I’m bringing the waitstaff too, so don’t you worry about a thing.”

Maggie suddenly realized another problem.

“Wait, how are you going to pull this off? Did you see what the hurricane did to our garden? We’re lucky that Paolo has Sanibellia and is able to provide a lot of flowers and shrubs for us. He’s even got the Christmas Trees covered, but vegetables? We can’t do anything about that.”

Grace smiled. “Riley told me. Not to worry. We have options. Our garden wasn’t damaged so we can use lots of plants from there, but we also work with two other farms off-island. I’ve already called them to give them a heads-up on orders coming their way.”

“This really is too good to be true, Grace. Thanking you just doesn’t seem to be enough.”

Just then Crawford and Joshua joined the women inside.

“Maggie, I’m sorry to disturb you all, but Josh and I wanted to run something by you.”

“Hey, Ms. Moretti. I have a friend who has an entertainment company. He’s been trying to build up his clientele. He has DJs and bands that do weddings and wondered if he could meet with you and my dad to see if what he has to offer meets your needs. Dad told me that the DJ that you hired quit on you.”

“Unfortunately, that’s true. I asked your dad to look into finding us someone else because he knows so many people in the area. How many weddings has your friend done?”

“Only a couple, but I can give them your cell phone and they can give you their review. He’s in a band too, so you could have a live band if you want. His band is playing a wedding at the Sanibel Marriott this Saturday if you want to go hear him. I’m sure you can get a drink or something, you don’t have to crash the wedding.”

Maggie laughed, imagining her and Paolo crashing anyone’s party. “I’d love to go,” Chelsea said. “We should all go. Heaven knows every one of us needs to get out and have some fun.”

“I’m game,” Riley said.

“I bet Ciara would love to go,” Crawford added.

“Maybe you could give Sarah a call to see if she’d like to join us. Trevor can watch the kids.”

“This is suddenly starting to sound like a girls’ night out. Too bad Isabella isn’t here. She’d love this.”

“Isabella Barlowe?” Crawford asked.

“Yes. I didn’t know that you knew her,” Maggie answered.

“I don’t really. I know her husband, Sebastian. He sent his assistant into the store yesterday. He wanted to know if we sold jet skis or just rented them on the beach. He said that Sebastian and Isabella had returned to Captiva and the wife wanted to learn how to jet ski. I’m pretty sure we’re talking about the same people. They live out on North Captiva Island.”

Chelsea smiled. “Oh, this is too good. We’ve got to include Isabella.”

Maggie smiled at Joshua. “You tell your friend that we’re all going to drop by to hear his band. Please ask him to come out to the bar on his break and if we like what we hear, he’s got the job.”

“Will do…and thanks, Mrs. Moretti. You won’t regret it.”

Joshua went out the back door and Crawford shook Maggie’s hand. “Thank you for doing that. My son has a lot of wild ideas but once in a while he comes through. I best get back outside. We’ll catch up later.”

Crawford followed Joshua outside and Chelsea laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Maggie asked.