“How did that go?”
“Really well. She hasn’t changed a bit. I love that she and Logan are still together. They were always so cute.”
“They still are,” she says.
“I need to thank you, Keatyn. For being so kind to me when I haven’t talked to you for so long. For asking me to plan your wedding. For inviting me up here to relax. I really appreciate it.”
She smiles and touches my arm. “I’m glad you’re back in my life, Ariela. And I’m excited to have you help with my wedding. So, what do you want to see first?”
“Why don’t you just give me the grand tour, as you picture it in your head. Pretend I’m a wedding guest who has just arrived. Where will I park? What path will I take to the ceremony? What will I sit on? What will I see?”
“Oh, gosh, that’s a lot of questions. Okay, so over here, to the south of the house is a lot of grass. We can park cars there, or we can have them park down the hill at the winery and shuttle them up. Although, there’s a wedding taking place on the grounds there, so that might complicate things.”
“Let’s have them park here then. What else?”
“I want to do our vows right before the sun sets. I’d like the guests to feel welcome and relaxed right away. I was thinking of giving them spiked lemonade somewhere between here and the ceremony.”
“Why spiked lemonade?” I ask.
“It’s what I always drank at my grandparents’ ranch in Texas. And, now, they have been coming up here a lot, so we sit on the porch most nights and drink it.”
“I love that. Those are the kind of things that make a wedding personal. We’ll be sure to put a sign on it that says it’s Grandma’s recipe.”
“From there, they will walk—hmmm, this is all grass, and that’s not great if you’re in heels. I should probably have a path put in, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I do. Okay, so we’re walking along the side of your house to your backyard. Oh, wow,” I say, seeing it for the first time. “I can see why you want to get married here. It’s spectacular.” And it is. There’s a gorgeous rectangular pool, set in an expansive stone and brick patio. The landscaping is lush but minimal which is good. With the rolling hills surrounding us and the view of the ocean, you don’t need much.
“Thank you. We love it and the land means so much to us.”
“I saw in the movie how you bought it for him when you thought you weren’t going to survive things with the stalker. You two have an epic love story. We want your wedding to highlight that.”
“That’s why I want the ceremony here. Aiden has wood left over from the barn that he wants to build an altar with. And while I think wood is pretty, I don’t want the wedding to be too rustic. I want some glamour. Lots of flowers, maybe a chandelier. I was also thinking instead of just renting chairs, it would be cool to bring in furniture. Like you raided your grandma’s attic, only classy.”
“Sort of a rustic, shabby chic vibe?”
“Yes, but not too shabby,” she says with a laugh. “And not too rustic.”
“So, rustic, elegant, shabby chic?”
“Yes! That’s exactly what I want.”
“I have a photo of an altar that is so gorgeous and I’ve been saving it for the right setting. It’s draped with silk, held in place with flowers, and has a huge chandelier hanging in the center. It’s elegant, but soft. I have a picture of it on my phone. Hang on. Let me find it.”
I scroll through my photos, find it, and show it to her.
“Oh, Ariela,” she screeches. “It’s perfect! I love it! And those flowers are the pale pastel colors I want to use. Maybe just add some feathers?”
“We can definitely add feathers. And here’s a photo of mismatched pastel furniture. Is that close to what you’re thinking?”
“Yes. It’s like you’ve been saving all these pictures just for me,” she says. She stops and looks at me. “Maybe you have been. It’s weird, isn’t it? It’s been so long but, in some ways, it’s like nothing has changed. I don’t know what will happen with you and Riley, but don’t disappear from my life again, okay?”
Tears prickle my eyes. “I won’t,” I say as she keeps going.
“We’d also like twinkle lights, pretty much everywhere. And ribbons hanging from all the trees. So, I guess cocktail hour would be up next. I was thinking maybe around the pool and in the attached courtyard. Do you think that would work?”
“When you built all this, were you planning to hold your wedding here?” I laugh, taking it all in. “This brick courtyard is an amazing space.”
“The thought may have crossed my mind,” she giggles. “But we also wanted to have big parties and fundraisers here. Since the vineyard’s grounds are booked for so many events, we wanted a place to have our own. And, we keep adding on. It’s sort of our own private oasis.”