The Engagement Arrangement (Boots and Bouquets #2) - Jaci Burton Page 0,4
“And you’re the one who loves clothes.”
“Guilty,” Honor said. “And Brenna buys all the books and pretty bracelets.”
“Now that I think about it,” Brenna said, “without you two I could have had it all. The shoes, the clothes, the books, the bracelets—everything.”
“But you wouldn’t have had us,” Honor said. “And you’d have missed out on all our sisterly shenanigans.”
“Point taken.”
“All right, girls,” their mother said as she walked into the room, so used to the three of them bickering it rolled right off her. “Can we get started now?”
Agatha bounded out of the room, no doubt to bug Louise for treats or to go looking for their dad.
“Okay, to get things started,” Erin said after taking a seat, “I’ve sent out the invoices for last weekend’s super successful weddings.”
“With happy brides and grooms for both,” their mom said.
Honor smiled. “They were lovely weddings, weren’t they?”
“They were,” Erin said. “We did well on both of those. Also, I’ve made adjustments on a couple of budgets. The Harrison/Landell wedding on the twenty-seventh added thirty-six guests, and the Mathison/Blue wedding on November sixth wants ice sculptures and ten more cases of cabernet.”
“We’ll need more wine for Harrison/Landell,” Brenna said.
Honor nodded. “I think so.”
Brenna pulled up the order forms for the weddings on her laptop and added additional wines to make sure they stocked appropriately. “Got it.”
Mom always held the agenda, so she looked to Brenna next. “What have you got, Brenna?”
She didn’t need to read a report to give the information she needed to. “The vineyards are in good shape for harvest. All the grapes are strong. No diseases. Those in fermentation look amazing, and we’re bottling like crazy. The chardonnay is especially tasty. Our yields are going to be fantastic this year. Dad’s really happy with every stage.”
Mom smiled widely. “Yes, he’s especially pleased. It’s a good year for the grapes.”
“That’s great news,” Erin said. “I can’t wait for harvest.”
Harvest was always an especially fun time of year. “Me, too,” Brenna said.
“You’re up, Honor,” their mother said.
Honor opened up her notebook and slid her laptop in front of her. “Okay. I met with three couples last week and took them on a tour of the grounds, to include the reception barn and the vineyard. All three scheduled weddings.”
“That’s fantastic,” Brenna said.
“I know, right? Well, four weddings were scheduled, actually.”
Mom frowned. “Four?”
Erin grinned. “She means that Jason and I have set a date for our wedding.”
A loud chorus of excited cheers went up.
“When?” Mom asked.
“The Richmond/Lisbon wedding moved to next year, so I slipped into their October slot.”
Brenna blinked. “You mean October as in two-months-from-now October?”
Erin nodded. “Yes.”
Their mother just stared, openmouthed, with nothing to say.
“Holy shit.” Brenna opened the wedding schedule to check the slot. It was mid-October, which was actually less than two months away since they were already well into August. “Erin, are you insane?”
Erin shrugged. “We were going to plan it for next spring, but I was supposed to marry Owen in the spring and I don’t want a repeat of that disaster. Plus, Clay and Alice are getting married next May and I want to be able to focus on their wedding without mine getting in the way.”
Brenna waved her hand back and forth. “First, as if that disaster could ever happen again. Your relationship with Jason is solid. You two love each other. Second, you juggle like no one I’ve ever seen.”
“I know,” Erin said. “The idea of this wedding being like my . . . nonwedding is ridiculous. Still, it’s in my head and I don’t want it to be. And besides, if anyone can pull a wedding together in two months, it’s this family.”
“This is true,” Honor said. “I promised her we could do it. Obviously, we have the venue sewn up. And wine. And we have all the connections to prod and push the vendors to make sure we get everything else in line quickly.”
Erin nodded. “We’ve got this. It’s doable.”
Honor was already making furious notes. “I can handle this.”
“No, we will handle this,” Brenna said. “As a family. Whatever you need on the wedding side, Honor, we’ll all pitch in and help.”
Honor gave her a grateful look. “Thanks.”
Wow. Her sister was getting married. This year. Brenna did not see that coming. What a whirlwind this was going to be.
“Which just leaves me to get the dress,” Erin said. “Er, dresses, since there will be bridesmaids, of course.”
“A wedding in two months,” Brenna said. “Only this family would try to make that happen.”