Evelyn nodded.
“We’d pay you, of course,”Barry added.“I have no idea what the going rate is for an event organizer, but at this point, I’d pay you anything you ask.”
“Well, Evelyn is a whiz at planning parties and fundraisers. She’d do great planning your grand opening.”Donna bragged on her sister, though she still was surprised she’d offered.
“I could come by and see the hotel, see whatever you do have planned, and take it from there.”
“That would be great,”Barry’s face flooded with relief.“Really great.”
“Do you have many ideas about what you want?”Evelyn took a small notebook out of her purse.
Barry smiled sheepishly.“No…and I should have. Delbert wants a grand party. Open house style, but sending out invitations to local leaders, the mayor, chamber of commerce, some other people from surrounding areas. Really, whoever you think would come.”He laughed.
“Evelyn knows everyone. She’s great with exactly this kind of event. Well, not a hotel opening, but a big bash.”
Evelyn blushed.“Stop it, Donna. Though, I do have a bit of experience with parties.”
“You’ve thrown more parties and fundraisers than anyone I know.”
“I’m grateful you’ll take this on. Can you come by tomorrow morning and we’ll hammer out more details?”Barry laughed.“Or should I say I’ll let you hammer out more details. And I’ll get the budget from Delbert.”
“That works out fine. Say about ten tomorrow morning?”Evelyn took one more bite of her ice cream and slipped off the stool.“I’m going to go find the phone charger. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Donna was still a bit stunned as her sister walked away.
Her sister was planning this party. Like a real job. Getting paid for it. She shook her head. Something was going on with her. She just knew it. Her sister hadn’t held a job in her whole life. Never earned a penny. She’d gone directly from being daughter to wife without a single working life in between. And Darren had never wanted her to work. He wanted her there taking care of his every need. Planning his parties. Looking beautiful on his arm.
Barry handed her his empty malt glass.“That was great as usual. And it looks like your family is always providing just the person I need for my work.”
“I’m sure Evelyn will do a brilliant job for you.”
“Before I leave, I wanted to ask you something.”
He stood across the counter from her, looking a bit…was it nervous?
“I…I wanted to ask if you’d go on another date with me. I need to go into Sarasota for this Chamber of Commerce joint meeting. It’s people from the surrounding towns like Belle Island, Sanibel, Ft. Myers, Anna Maria Island. Kind of a mingle thing. Delbert offered up The Hamilton in Sarasota for the get-together. He thinks it would be a good idea to go and just get out the word about The Cabot Hotel reopening. I thought you might like to go…you could spread the word about Parker’s expansion, too.”
Her thoughts immediately went to wondering what to wear, then hopscotched over to realizing he was asking her on another date, then on to thinking that it wasn’t a bad idea to talk up Parker’s expansion.
He just stood there and she realized she hadn’t answered him.“Oh, when is it?”
He laughed.“Bet that’s a bit of crucial information. It’s next Saturday.”
“Yes, I could go. It probably is a good idea to get the word out about Parker’s expansion.”She blushed slightly at her awkward acceptance.“I mean, I’d like to go, thank you.”
“It’s going to be a fancy thing. Like suit and tie.”
She sighed in relief thinking of that pretty black dress Olivia and Heather insisted she get. That would be just perfect to wear.
“I better run. I’ll see you soon.”He turned and left the store, leaving her with a girlish excitement she hadn’t felt in a long time.
Olivia came up to the counter.“Mom, you okay? You look a little flushed.”
“What? No, I’m fine. Just a bit hot in here today.”She wasn’t ready to tell Olivia about her date. And she might even get dressed for this one all on her own. She smiled as she walked away to relieve Lydia at the cash register.
Chapter 16
Barry pulled into Donna’s driveway on Saturday evening. It seemed strange to even have the car out. He walked everywhere in Moonbeam these days and really enjoyed it.
