This wasn’t the best time to be contemplating a move. In addition to the burden of the wedding, she still had to get through the holidays. But after talking to Jess, she couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that she needed to take charge of her life. Moving out could be the first step. Last night, she’d made a list of pros and cons, followed by a detailed budget. She’d looked up apartment listings, then called a broker to fast-track the process.
In theory, she could afford a place of her own. Though she’d depleted most of her bank account when she invested in Connor’s winery, she didn’t have any student loans to pay off. Nor did she owe anything on her credit cards or her Audi. If her father agreed to wipe out her debt, then she’d be able to start off clean. Even so, she’d have to live a far more basic lifestyle.
But wasn’t freedom worth it?
She wished she knew whether Rafael wanted an actual relationship. But if he was on board with giving her cooking lessons, he was clearly invested in spending more time with her.
For now, she was keeping everything under wraps. Rafael. The apartment search. The choice she needed to make between the comfort of home and the freedom of living on her own. Any decisions could wait untilaftershe pulled off the wedding of the year.
She parked in her space outside Blackwood Manor and pulled out her phone. Six texts from Missy and one from June in all caps:CALL ME.
Unlike Missy, June rarely resorted to all caps in her communication. Victoria hit call immediately. “June? Are you all right?”
“Yes. Well, no. It’s not life-threatening. I ate some of that damn holiday brittle in the break room and cracked a tooth. Now the filling has to be replaced.”
Victoria winced, imagining the discomfort. “That’s rough. Did you make a dentist appointment?”
“The only time he could see me was tomorrow at two. I hope that’s okay. I know you might need extra help, what with the big wedding on Saturday.”
Victoria got out of her car and locked the door behind her. She wished she had an excuse to stay outside and bask in the glorious weather, but duty called. “Better to get in the appointment before the holidays. Tomorrow’s Thursday, so I can manage on my own if you want to take the afternoon off. I just need you around on Friday for the rehearsal and the dinner. The only big hurdle before then is the tree-decorating party tonight.”
Unless Missy’s texts included another set of last-minute demands. But that wasn’t June’s problem.
“I don’t think I’ll be up for the party,” June said. “Is that all right?”
“No problem. We have seven or eight people coming, maybe more.”
She ended the call and headed toward the back entrance of Blackwood Manor, only to have her phone vibrate with another text from Missy. That made seven in the space of three hours. Rather than wade through them, she hit call. “Missy? It’s Victoria. I was in meetings all morning, so I didn’t have a chance to get back to you. What do you need?”
Missy gave a petulant humph. “This wedding should be your highest priority. It’s in three days.”
I’m aware of the schedule, thanks.“I understand. To speed things up, could you tell me what today’s crisis entails?”
“Why do you assume there’s a crisis? I’m just a bride doing her due diligence. I need a status update on the Christmas trees. Were they delivered yet? How do they look?”
As promised, the trucks from the tree farm had arrived at eight that morning. Victoria had enlisted the estate’s groundskeeper and his crew to set them into place and hang the lights. They’d been finishing up when she left for her first apartment viewing.
“Hang on,” she told Missy. “I’m heading over to the grand ballroom now.”
When she unlocked the door and stepped inside the spacious room, she was momentarily awestruck. Twenty Fraser firs ringed the perimeter of the ballroom, decked out in sparkling white lights. The effect was like standing amid a magical forest of evergreens. She could easily imagine a faun or a fairy princess making an appearance. The only thing lacking was snow.
“Ohhhh,” she murmured.
“Is that a good ‘oh’ or a bad ‘oh’?” Missy asked.
“It’s good. Very good. The trees look stunning, and they smell fantastic.” The heady scent of pine brought back fond memories of family hikes at Big Bear Lake.
“What about all the decorations? Did you get everything I asked for?”
Victoria located the giant pyramid of plastic bins, stashed in one corner of the ballroom. She’d ordered twenty silver and gold ornament sets from Balsam Hill, along with rolls of silver and gold mesh ribbons, shiny beaded garlands, and golden pinecone ornaments. The trees would be topped with custom-made stars designed by Christopher Radko.
“I think it’s all here.” A quick count revealed thirty bins, but she’d need to consult her notes to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. “Once I grab my binder, I can check everything off the list.”
“You’re going to decorate them, right? They have to lookidentical.”
Of course they did. The design sheet for the trees was in the binder, along with the rest of Missy’s instructions. “We’re decorating them tonight. Exactly as specified.” She decided to throw Missy a bone. “If you want to join us, the party starts at six.”
A lengthy pause followed, like Missy hadn’t expected Victoria to include her. “I…I’d like to. But I have plans. Two of my bridesmaids are arriving this afternoon, and we’re doing a girls’ night out.”
