Recap of Chapter 36: After she said “yes,” Penny and Matthew enjoyed sharing the news with friends and family. And, celebrating privately in the little apartment above the Lucky Penny.
Penny scanned the late afternoon crowd at Willow Creek, looking for Chloe. She finally spotted her outside at the far end of the enclosed seating area, shaded by an umbrella. With a smile, she wended through the tables in her direction. Penny took in the scene as she neared. Chloe was sitting on one of her feet, the other foot firmly planted on the chair, which bent her knee skyward. Chloe’s hands were flying on the keyboard of her propped up tablet, her turquoise reading glasses perched on her nose. Her new summer haircut—an asymmetrical bob with gold and brown highlights—bounced with her every movement. Every so often, she’d stretch sideways to jot something down. There was an unruly stack of magazines on the table, spilling onto the chair pulled close in and sideways for convenience. There was a partially full glass of wine on the table and a mini cheese plate with some crisp toast. It reminded Penny of the first time they met at EverBean when Chloe vowed to clear her reputation… and totally came through. Like that day, Chloe’s space and entire aura looked like organized chaos, armed and ready. Penny was grateful they’d come to an understanding about what went down with her dad, and they were on easy terms once again. She stood, silently watching for a couple minutes before Chloe looked up over her glasses.
“The dress picking was beyond fun, especially since Chloe’s enthusiasm was positively contagious.”
“There she is!” she exclaimed, beaming at Penny, who rushed forward to kiss her cheek. “I hope you don’t mind. I started without you.”
The waiter appeared, and Penny ordered a crisp glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
“So, what is all this?” Penny made a sweeping gesture with her arm. “It looks like you’re planning the invasion of a small country.”
“Oh, it’s just a few ideas I have for the wedding. It’s a thrill for us single ladies to go down the rabbit hole on projects like this. Indulge me. Here, let me show you these absolutely delicious floral arrangements. And, dresses—just you wait!” When the wine was brought to the table, they ordered summer salads with broiled salmon, tart pears, candied pecans, and feta. They sipped and snacked while oohing and aahing over the latest wedding fashion, decorations, venues and flower arrangements. It was when they landed on a page featuring barns and their décor that they saw the most drool-worthy flower chandelier, deciding that was number one on the list of wedding goals. Being grown-ups, rather than dewy-eyed young people fresh out of college, both Penny and Matthew wanted it to be a truly joyful celebration. They wanted a beautifully decorated, warmly toned party where everyone had a great time.
“Do you have an idea for the venue?” Chloe asked, digging through the pile for an earmarked 5280 magazine. “I saw some really great… ”
Penny put her hand over Chloe’s. “Actually, yes,” she said. “I just heard today from Matthew that we have the perfect venue. I couldn’t be more excited! You know that awesome property on 74 with all the rock walls? The mossy green property? Well, when I first met Matthew, that’s the property he was renovating. And, it’s where we had our first date and… well, let’s just say a lot of firsts.” She hated that a smirk curled her lips and there would be no way Chloe would not tease her about it.
Sure enough, Chloe feigned an innocent look. “What’s that you say? First what? I can’t imagine to what you’d be referring… ”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re funny. So, he checked with the owners, and it turns out they will be in Dubai for the entire month of September. Matthew made a trade with them so we can hold the wedding there—and have it to ourselves for the entire week—all the guest rooms. He’ll design and build their new wine cellar, and it will be ready for when they return. They’re so excited, they’ve been shipping wine bottles from wherever they travel. His biggest challenge is working around those crates. The wedding is set for the third week in September. And, I know the perfect spot for this flower chandelier.” She stabbed at the photo with her fingertip. “We’ll exchange our vows right there underneath all that wild, trailing happiness.”
The dress picking was beyond fun, especially since Chloe’s enthusiasm was positively contagious. The wine didn’t hurt either. They abandoned ordering by the glass and bought the bottle instead. They were on their third refill. “With your classically gorgeous figure, everything will look good on you, but I would suggest less frills and more classic tailoring to show off your many blessings.” She flipped through a Vogue to land on a specific, earmarked page. It wasn’t a wedding dress, but a tea-length flowered brocade cut to make the model look like something on a gourmet menu. This photo shoot looked as if the model picked a dress two sizes too small—her breasts pushed out from the top and the waist was tucked in so snugly that it looked like she couldn’t breathe.
“Oh, I don’t know about this one,” Penny objected. “I was thinking something more Grace Kelly and less… Jessica Rabbit.” They giggled helplessly at the image of Jessica Rabbit slithering down the aisle in a busting-at-the-seams flowered wedding dress. “I’m not bad—I’m just drawn this way,” they squealed, raising eyebrows. The waiter appeared, suggesting a sourdough bowl with homemade artichoke gorgonzola dip, saying that many patrons ordered it to pair with whole bottles of this specific wine. He said it with a discreet wink. Hint taken, they agreed, pouring the last of the bottle into their glasses. They were feeling like great progress had been made and the tone was set for a very fun wedding. It would be an intimate affair—50 guests max—in a beautiful setting where people could wander the grounds, enjoy the decorations and relish the splendor that Matthew worked so hard to renovate. The reception would be on site in the expansive living room or out on the grass. Music would play throughout the property, different moods pulsing through the play list. And, at the end of the night, sleepy on champagne and good food—catered by Penny’s restaurant, of course—they would fall into the giant master bed, and spend their first night as a married couple in the very place where their romance began. It was mapped out to be a storybook wedding and Penny couldn’t wait.
