Major sneaked one last glance through the small, cross-shaped window in the door at the back of the sanctuary. Meredith stood in profile to him, looking at her cousin with such emotion, Major wanted to charge up there and beg Pastor Kinnard to make it a double wedding.
But Major hadn’t missed the sight of Ward Breaux greeting Meredith in this very foyer before the ceremony. Major had had his doubts about how serious Meredith was getting with the contractor, but wasn’t inviting someone to a wedding a sure sign that things were going beyond the “seeing each other” stage? He backed away from the door, needing to get to Lafitte’s Landing to finish setup—and needing to get away from Meredith.
He shrugged out of his suit coat and removed his tie and tossed them in the passenger seat. He grabbed his phone and quick-dialed Steven.
“Anything I need to pick up on my way back?” he asked his second-in-command.
“No, Chef. But you are on your way back?” Steven’s harried tone set off warning bells for Major.
“Yeah. I’m headed that way now.”
Ten minutes later, he pulled into the narrow service lot behind Lafitte’s. Once inside, he changed into his utilitarian work smock. He’d put his presentation jacket on after the cooking was finished and when he would step out of the kitchen to watch his friend and colleague cut her wedding cake—which his staff had picked up from Aunt Maggie’s house that morning along with the chocolate groom’s cake frosted and decorated to resemble George’s omnipresent PDA.
“Why hasn’t plating started yet?” Major called over the din of work in the large kitchen. He walked over to Steven, the only one from whom he expected an answer.
“The trays all had to be rewashed, Chef. They’re drying them now.” Major glanced at his watch, then looked around, knowing he’d drawn everyone’s attention upon his entrance. “The wedding ceremony will end in less than ten minutes, which means we can expect guests to start arriving in about twenty to thirty. I want cold hors d’oeuvres and canapés on the buffet tables in no more than fifteen minutes; passed hot hors d’oeuvres ready for the servers in twenty.”
“Yes, Chef,” his staff called.
“This is Anne Hawthorne’s wedding reception, folks. I know most of you weren’t working here when she was the event planner for B-G, but you do know how much business she brings the company—and that she’s Mr. and Mrs. Guidry’s niece. So let’s make this perfect beyond her expectations.”
“Yes, Chef!”
He slipped into the staff break room off the kitchen and changed shirts, then plugged in the earpiece that connected him with everything happening outside the kitchen.
“Lori, this is Major. I’m back. How’s everything front-side?”
“Fine. Two of my staff showed up late, so we got off to a later start than I wanted, but everything’s fine now.”
“Good. First guests should be here in about fifteen. Did you and Jana brief the servers?”
“We did. No one is to approach Mr. Ballantine any differently than any other guest—no asking for autographs and stuff like that.”
“Okay, thanks.” He released the Talk button and returned to the kitchen.
Could it really have been nine months since Major had prepared the food for mega–movie star—and Anne’s one-time fiancé—Cliff Ballantine’s engagement party in this very kitchen? Ironic that Anne would have chosen to have her wedding reception in the place where she learned George had been keeping Cliff ’s identity secret from her for weeks.
“Chef, taste,” called one of the cooks. He crossed to the station and tasted the cheese grits.
“Needs more pepper.” Major tossed his spoon into the sink and went to the meat station. “How’s the prime rib coming?”
“It’ll be perfect just in time to set up the carving posts.”
Major ran down the list at each station, pleased that everything had been timed just right.
“Chef,” came Lori’s voice through the earpiece, “guests are arriving.”
He pressed the Talk button. “Thanks.” He clanged a ladle against an empty metal bowl. “Cold trays out now. Hot trays in five.” He spoke into the earpiece again. “Jana, send in the servers, please.”
Meredith managed to make it through the ceremony with only a couple of tears escaping—sighing over George’s British accent as he recited his vows, giggling with Jenn when the kiss lasted a little too long.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. George Laurence.” The pastor’s voice was nearly drowned out by the applause from the wedding guests.
Meredith handed Anne’s bouquet back to her, leaned over to adjust Anne’s train, then took Henry Laurence’s arm to be escorted to the vestibule behind Anne and George. She hugged her cousin and new cousin-in-law as soon as they reached the foyer. Inside the auditorium, the pastor invited everyone to stay while photos were being taken.
Meredith groaned.
“I know—you hate the idea of people watching you while we’re taking pictures,” Anne said. “But it was either that or a receiving line, since most of these people aren’t invited to the reception.”
“I guess feeling like a monkey in the zoo is a little better than standing there for two hours—and then still having to get my picture taken.” She followed Anne down the side hall to reenter the sanctuary near the front.
For all that everyone had been invited to stay, not many did. Meredith smiled at Ward as warmly as she could when he joined them at the front, while Anne and the photographer discussed the best way to get the shots Anne wanted.
“You looked stunning up there—like a princess.” Ward pulled Meredith into a hug.
She sighed, disappointed that Major had never hugged her like this. “Thanks.”
When she stepped back from his embrace, she caught a glimpse of her sister hovering nearby. Meredith looked around for Henry Laurence—ah, he and George were deep in a private discussion.
“Ward, I don’t believe you’ve met my sister yet.” She introduced Jenn. Was it her imagination or did his gaze linger, his handshake last just a little longer than necessary when he greeted Jenn? Well, even if it had, it wouldn’t matter. Jenn had had eyes for no one but Henry from the moment George’s youngest brother set foot off the plane.
With Anne’s guidance, the photos were finished in short order.
Meredith, Jenn, Forbes, and Henry climbed into the first of the two limousines waiting outside the church. Forbes and Henry sat toward the middle of the stretch vehicle, while Meredith and Jenn—not wanting to trip on and possibly damage their skirts—sat in the back.
“You never told me Ward is so good-looking,” Jenn whispered, stealing a glance at Henry to ensure he and Forbes were still in deep discussion about the differences between practicing law in the States and in Australia.
“Didn’t I?” Meredith closed her eyes against the inevitable. She’d seen the glaze overtake Ward’s eyes when she introduced him to Jenn.
“And if you two aren’t dating, as you keep protesting, remind me why you asked him to be your date for the wedding.”
“Anne told me I should. And yes, we were sort of dating.”
“Meredith! You denied it all this time? After all this time you finally get a boyfriend, and you pretend like it’s nothing—what do you mean you were dating?”
“I mean I’m going to tell him that I don’t think things are going to work out between us.”
“Are you crazy?” Jenn smiled at Forbes and Henry when they looked over at her shouted question. She leaned closer and lowered her voice. “Are you crazy? He’s gorgeous.”
Would it do any good to try to explain? “Yes, he is very handsome. And he’s a wonderfully charming guy. But after seeing him for almost two months, I don’t feel anything for him but friendship.”
“Try.”
Meredith groaned in frustration. “I have tried. I’ve prayed, begging God to let me stop being in love with—” She clapped both hands over her mouth.