Starting over Chapter 23

Chapter twenty three

It was the day before New Year’s eve and Meg was sitting at her desk working. Everything was set for the masquerade, well she had to rearrange a few things because her friends that were coming from Europe had been snowed in and they weren’t coming until a few days into the new year. She had just replied to the e-mail when the doorbell rang. She got up and opened the door and found Gaby there in tears “Gaby, what’s happened? Come on in” she stepped aside and led her over to the sofa. She poured them both some water and sat down next to Gaby “Now tell me what’s happened, is something wrong with Ricardo?” Gaby shook her head “No” she took a deep unsteady breath. “Here, take a sip” Meg handed her one of the glasses “Take a deep breath and tell me, it can’t be that bad” Meg smiled. Gaby gathered herself “It’s the wedding, it’s off” she said “What?” Meg exclaimed “The wedding planner took our deposit and just left and now I’m sitting here my wedding day 3 weeks away and I don’t have anything but my dress” Meg took her hands “Let’s talk about this calmly” she got up and took a notepad and a pen. She decided to try and lively the situation up a bit so she wrote down and read out loud “Gaby; check, Ricardo; check, wedding dress; check” and it made Gaby laugh “See I knew it wasn’t so bad. Now what was planned” Gaby shook her head “I don’t know so much as the planner had done most of the work, not to mention she had most of our wedding fund too so I’m on a tight budget now” “Where had you planned on having the ceremony?” Meg asked “Well… we both wanted the little chapel where Ricardo’s brother is the priest, but Lulu” she rolled her eyes “Isn’t the name screaming warnings?” she asked Meg “Anyways, she suggested we’d have it at this big fancy place where the reception was to be as well. Of course Antonio was disappointed” Meg looked at her “I’m sure he was, but I’m also sure there will be no problem getting him to marry you, I don’t think he’d have any other plans that day anyway” “Well Ricardo was going to go talk to him” “See, that’s one more thing on the list that we probably can tick off, and the reception you can have at the hotel” she wrote down ‘The chapel’ and ‘Reception’ “Is Ricardo working later on today?” Meg asked “No, it’s his day off” Gaby answered “Then why don’t the two of you come here late afternoon, let’s say around 4. We’ll sit down and sort it all out. I will bring some menus from the hotel and we’ll figure out a price that will suit your new budget” Meg suggested “Let’s top it all off with you both having dinner with me and Ben tonight?” “Oh Meg, you’re such a great friend” she smiled “Will you have time for this, I mean you’ve got your own wedding to plan” Gaby said “My own wedding Gaby, is in September… yours on the other hand is in three weeks” Gaby got up and hugged Meg “Thank you Meg” “I’m happy I can help” they walked towards the door “But Meg, you’ve got the big masquerade tomorrow, are you sure you’ve got time for us tonight?” Meg laughed “I wouldn’t have told you if I hadn’t had time. I will fix with what I need at the hotel now, send a few e-mails. My friends from Europe that will work here a bit are coming in a few days and let them know we’ve got this wedding to plan and see if they’ve got suggestions for the menu. And when we meet up this afternoon we’ll have much more to work with” she opened the door “Now go find Ricardo, sit down and write what you want to happen on your big day” Gaby hugged her once more “Again Meg, thank you so much” When Gaby was gone Meg got ready to get to the office.

Meg made her famous chicken casserole for dinner, and even though Ben hadn’t arrived home from his meetings Meg sat down with Gaby and Ricardo to eat when they arrived. After clearing off the table Meg started the coffee machine and they sat down to go on with the planning “So Ricardo, how did it go with Antonio?” Meg asked “It went well. The chapel is free and Antonio is thrilled to marry us” “What time will the ceremony be?” she asked and looked at them both. Gaby looked at Ricardo “Three pm?” she suggested “That sounds ok to me” he answered. “So is there any possibilities for you to maybe e-mail all your guests to let them know about the changes” Meg said “I hope your original invitations went out as they were supposed to?” Gaby nodded “Yes they did, but that was the only thing that went well” They went on with the plans and it wasn’t until it was dark Ben got home “I’m home” he called when he got inside “Who’s car is it on the driveway?” then he saw Ricardo and Gaby “Hi you two, I didn’t know we were supposed to have guests tonight. I would have hurried myself” Meg got up and greeted him with a kiss “I’ve tried reaching you, but I only got the voicemail on your cell phone” Ben raised an eyebrow “Forgot to charge it, the battery went out on the way this morning” “Anyways it’s nice to see the two of you” he sat down at the table and looked at the papers in different piles “What’s this?” “Our wedding, the one your fiancée so nicely have saved for us today” Gaby said. “Oh” Ben said surprised “Now you have to tell” and Ben was told the story and then he looked at Ricardo “That Lulu, didn’t you check her thru the system at the station?” Ricardo raised his eyebrows “I was baffled, she was a really good talker and everything sounded so great that I never went thru with it” “Well, it seems like you have made great progress here with Meg” he looked at all the different piles of paper. “Yes we have” Gaby gathered some of them and got ready to go home “I guess I’ve got a few things that I need to do tonight and tomorrow” Meg helped her “Yeah, but the most important is that you e-mail and or call the guests and let them know about the changes and then we’ll meet up in the next week and look thru some menus” she turned to Ricardo “Let me know when you both got a day or at least the evening off” “We will” he reassured her “Thanks again Meg, you’re a life saver” Meg smiled “Not really, I like to help my friends though” Ben closed the door behind them and turned to Meg “You’re giving Casey a run for his job” he grinned “Saving lives have always been his job” Meg gathered the coffee mugs “Well I guess this is a different way of life-saving” Meg stood at the sink rising the cups and plates before she put them in the dishwasher. Ben came up behind her hand put his hands around her waist “What do you say about making it an early night?” he nuzzled her neck. Meg turned around and put her arms around her neck “I’d love to, but I’ve got a tons of things to do” Ben continued his seduction “Ben Evans, don’t you start anything” she finally gave in to his kisses and was swept off her feet and carried up the stairs to their bedroom.
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