Vow of Surrender

Chapter Two

Outside the event center, Caedance led the three clients around the side and down a cobblestone path to one of the venues. Starlight Events was built on a three-hundred acre property, and Caedance took advantage of that. She had four venues built around the main office as well as a few indoors, each with a different purpose and theme in mind.

The first one they came across was on the grass leading toward a wooden platform surrounded by an arch made of twisting tree branches. White lights strung from the arch and toward the trees in the back where the guests would sit.

"This is our first venue," she explained. "I call it 'Under the Stars.' It's our most popular summer spot, and you have the option of changing the color of lights as well as the style of the chairs."

"Mamma, it's gorgeous!" Nina said. "I can already picture everything!"

"So quick? We haven't seen the other venues yet!"

Caedance chuckled. "She isn't the first bride to have that reaction. However, I must point out your wedding will be in September. Early Fall, yes, but you never know how the weather might be."

"Right," Nina agreed, "It might be too cold then. Unless we have it earlier in the day?"

"And freeze our asses off?" Adam threw in. "Thanks, but I'll be watching the wedding from inside."

Winona smacked her son's arm, and Caedance hid a smile. That smack had been hard, and he barely flinched. He'd be a tough one to tame.

She groaned internally. No, she needed to stop these intrusive thoughts.

"Let's head to the next one, shall we?"

"Good idea!" Nina said. "but i'm sure I'll love them all and be unable to choose."

The four of them contiued from one venue to the next. After they'd seen them all, Caedance took them to the decoration hall as she liked to call it. There, the bride could see what she had and begin choosing flowers, place settings, and anything else she may want.

This was the part where Caedance usually stepped away so she wouldn't hover. The room did overwhelm most upon entry, so she gave them privacy to look at everything. She stepped outside to smoke a cigarette when she noticed the mailman had arrived.

"Hey, Pete!"

He turned around and smiled. Pete Jones had been her mailman for as long as she'd been in business. If he ever didn't show and someone else came in his place, she made sure to call to make sure he was alright. At sixty-five, he was close to retiring. She didn't look forward to that day.

"Well, well. If it ain't the boss lady herself."

"You know I was standing here waiting for you." She put out the cigarette and disposed of it before approaching him. "Please tell me Derrick put the invitations in there."

"Well, let's see." He opened the box and took out a stack of envelopes. "James and Laura?"

"Wonderful I was stressing for a moment there."

"Oh, you know Derrick always pulls through." He handed her a small stack of mail. "Take care now, you hear?"

"You as well!"

Caedance sifted through the envelopes to see what she had. Mostly bills and one thank you card from a previous client.

When she went inside, she stopped in her tracks when she found Adam in the entryway staring at one of the paintings on the wall. She watched him for a bit, admiring the way his sleek hair brushed the collar of his shirt. The way he stood with his head slightly cocked to the side. His shoulders were slightly forward instead of back.