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“What happens if they didn’t get the license?”
“Don’t jinx it, Maddie.” I covered my ears. “I have no freaking clue what I’ll do. The courthouse isn’t open on Saturdays. Let’s just think positive thoughts that the bride and groom did what they were supposed to do.” My stomach twisted with worry because I’ve never not had everything marked off the day before the wedding. Everything was accounted for, and the fact that I missed line number thirty-eight was already starting to eat at me.
“You’re right. It will be fine. I’m sure they got everything they needed to.”
“Yes.” Neither one of us sounded certain. In my mind, I was already hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.
Everything was ready for the Ridgeway wedding tomorrow. When I checked things off, matching up receipts with the ledger, it was all accounted for. Their wedding was going to be magical, a winter wonderland complete with indoor snow and twinkling lights. I loved the setup for their romantic winter inspired wedding. The bride had chosen well, and I couldn’t wait to see the happy couple’s reaction tomorrow afternoon when they saw the church and reception hall for the first time that I had set up, with the help of Maddie and my mom.
“Hey,” I said, looking up from the paperwork, “I just want you to know I appreciate everything you’ve done to help with both weddings tomorrow. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“If you want to work with me full time, we can make that happen.”
I broached the subject tentatively with Maddie, unsure how she would feel about it. She’d gone to cosmetology school right after graduating high school. When I first started planning weddings, I let the brides pick whoever they wanted to do hair and makeup for the bridal party, but after she graduated with her license, we drew up a contract that gave her, as well as the brides, a fair price to use her services. It worked out well for both of us. Maddie always ended up helping me with decorating as well, so I floated her money on the side. If she wanted to go all in with me, I’d make it happen.
“I’m good where I’m at right now, Ev. I like working at the salon and helping out when you have weddings that use my services. Plus, you’d get sick of seeing me day in and day out if we both worked and lived together.”
I laughed because it was true. While we were best friends, we were also sisters who have had our fair share of fights and arguments over the years. “Well, if you change your mind, let me know. We’ll make it work.”
It was almost four o’clock when we picked up everything from the kitchen table and put it on my desk in the downstairs office that used to be a bedroom. Mom and Dad had given me the room to use as a work from home office a few years ago, and I loved it. If I didn’t have clients or meetings, I worked in my pajamas with my hair in a messy bun and a giant cup of coffee inevitably in my hand.
“I’ve got four hours before I have to get up and get moving. Don’t forget to be at the church at eleven. You’ll start with hair and makeup as soon as the brunch is over.”
“I know, Ev. Go get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be crazy busy.”
We walked up the stairs together and went to our separate rooms. “Love ya, Sis,” I said as I opened my door. I heard her say love you too, before her door shut. I dragged myself to bed, exhaustion weighing my body down, but my mind was going crazy with details for the next day and what fires I’d have to put out come morning light. There were always fires to put out. Most were small and inconvenient, but sometimes you would get the ones that were a pain in the ass and seemed like they would never go away.
I had a feeling that damn missing marriage license was going to cause me hell, come tomorrow morning.
* * *
I was right. After a sleepless, stress-filled night, my worries were confirmed.
“Fuck.”
I hung up the phone and mentally kicked myself for not checking with them sooner about picking up the license. They’d completely forgotten about it, and the courthouse was closed on Saturdays. I tapped the phone to my chin and tried to think about who might be able to get me access in the clerk’s office.
“Dammit.”
I threw the phone on my bed, so I could start getting ready for the day. There was a lot to be done, and this was a clusterfuck I didn’t need on a day that I had two weddings to pull off. I grabbed my elf costume, since I’d be handing out presents with Santa at the Ridgeway wedding, and started dressing as fast as I could. Being an elf today was ironic since I was going to need a little Christmas magic to pull this off.
With the courthouse being closed on the weekends, I could only come up with two people who might be able to help me with what I needed. One was Penelope Harris, my high school nemesis. Someone I still struggled to avoid all of these years later, if possible. I had no desire to call her, and even if I did, the chances of her helping me out were slim to none. Penelope and I had gone to school together from the time we were in kindergarten. She stole a toy from me and that sparked a deep conflict that just exploded over the years.
I grabbed my phone and dialed the only person I could think of besides Penelope that might have been able to help. My brother Noah’s best friend, Kevin, who happened to be a bailiff at the county courthouse. I scrolled to his name and hit the call dial button, praying he could make this happen for me.
“Hey Evie, what’s going on?”
He sounded like he was still asleep, and I cringed, looking at the clock. It was only eight in the morning. “Sorry for calling you so early on a Saturday, but I need your help.”
“Hold on.” I waited while I heard him talking to his wife, Charity, in the background, and then there was a rustling of what I assumed were covers as it sounded like he was getting up.
“What can I do for you, Kiddo?”
“I’ve got a wedding tonight at six, and the couple forgot to pick up their marriage license. I need someone to get me into the courthouse this morning. Who do you know that could possibly help me?”
“Judge Marlow is out of town for the holidays. The only other person that can get you into the clerk’s office is your best friend, Penelope,” Kevin laughed, knowing my history with our town clerk.
