Thursday

  Shelby (Jittery nearly meet-the-parents-er.)

  I was playing with Bella and watching the puppies when my phone rang, taking a much-needed stress break when I should have been putting the finishing touches on my display for the big bridal fair on Saturday. Tomorrow was our setup day. Everything except the final touches had to be ready by then. With the diversion of the puppies, I'd left a few too many things to the last minute.

  My friend, wedding cake baker Carly Karpenter, was calling. She and I were sharing a booth at the fair, a joint effort sort of thing, each of us showing off how our arts could be used together to create any kind of vibe a bride wanted. How my lettering showed off her cake creations and vice versa. Like staging a house, sometimes showing off a display of items in tandem drew a bigger crowd. Plus her mini cupcake samples always drew people over for a taste. More business for me.

  My contribution was giving away really cute die-cut wedding stickers that featured a cartoon version of one of her cakes and the words "better together" in my most popular bridal lettering. I had painted the little cartoon cake artwork myself, too.

  The stickers were super cute. When brides saw them, they wanted them. The stickers were great for the stainless-steel water bottles that were so popular now. My beautiful pearlescent white "Bride" bottles were the perfect vehicle for the stickers. Cross marketing, baby.

  I sold a nice line of high-end insulated stainless-steel wedding water bottles that, in this day of many more casual brides and weddings, were perfect favors for bridal parties or guests. Brides could order them in almost any color to match their wedding colors. I offered them in several sizes. I could customize them with the names of bridesmaids, the wedding date, or any cute bridal or wedding quote the couple wanted. They were a cute, practical wedding favor.

  About six two-inch die-cut stickers would fit around the bottles. Lately I'd had brides who had me make several custom stickers for the bachelorette party, the rehearsal dinner, the dress fitting, and wedding. They handed these out at each event for the guests to add to their bottles. It was great fun.

  "Hey."

  "Hey, right back at you," Carly said. "Any butterflies yet? This show is supposed to be huge. Like hugest of the huge. Bigger than anything we've ever done before. Make sure you bring plenty of stickers. Like everything you have and more.

  "Rumors are that the tickets sold out the minute they went up for sale. There's a waiting list a mile long. The venue is going to be at capacity. I'm guessing there will be scalpers hocking tickets out front like we're a big Broadway show. Won't that be something?"

  "Oh?" I'd been so busy with Bella and Dex and Gold Digger that I hadn't been paying attention to anything other than what I needed to get done. Wedding fairs like this one were frequently very popular and crowded, but this sounded over the top.

  Supposedly a big-name singer was coming to promo his new wedding/love song collection. Wedding songs can become clichéd and overused very quickly. Fresh meat, in song form, was always desirable. Every couple in love wanted their love celebrated with a song that was "uniquely theirs," the essence of their love.

  The fair promo was touting that Mr. Surprise Big Name would be debuting his next big love song at the fair. Ads claimed it was swoon-worthy and heart-melting. A song to launch a thousand weddings. Or more!

  Such hype. I was always skeptical about advertising hyperbole.

  Big Name Singer would be giving a concert at the main stage and signing panties. I mean, CDs. Who buys CDs anymore? Anyway…

  The musical guest's identity was top secret, even though I thought naming him might be smarter and make for a bigger draw. If he was really that popular.

  All bridal fair attendees would be automatically entered for a chance to win a fantastic bridal package that included Big Name Singer singing at their wedding. In person. The promo teasers were making a big deal of keeping his identity secret while at the same time dropping hints. The singer was a "he." That much was known. And he was probably a crooner.

  "Have they announced the surprise musical guest yet?" I asked.

  "No. But rumors say it was originally supposed to be Michael Bublé. Hence the record ticket sales. But he had to cancel at the last minute. Something about a sore throat. The organizers had to scramble to find a replacement."

  "Wow." I raised my eyebrows, enjoying the gossip. I was disappointed. I would have loved to hear Michael Bublé in person. "Any rumors on who the replacement is?"

  "No. But another rumor is that the Michael Bublé rumor is just that. That the act who is coming is the original and a real heartthrob. Totally the thing right now."

  "So, basically, the rumors know nothing."

  "I guess you could put it that way," Carly said. "But the main point is that the crowds will be enormous. I've been baking cupcakes until all I see now are sprinkles in front of my eyes. My arms ache from pulling heavy trays in and out of the oven. But I've got good muscles to show for it." Carly was always good-humored. I pictured her making a muscle.

  "That's the spirit," I said. "Don't worry. I'll bring everything I have. And I think, personally, the giveaway we have for our booth is every bit as excellent as a chance to win a mystery wedding singer appearance."

  "Yeah, I'm sure a dozen cupcakes and a bridal water bottle are going to do it."

  "And a complete sticker collection from this year's subscription boxes. Hey, I bet we capture more leads and names for our newsletter than we can handle." I was definitely optimistic. "I'm prepared to sweeten the pot with one of my cold-feet-themed subscription boxes if need be."

  "Sure. I'm positive that will go over great at a wedding fair."

  "What are you talking about?" I said. "The orders for my first box are through the roof. It's very classy and comforting. Helpful to people in that situation. More are than you'd think. I suppose some people are ordering them as a gag gift. But still…"

  "We have a good booth position in an aisle near the main stage," Carly said. "We'll have a steady stream of traffic no matter what we do. I know you're a cold feet expert, but I think we can skip the cold feet box for now."

  "Huh." I wasn't sure whether I'd been inadvertently insulted or not. Carly was too sweet to do it on purpose. "And here I was thinking you could add a cold feet cake. To both our display and our giveaway. Wouldn't that be cute? Especially if you make it in the actual shape of a pair of feet. Maybe frozen in a block of ice. Oh, and give it a bridal pedicure."

  Carly laughed. "I've already baked my fingers to the nibs. Don't add any more baking to my plate. Especially not sculpted cake. Do you know how much time that would take?"

  I could imagine. "I didn't say you had to bake the cake. This isn't a baking competition. Just frost a cardboard form—"

  "See you tomorrow, Shelby." Carly disconnected.

  This was going to be a career-making day. I was betting I could book an entire year out with just this one wedding fair. I had a die-cut sticker-making machine. Pumping out a few dozen more stickers shouldn't be much of a problem. I added it to my list of things to do.

  Chapter Five

  Love Is in the Air

  Shelby (Bridal fair displayer extraordinaire.)

  Saturday

  Today was going to be a long day. I'd be on my feet all day and then on the meet-the-parents-offensive all evening. I hadn't been away from the puppies for this many hours since they'd been born on Monday. Not even yesterday, when I'd spent most of the day at the convention center with Carly setting up our booth. It was true that the puppies mostly just slept and nursed, but I was still very protective of them. I worried over them. They were so tiny and vulnerable.

  Our booth was awesome, even without a cold feet cake. It was easy to get insecure when you saw all the other talented artists and vendors setting up and realized that as friendly as you may be with them, many of them were the actual competition. Fortunately, Carly was a true cake artisan. I was a top hand letterer. We were both bridal fair veterans and knew our stuff.

  We'd lucked into being situated between a popular florist and a well-known wedding photographer. We knew both of them. They weren't our competition. It was all good.

  When you sign up for booth space, you never know who your neighbors will be. Rather than have aisles and areas dedicated to one function—such as an aisle of nothing but caterers—the organizers tried to mix things up. They did a nice job of it, too. Part of the idea was to make attendees walk through the entire fair, rather than heading just to, say, dresses, if that was all they were interested in. Kind of like putting the bread at the back of the grocery store. It was an effective technique. Our booth should draw a lot of high-quality foot traffic.

  Booth display was everything. Like the cover of a book catches your attention, your booth display served the same function. Maybe you shouldn't judge a book by its cover or a bridal vendor by their booth, but people did. Fortunately, Carly and I had booth design down to both an art and a science.

  Since it was Saturday, Dex was staying with the puppies, which was a comfort. I was still a nervous puppy owner, afraid to leave them alone for long. Tomorrow a puppy-sitting specialist would watch them while Dex and I flew down and back to see my parents in a single day. I couldn't stand being away from the puppies a moment longer.

  It was going to be a long two days. Emotionally as well as physically.

  On Sunday, my parents were camping just outside Vegas. It shouldn't be too hard to surprise them. And boy, were they going to be surprised.

  But that was tomorrow. No time to dwell on that now.

  Carly was already at the booth when I arrived. When I work a bridal fair, I always dress like a guest at an elegant, classic daytime wedding—flowy pastel dress, soft hairstyle, classic makeup, low heels. If I didn't have to be on my feet all day, I would wear higher heels. But needs must.

  I had a couple of outfits just for this purpose. I called them my bridal fair uniforms. You don't want to throw the brides and their moms and friends out of the wedding fantasy. You want to engage them in it. Shatter the illusion of being at a fairytale wedding at your own peril, dear wedding vendor. Let them dream and think big. So, no jeans, no tights, and tennis shoes. Yeah, some people do have very casual weddings. But the people who get married in shorts weren't usually our target demographic.

  Carly was dressed in a forties-style dress and the most adorable frilly full white apron with the logo I had designed for her business embroidered across the breast. Looking pristine and clean, total food safety, no hairs in the cake, and like a professional baker was important for her image.

  Our booth was perfumed with the scent of wedding cake. An aroma that was nearly impossible to resist. Everything looked great. But Carly and I were perfectionists. We immediately got to work putting the final touches on. Carly had been up since the early hours baking the last of her cupcake samples. Everything had to be fresh.

  I integrated the new batch of stickers I'd brought with the display I already had, adjusted a stack of business cards, and went to work helping Carly put out tiny cupcakes. As we filled her tiered cupcake trays, it felt like we were in one of those cupcake wars shows. This was how it always was during the last-minute crunch.

  We were so engrossed that we were startled when the starting bell rang and the opening announcement came over the PA. I turned to Carly. "Let the games begin."

  The doors opened. The crowds flooded in. After that, it was utter and complete chaos. A steady stream of people. Cupcakes, stickers, and business cards flew out of the booth. Our giveaway signup, all digital this year, had a record number of entrants. I talked until my voice went hoarse.

  If I lost my voice, I couldn't be grilled by Dex's parents. Ha-ha! At least, I couldn't be expected to answer. Maybe a few hand gestures while I looked pitiful. I could handle that.

  I was hard at work when a familiar pair of faces showed up at the booth.

  "Your booth is lovely!" Kayla, Dex's pregnant cousin, and now my friend, glowed radiantly. For a pregnant woman, she looked almost too good. Kayla was beautiful. One of those women you would totally be jealous of if she weren't so nice.

  Dex's good friend and colleague, Ellie, was with her. Ellie, I must admit, I was a little jealous of. She was pretty and smart. And she'd known Dex since they were freshmen in college and been one of his best friends since. I didn't know her well. There hadn't been much time to get to know her. She and Dex spent a lot of time together. Which explained my unfounded jealousy. But human nature will be what it is.

  "Thanks!" I came around the booth and hugged Kayla. "Ellie." I hugged her too. "Are you two having fun?"

  "We're having a blast," Kayla said. "Jus and I eloped. I didn't know wedding fairs could be so much fun. We've seen some interesting people." She raised an eyebrow and cast a sidelong glance at Ellie.

  "And some familiar faces," Ellie added.

  "That happens," I said. "Especially when you're of the marrying age. I have yet to go to a fair where I don't see someone I know outside of the industry."

  "There's so much to see," Kayla said. "It's overwhelming. So much talent. So many options. I'm glad I'm not a bride having to make choices."

  "It can be overwhelming. But it's great to have options, right?" I turned to Ellie. "Dex showed me your save-the-date card. So exciting that you've booked a venue and set a date."

  "Thanks. Booking the venue was an adventure. The nearest date we could get is two years out. But the venue is to die for. Worth the wait. That's what I tell Christopher. He's eager to get married sooner. But good things are worth waiting for."

  I have met a lot of brides. I mean, a ton. I'm a pretty good judge of intent and excitement, and whether the couple is right for each other. I'm also the cold feet expert, having ditched four fiancés myself. And what I could see, despite Ellie's very clever and competent acting skills, was that here was a woman in no hurry to marry. Not Christopher, anyway. She seemed overly exuberant and too defensive of him. The lady doth protest too much. A clear indication she was only lukewarm. Making the safe choice.

  Part of me really wondered whether I should send her a cold feet box. Anonymously, of course.

  "Two years out gives people plenty of time to put the date on their calendars and keep it clear." I tried to sound light and encouraging, not snarky. Which was hard, given the content of what I was saying. Sending out save-the-date cards two years early would have to be categorized as extreme wedding planning.

  Ellie laughed. "Don't dance around it for my sake. I'm fully aware that giving out save-the-date cards two years in advance isn't done. It's overkill. That was just for Dex's sake. I only made the one card just for him. To prove a point and show him Christopher and I are serious. Everyone else will get their cards at the appropriate time."

  I nodded. "You're one of his prankster friends."

  "Not pranking," Ellie said. "Just teasing."

  "You haven't met my aunt and uncle, Dex's parents, yet have you, Shelby?" Kayla asked.

  "No." I shook my head. I was surprised that Dex hadn't told her. I had thought about calling Kayla and asking her advice on meeting them, but I'd decided against it. "They came back to town suddenly. I'm meeting them tonight."

  Ellie and Kayla exchanged a look.

  "My aunt and uncle are great fun. Nothing to worry about," Kayla said. "You'll love them."

  "I'm sure I will."

  Carly came up next to me, interrupting any further discussion about Dex's parents. I introduced Carly and gave her a great plug. When Ellie tasted one of Carly's cupcakes, her eyes rolled heavenward with pleasure. While we talked cake and stickers, a crowd surged past us in our aisle and began forming in front of the stage.

  Jostled one too many times, Ellie finally nodded toward it. "It looks like we missed our opportunity to get a seat," she said to Kayla.

  The seats and the pit in front of the stage were packed full. The crowds were spilling over, filling the aisles, including ours.

  "Do you think anyone would give up their seat for a pregnant woman?" Kayla winked. "I could play it up." She put her hands around her pregnant belly.

  "Don't worry about the crowds," I said. "You can hang out in our booth with me. We have plenty of room."

  "Absolutely. Come on in." Carly waved them in. "And we have plenty of snacks, too. Who else will have cake with their love songs?"

  Ellie and Kayla hesitated.

  Carly pulled a chair out for Kayla. "Sit. Please."

  Kayla graciously took the seat. "Any idea who the mystery guest is?"

  "None at all." I glanced at my watch. Concert time was only a few minutes away. As I spoke, the lights flashed, warning that the concert was about to start. I leaned up against the edge of the booth. "They've certainly done a good job keeping the secret."

  Carly handed Ellie and Kayla each a paper cup of coffee and moved a tray of cupcakes and bridal mints and nuts near them.

  I crossed my arms and readied myself for this "hit" love song.

  The entire conference center ballroom went silent. People froze in place. Our line at the booth disappeared, merging into the aisle jammed with concertgoers.

  An emcee walked onstage. "Ladies and gentlemen, brides, future brides, mothers of the brides, bridal parties, and honored guests, today we have a special treat, the debut of what will surely be the next love song to become a classic. The man with the golden voice. I won't hold you in suspense any longer." He extended his arm to welcome the singer. "I give you, Wellston!"

  A well-built guy in an expensive suit took the stage. Commanded the stage.

  The emcee began clapping.

  The female audience went crazy with applause, fanning themselves, jostling and struggling to get a glimpse of this love-song-singing god. I swore someone even snapped him a pair of bridal panties. And he hadn't uttered a word yet. They landed at his feet, where he ignored them like flying thongs were an everyday occurrence.

  As he put the mic to his lips, a golden signet ring on his pinky finger caught the light.