Orange Blossom Brides Read Online Free Page B

“What a stroke of luck that you know the curator of the vintage collection. I’m sure you can’t wait to see the how they look.”
    Actually, wedding dresses weren’t high on her priority list at that moment in time. Hard to get excited when she’d been dumped the night before her wedding, not to mention that she wasn’t even dating at the moment.
    Mrs. R. jabbered on. “They will be exhibited here all spring and summer. We were so fortunate to get vintage gowns from the private collection of Renata Ogilvy. What a boost for the society. Your mother pulled out the stops this year.”
    “Yes, she did,” Lilli agreed, more overwhelmed than impressed. But then, her mother often rubbed elbows with high-profile people like Renata, a retired fashion designer who had set the New York fashion scene on fire during her heyday.
    Even though her mother knew the designer, Lilli had a connection to the curator, Gabrielle, an old friend from college. When her mother first thought up the wedding show, she’d batted around some ideas with Lilli. Since Lilli kept in touch with Gab and knew she worked for Renata, she offered to get in touch. After a few calls, Lilli got the go-ahead to showcase priceless vintage gowns, Renata’s own along with other famous designers’, from Renata’s private collection. She’d thought that would be the end of her involvement with the benefit. Until her mother had left town.
    “Oh, before I forget.” Mrs. R. thrust a full-to-overflowing accordion folder at Lilli, who barely caught it, glossy photos spilling onto the already messy desk. As she gathered them together, a flurry of lace and satin bridal designs dredged up an interest she refused to acknowledge. “Keep the file so you can give it a look-see. You’ll need the pictures when you write up the fashion show fliers and program.”
    “When I what?”
    “Your mother didn’t get that far before she left on her emergency, so you’ll have to do it. It’s all right there on the list.” The older woman tapped the paper she’d clipped to the side of the file. “You already do that for your day job, don’t you?”
    She nodded. Lilli did media research on products and wrote up reports, sometimes put together descriptive brochures or information booklets for clients and worked to find ways to best promote her clients. Besides being involved through her contact with Gab and the designer gowns, she’d done some of the publicity for Tie the Knot at her mother’s request, playing up the charity and the chance to view one-of-a-kind wedding gowns and exquisite jewelry.
    “There are also ideas for the reception decorations in there. You know, flowers and doodads that make up the whole wedding experience.”
    “I have to plan a mock reception, too?”
    “Oh, yes,” Mrs. R. nodded.
    Please. Like she wanted to do that all over again.
    “Some of the ladies have opinions, but your mother has been cutting ideas out of magazines for months now.” Mrs. R. leaned closer to Lilli, her tone conspiratorial. “A word of warning—Marisa Vandermere wanted to fill in as coordinator, but your mother turned her down. She’s not happy about that. She’ll most likely think she’s still in charge, because, well, she’s Marisa. Don’t let her railroad you. We’re on a tight schedule. The benefit is less than three weeks away.” Mrs. R. nodded at the file. “Everything you need to complete the fashion show is in the file.”
    Great. She had to coordinate dresses, write fliers and plan an entire reception in just three weeks while trying to get a promotion at work. Now she had to work with her childhood nemesis, as well?
    What have you gotten me into, Mom?
    Lilli closed her eyes. She couldn’t renege now, not when her mother needed her. Just as Lilli had needed Celeste the night of the rehearsal dinner, doing damage control and canceling the wedding after Lilli fled the scene, demoralized beyond words. Yes, her mother had come through for her when Lilli