The next morning I push my office door open and wince when I turn on the overhead lights. I told myself I had to work early in the morning but that didn't stop my hand from shooting up every time the bartender asked, "Who would like another?"

I drop into my computer chair and it dips down from my weight. I swivel it to face the computer and as I am waiting for it to turn on Annabeth comes gliding into my office with her hand up like Vanna White.

"Look what came in the mail this weekend!" She says ecstatically while keeping her hand hoisted in the air. "My save the dates!"

I notice the small box her fingers are gripping and she rushes over to me while prying the lid off. Nestled inside the box are pearl white squares of paper bordered with bright yellow sunflowers. A burlap bow is tied neatly on top bringing the rustic theme together. In the middle, thick cursive spells out their save the date information and after she reads it out loud she looks to me with a frown, "Do you think burlap is overdone? Are sunflowers out?"

I look at the florally invitation and shake my head, "Not at all. The Wellington House will be beautiful with summer colors in August. We already discussed this didn't we?"

"I know we did I am just wondering how original I am being? Has everyone been to a wedding with sunflowers and mason jar centerpieces?" I try and keep everything that is raging inside of me from coming out. When Annabeth and I first started planning she insisted on sunflower bouquets, tall barrel tables with burlap, and lace everything. I had told her that that style was quite popular right now but that only encouraged her more to go full steam ahead with the charming country theme. Now that the theme is laid out before her, she is questioning her judgment.

"You can still put your own spin on the country theme," I remind her. "No one will have been to the kind of charming wedding we are planning."

My computer is finally awake and I hear the ping of emails coming through. Annabeth is still staring at the cards slightly shaking her head. I try to spin around to check my inbox but Annabeth's hand reaches out and stops my chair from spinning away from her, "What if I go antique country? More lace, vintage wine glasses, soft pinks and lots of florals?"

"In August?" I blurt out and I immediately wish I could suck the words back in.

"You're right. Maybe I should do purples, with calla lilies and silver tablecloths. Or navy blue with simple babies breath bouquets." She says staring into space, imaging all the scenarios of an August wedding at the Wellington House. I had wanted to brainstorm with her before she put the save the date orders in but she had her mind made up- without consulting Gus too.

"Annabeth, sunflowers and lacy tablecloths will be beautiful in August. Stick with your original idea," I tell her but she doesn't look convinced. I try spinning back to my computer screen and this time her hand frees my chair. I feel her hovering beside me but her voice is now to someone else, "I'm not sure about my country theme anymore Feeley. The save the dates don't speak to me like I thought they would."

Annabeth flees the office while talking to her wedding planner, Ophelia Dalton, and I'm sure "Feeley" is thrilled to be dealing with A.B so early on a Monday morning. Margot bragged about hiring a wedding planner that's been featured in Martha Stewart magazine and suddenly Annabeth was scrambling to find one that's been featured in Southern Bride. Mrs. Dalton gladly took on the big-budget wedding and privately told me that she's used to needy, frivolous brides.

What she didn't know was Annabeth was always needy but only recently became frivolous. She's not from a well-known wealthy southern family. She herself doesn't have an endless bank account and doesn't have any experience planning a party of this size. The Blackwoods are a simple but well-to-do family but they didn't want a wedding of this magnitude. But Annabeth Matthews has been hunting for a bachelor from a wealthy founding family all her life and has wanted nothing more than a large over-the-top wedding with her as the center of attention. This is her moment. This is her time to come out into society and claim her spot in the hierarchy. She will now be one of us and she wants everything that comes with it. So she bravely went to Gus and told him what she wanted and the next day she had a joint bank account with unlimited access. He's giving her the world.

I shake my annoyance with Annabeth's impulsiveness from my mind and start going through my emails. More RSVPs are coming in for my New Year's Eve party and I am excited that we are almost to capacity. I realize I need to find some time to go find a dress for the event and that I need to schedule a salon appointment to get my hair done. My mother will be so proud that I am classing it up for the occasion.

I continue to rifle through my inbox when I hear Annabeth asking one of the construction men what his honest thoughts are on her save the dates. I run my hands down my face and wonder if I should go save the poor man from Annabeth's questioning. I'm about to push myself out of my chair when a message pops up on my computer screen. It's from Ryan. I click open the messenger and read his short question.

How long will you be at work today?

I quickly type back, Depends.

I watch as the messenger indicates he's typing and then read, On what?

Depends on Annabeth sitting still long enough to actually do her job. I might be picking up her slack on the wine orders.

I look behind me but Annabeth has yet to make it back into the office. I turn back to my computer screen and see Ryan has written, Poor hiring I'm telling ya. But I'd like to have dinner. Funny thing happened at work today that I'd like to discuss.

I read what he wrote again and wonder what could have happened that he wants to take me out to dinner for. Usually, he just fills me in when he calls on his drive home from work.

I can make dinner happen. I have my mother's car so I can meet you anywhere.

It takes a few minutes for him to reply. I'm strumming my fingers on the keyboard when he finally writes, Hudson's? 6:00.

Hudson's? Why would he want to drive almost to Oxford for dinner? Why couldn't we meet at Tansy's like we always do? Before I can reply he writes, Gotta go. See you at 6.

He logs off messenger and I slump back into my chair, curious as to what funny thing happened to him that he wants to tell me on the outskirts of Hollis.

Annabeth finally comes back in and strides over to her chair on the opposite wall, "Feeley says she's going to drop by this evenin' to look over the save the dates. We might be able to find a way to spruce them up. Can you be here too?"

Relieved to have an actual excuse not to help I tell her, "Sorry, Ryan is taking me to Hudson's at six. Which means I have to leave here by five."

She shakes her head, "Okay then I'll just demand that Feeley join us for lunch. I'll order some delivery here." She winks at me while I force a smile back. As she finally spins to face her computer I watch as her screen flicks to life. I am waiting for the ping of emails to start but instead, I see her typing something into Google. The page is suddenly filled with calla lily bouquets and I frown knowing I'll probably be late to meet Ryan.