Beginning, Next Section
Posted on Thursday, 29 January 2004
To: Emma (emmarose@highbury.net)
CC: Harry (ladyharry@freemail.com)
From: Philip Elton (reverend_phil@highbury.net)
Subject: Fwd: E-mail quizMessage: Hi, there, Em! I found this quiz and since Harry told me how much you love internet quizzes, I thought I'd send it your way. Forward it to whomever you want and fill in your info! Don't forget to send it back to me!
Phil.
-------------------------------
NAME: Philip Charles Elton
NICKNAME: Phil
HOME: Highbury, IL
AGE: 31
OCCUPATION: Reverend at First Lutheran Church in Highbury
HEIGHT: 6'1
EYES: green
HAIR: blond
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Touched By an Angel
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Bishop's Wife (the original)
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Time
FAVORITE SONG: "I Can't Help Falling in Love with You" by Elvis Presley
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Trivial Pursuit
FAVORITE SMELL: grass.
FAVORITE SPORT: tennis
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD: Dell logo
BEST FEELING: being with my darling Harriette
WORST FEELING: being without Harry
MEMORABLE MOMENT IN THE PAST YEAR: proposing to Harry
WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS SAY IS YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT: being a little too fastidious
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS? No.
ROLLER COASTERS: SCARY OR EXCITING? Scary, but in a good way.
PENS OR PENCILS? Pens.
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE: Within two. Anything more would be impolite.
FAVORITE FOODS: pizza (because it's how I met Harry), chicken and rice
FAVORITE BRAND OF GUM: I don't chew gum often.
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? Yes. I get along well with all my family.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: Absolutely not.
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE: yes. It clears my mind.
YOUR FIRST CAR: 1981 Ford.
YOUR CURRENT CAR: 1999 Dodge Intrepid.
YOUR DREAM CAR: I wouldn't mind having an SUV...with plenty of room for me and my family.
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? Of course not.
THUNDERSTORMS: COOL OR SCARY? Scary in a bad way.
IF YOU COULD MEET A PERSON ALIVE OR DEAD WHO WOULD IT BE: Jesus.
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO WHAT WOULD IT SAY AND WHERE WOULD IT BE? What a stupid question. I should just erase this, Em, but I'll let it stay because you never know what interesting things you might find out about people.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yes
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: I will as soon as I go through with it. Harry can give you the details. For that matter, Em, since you're planning it, you already know all the details.
IS THE GLASS HALF-EMPTY OR HALF-FULL? Half-full.
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS? Is there any other way?
LUCKY NUMBER: I do not believe in lucky numbers, because that would imply I have something to do with gambling.
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED: shoes
SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Gee, Em, I hope you do say something nice about me.
SAY SOMETHING HONEST ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: And you're free to be honest here as well.
PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND: I sent it to my sister in Chicago, who hates these things. I doubt I get a reply. But you'll respond, won't you, Emma?
To: Phil Elton (reverend_phil@highbury.net)
CC: Jordan (highbury_33@hyper1.net); Frank (Churchill@highbury.net) ; Bobby Martin (countryboy88@aol.com); Harry (ladyharry@freemail.com); Jane (angelface77@yahoo.com); Anna and Jimmy (newlywed03@highbury.net)
From: Emma Woodhouse (emmarose@highbury.net)
Subject: E-mail Quiz! Fill it out or else!!Message: Phil gave me this, and I thought it was terrific, so fill it out. I mean it, Jordan!
Em
---------------------------------------
NAME: Emma Rose Woodhouse
NICKNAME: Em
HOME: Highbury, IL
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: wedding coordinator
HEIGHT: 5'6"
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Red
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Coupling-the U.K. version!!!!!
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Wedding Planner (for obvious reasons); Clueless
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Bride's for business, Entertainment Weekly otherwise
FAVORITE SONG: "Ray of Light" by Madonna
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Trivial Pursuit (currently the reigning Queen of Useless Trivia!)
FAVORITE SMELL: lemon
FAVORITE SPORT: figure skating, but I'd say baseball if you asked (hi Jordan!)
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD: roses
BEST FEELING: being with my friends makes me feel good
WORST FEELING: loneliness
MEMORABLE MOMENT IN THE PAST YEAR: coordinating my best friend's wedding (and getting ready for another friend's!)
WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS SAY IS YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT: They'll say I'm bossy. I'm not, but that's what they'll say.
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS? No.
ROLLER COASTERS: SCARY OR EXCITING? Exciting.
PENS OR PENCILS: pens
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE: I try to get it within two.
FAVORITE FOODS: pizza, hamburgers, and Lemonheads
FAVORITE BRAND OF GUM: Dentine, because fresh breath is the priority of my life.
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? Yes----my dad's the greatest
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: Speeding tickets only
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE? Sometimes, especially when I need to think
YOUR FIRST CAR: I don't remember exactly what it was, but it was cool
YOUR CURRENT CAR: 2003 Chevy Cavalier convertible
YOUR DREAM CAR: I love my current car.
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? No
THUNDERSTORMS: COOL OR SCARY? I hate thunderstorms
IF YOU COULD MEET A PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE: My mother. She died when I was three and I don't remember her
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO WHAT AND WHERE WOULD IT BE: I think tattoos are tacky so I wouldn't get one
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? I don't think so
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: I would go into waaay too much detail for one question, so let's just say that it's very elaborate, and waiting for me at the end of the aisle is a wonderful, sensitive man who loves me IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Half full
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS: Yes it's easier that way
LUCKY NUMBER: 15, just because
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED: lots of dust bunnies. I'm not the world's greatest housekeeper
SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Phil's a great guy. (Way to go Harry!)
SAY SOMETHING HONEST ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Phil wants everything to be perfect when it's not always possible.
PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND: Jordan, because he says he hates these things (I'm not convinced of that, though).
To: Phil (reverend_phil@highbury.net)
CC: Jordan (highbury_33@hyper1.net); Frank (Churchill@highbury.net) ; Bobby Martin (countryboy88@aol.com); Jane (angelface77@yahoo.com); the Westons (newlywed03@highbury.net); Emma (emmarose@highbury.net)
From: Harry Smith (ladyharry@freemail.com)
Subject: Love this quiz, Phil!Message: Hi, honey! Just finished filling it out and sending it to everyone. Tell me what you think!
Harry
------------------------NAME: Harriette Grace Smith
NICKNAME: Harry
HOME: Highbury, IL
AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: waitress at Luigi's Pizza
HEIGHT: 5'5"
EYES: Gray
HAIR: Blond
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Friends
FAVORITE MOVIE: Titanic
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Cosmopolitan
FAVORITE SONG: "Oops! I Did It Again" by Britney Spears
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: checkers
FAVORITE SMELL: vanilla
FAVORITE SPORT: gymnastics
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD: bubbles
BEST FEELING: being in love
WORST FEELING: rejection
MEMORABLE MOMENT IN THE PAST YEAR: Phil's proposal!WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS SAY IS YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT: indecisiveness
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS? Yes
ROLLER COASTERS: SCARY OR EXCITING? Scary! Bleh!
PENS OR PENCILS: pens
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE: one, maybe two
FAVORITE FOODS: anything but pizza
FAVORITE BRAND OF GUM: watermelon
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? Okay, I guess
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: no
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE? Not really
YOUR FIRST CAR: 1985 Ford
YOUR CURRENT CAR: 1985 Ford
YOUR DREAM CAR: A convertible
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? Yes a teddy bear
THUNDERSTORMS: COOL OR SCARY? Scary
IF YOU COULD MEET A PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE: Leonardo DiCaprio
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO WHAT AND WHERE WOULD IT BE: I would like a rose on my ankle
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yes
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: I'm getting married on the beach at sunset with my closest friends present. It's a very simple ceremony, but I think it's romantic. And the reception's going to be tons of fun!!
IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Half full
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS: Yes
LUCKY NUMBER: 7
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED: storage boxes of clothes
SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Philip Elton is the love of my life
SAY SOMETHING HONEST ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: I just did.
PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND: My sister Carrie.
To: Emma (emmarose@highbury.net)
CC: Jordan (highbury_33@hyper1.net); Frank (Churchill@highbury.net) ; Bobby Martin (countryboy88@aol.com); Jane(angelface77@yahoo.com); Philip Elton (reverend_phil@highbury.net) ; Harry (ladyharry@freemail.com)
From: Anna and James Weston (newlywed03@highbury.net)
Subject: E-mail quiz times twoMessage: Jimmy thinks this is a lot of fun. He wanted us to fill it out together and not identify which of us was talking when it came to the important questions, but I managed to talk him out of that. Anyway, here are both our answers!
Anna
------------
NAME: Anna Louise Weston (nee Taylor)
NICKNAME: none
HOME: Highbury, IL
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: kindergarten teacher
HEIGHT: 5'9"
EYES: Blue
HAIR: Brown
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Sex and the City
FAVORITE MOVIE: An Ideal Husband
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: People
FAVORITE SONG: "At Last" by Etta James
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Trivial Pursuit
FAVORITE SMELL: cinnamon
FAVORITE SPORT: tennis
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD: "Toy Story" characters
BEST FEELING: being with Jimmy
WORST FEELING: I hate being angry because I feel guilty afterward
MEMORABLE MOMENT IN THE PAST YEAR: getting married
WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS SAY IS YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT: Doing too much for other people
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS? No
ROLLER COASTERS: SCARY OR EXCITING? They're okay
PENS OR PENCILS: pencils
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE: Three
FAVORITE FOODS: lasagna, chocolate cherries
FAVORITE BRAND OF GUM: I rarely chew gum
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? Yes
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: Not even a speeding ticket
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE: yes
YOUR FIRST CAR: 1983 Ford LTD
YOUR CURRENT CAR: 2000 Dodge Stratus
YOUR DREAM CAR: I haven't given it much thought
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? No
THUNDERSTORMS: COOL OR SCARY? Interesting, but not cool or scary
IF YOU COULD MEET A PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE: Abraham Lincoln
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO WHAT AND WHERE WOULD IT BE: I'm too chicken to get one
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Very much so
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: I just had it, and that was more than enough for me
IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Half full
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS: Yes LUCKY NUMBER: don't have one
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED: shoe boxes full of cards
SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Em's the sister I never had
SAY SOMETHING HONEST ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Em can be a little pushy
PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND: My mother because she never checks her e-mail
--------------------
NAME: James Theodore Weston (nee Weston)
NICKNAME: Jimmy
HOME: Highbury, IL
AGE: 34
OCCUPATION: accountant
HEIGHT: 5'11"
EYES: Green
HAIR: Blond
FAVORITE TV SHOW: The Sopranos
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Talented Mr. Ripley
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Newsweek
FAVORITE SONG: That song by Etta James that played at our wedding.
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Monopoly
FAVORITE SMELL: spiced apples
FAVORITE SPORT: football (go Rams!)
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD: "Go Directly to Jail" chance card from Monopoly game
BEST FEELING: being with Anna
WORST FEELING: I don't know if this is the worst feeling, but I was terrified before I proposed that Anna would say no
MEMORABLE MOMENT IN THE PAST YEAR: getting married
WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS SAY IS YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT: Working too hard
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS? No
ROLLER COASTERS: SCARY OR EXCITING? Exciting.
PENS OR PENCILS: pencils
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE: One.
FAVORITE FOODS: seafood and rice
FAVORITE BRAND OF GUM: Bubble Yum
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? As well as anyone, I guess
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: murders of my previous ten wives (j/k)
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE? yes
YOUR FIRST CAR: 1982 Ford Thunderbird
YOUR CURRENT CAR: 2001 Saturn
YOUR DREAM CAR: I would love to have a Porsche (Jordan, sell me your car!)
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? No
THUNDERSTORMS: COOL OR SCARY? Cool, but I'm not stupid enough to go out in them IF YOU COULD MEET A PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE: Michael Jordan, Mike Martz
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO WHAT AND WHERE WOULD IT BE: I have a tattoo on my upper arm of a dragon, but I don't think I want another one
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yes, yes, yes
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: Wasn't the one I just had enough?
IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Half full
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS: No
LUCKY NUMBER: 13
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED: a bunch of boxes full of cards, I think
SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Em is a very intuitive young woman
SAY SOMETHING HONEST ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Em likes to manage things, but I think she gets that way because it's her job.
PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND: My aunt because "this sort of thing is beneath her"
To: Emma Woodhouse (emmarose@highbury.net)
CC: Jordan (highbury_33@hyper1.net) ; Anna and James Weston (newlywed03@highbury.net) ; Frank Churchill *(Churchill@highbury.net) ; Jane Fairfax (angelface77@yahoo.com) ; Philip Elton (reverend_phil@highbury.net) ; Harriette Smith (ladyharry@freemail.com)
From: Robert Martin (countryboy88@aol.com)
Subject: E-mail quizMessage:
NAME: Robert Grant Martin
NICKNAME: Bobby
HOME: Highbury, IL
AGE: 30
OCCUPATION: EMT
HEIGHT: 6'
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Brown
FAVORITE TV SHOW: ER
FAVORITE MOVIE: Saving Private Ryan
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Field and Stream
FAVORITE SONG: "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: checkers
FAVORITE SMELL: fresh, clean air
FAVORITE SPORT: baseball
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD: horses BEST FEELING: independence
WORST FEELING: claustrophobia!
MEMORABLE MOMENT IN THE PAST YEAR: not quite sure
WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS SAY IS YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT: Too quiet
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS? No.
ROLLER COASTERS: SCARY OR EXCITING? I've never been on one
PENS OR PENCILS: whatever's handy
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE: Depends on where I'm at
FAVORITE FOODS: steak, homemade ice cream
FAVORITE BRAND OF GUM: Juicy Fruit
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? Yes
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: I got caught toilet papering with some friends when I was a kid.
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE? Yes
YOUR FIRST CAR: 1983 Chevy Blazer
YOUR CURRENT CAR: 1993 Ford Bronco (no, it's not white)
YOUR DREAM CAR: A new Blazer. I loved my old car
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? No
THUNDERSTORMS: COOL OR SCARY? Fascinating
IF YOU COULD MEET A PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE: John Grisham. His books are fantastic
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO WHAT AND WHERE WOULD IT BE: I don't know
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? I think so
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: I don't give it much thought
IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Half full
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS: Sometimes
LUCKY NUMBER: 88
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED: old magazines
SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Emma seems pretty nice
SAY SOMETHING HONEST ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: I don't know her well enough
PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND: I guess I'd have to agree with Emma that Jordan won't fill it out
To: Emma (emmarose@highbury.net)
CC: Jane (angelface77@yahoo.com) ; Anna and Jimmy (newlywed03@highbury.net) ; Jordan (highbury_33@hyper1.net) ; Harriette Smith (ladyharry@freemail.com) ; Reverend Philip Elton (reverend_phil@highbury.net) ; Bobby Martin (countryboy88@aol.com)
From: F.L. Churchill (Churchill@highbury.net)
Subject: E-mail QuizMessage: Emma, why are you asking all these questions? You already know all there is to know about us. You're not planning on making some of this info public, are you? I have a reputation to maintain!!
Frank
---------------------------
NAME: Francis Lee Churchill
NICKNAME: Frank. Call me Francis and I'll kill you.
HOME: Highbury, IL
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: lawyer
HEIGHT: 5'8"
EYES: Brown
HAIR: Black
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Survivor
FAVORITE MOVIE: Star Wars Trilogy
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Sports Illustrated
FAVORITE SONG: "Layla" by Eric Clapton
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Trivial Pursuit
FAVORITE SMELL: gasoline (admit it, you like it, too)
FAVORITE SPORT: basketball
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD: it's blue
BEST FEELING: the high of success
WORST FEELING: failure
MEMORABLE MOMENT IN THE PAST YEAR: being part of a major business merger
WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS SAY IS YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT: Inflated ego
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS? yeah
ROLLER COASTERS: SCARY OR EXCITING? Scary.
PENS OR PENCILS: pens
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE: Depends on who it is. At least two because that's when Caller ID picks up.
FAVORITE FOODS: Chinese take-out, Doritos
FAVORITE BRAND OF GUM: I don't chew gum
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? My parents are dead, and I don't get along well with my foster parents
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: No
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE? More than I like having to be the passenger
YOUR FIRST CAR: 1989 Ford Escort
YOUR CURRENT CAR: 2004 Chevy Corvette
YOUR DREAM CAR: I just bought it
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? No
THUNDERSTORMS: COOL OR SCARY? Scary
IF YOU COULD MEET A PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE: Julia Roberts
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO WHAT AND WHERE WOULD IT BE: "Welcome Aboard" tattooed...well, anyway...that would hurt too much. I do have one though--J.E.F. right above my heart.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yes
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: Wedding? AAAHHH!
IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Half empty. I'm a pessimist by nature
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS: Yes
LUCKY NUMBER: 1
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED: the rug
SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Em is a very special person. How did I ever let her get away? (kidding!)
SAY SOMETHING HONEST ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Em, you need to get out of the wedding biz. You're giving women wrong ideas...like they need to get married or something...
PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND: ???
To: Emma (emmarose@highbury.net)
CC: Frank (Churchill@highbury.net) ; Anna and Jimmy (newlywed03@highbury.net) ; Jordan (highbury_33@hyper1.net) ; Harry (ladyharry@freemail.com) ; Phil Elton (reverend_phil@highbury.net) ; Bobby (countryboy88@aol.com)
From: Jane E. Fairfax (angelface77@yahoo.com)
Subject: E-mail quizMessage: I love these things, too, Emma. It's always interesting to see how people answer them!
Jane
------------------------
NAME: Jane Elizabeth Fairfax
NICKNAME: Janie
HOME: Highbury, IL
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: newspaper photographer
HEIGHT: 5'3"
EYES: Blue
HAIR: Blonde
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Alias
FAVORITE MOVIE: American Beauty
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: People Magazine
FAVORITE SONG: "Love" by John Lennon
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Clue
FAVORITE SMELL: freesia
FAVORITE SPORT: miniature golf. Does that count as a sport?
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD: Mickey Mouse
BEST FEELING: when things are going well, I'm happy
WORST FEELING: when Frank and I fight MEMORABLE MOMENT IN THE PAST YEAR: breaking up with Frank for six months
WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS SAY IS YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT: Being "perfect," "angelic," "goody goody." What's wrong with being nice?
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS? No.
ROLLER COASTERS: SCARY OR EXCITING? Sometimes scary and sometimes exciting, depending on the roller coaster
PENS OR PENCILS: pens
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE: Three at most.
FAVORITE FOODS: salad, garlic bread, sushi
FAVORITE BRAND OF GUM: Trident sugarless gum
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? Yes
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: No
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE? No
YOUR FIRST CAR: 1991 Ford Taurus
YOUR CURRENT CAR: 1991 Ford Taurus
YOUR DREAM CAR: A white limousine--driving me to my wedding!
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? Yes
THUNDERSTORMS: COOL OR SCARY? scary
IF YOU COULD MEET A PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE: I can think of any number of people, but Jane Austen, William Shakespeare, and Charlotte Bronte would top off my list
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO WHAT AND WHERE WOULD IT BE: My deep dark secret? I have one--Frank's initials are above my heart
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yes
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: Frank and I would be married in a big ceremony with a huge party after so everyone could have a great time. I would wear my mother's wedding gown. Most importantly, Frank would be waiting for me with eagerness rather than the trapped-deer-in-the-headlights look he gives me whenever I mention marriage.
IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Half full
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS: Yes, doesn't everyone?
LUCKY NUMBER: I guess I'd say 202 because that's the date I met Frank
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED: books. I've run out of places to put them in my apartment
SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Em's someone you can turn to if you have a problem because she's a good listener
SAY SOMETHING HONEST ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Just be careful what you tell her because Em always has a plan and it's not always a good one (Sorry, Em, but it's true)
PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND: I only sent this to my Aunt Hetty and I'm sure she'll respond.
To: Emma (emmarose@highbury.net)
CC: Anna and Jimmy (newlywed03@highbury.net) ; Bobby (countryboy88@aol.com) ; Jane (angelface77@yahoo.com) ; Harry (ladyharry@freemail.com) ; Phil Elton (reverend_phil@highbury.net) ; Francis Churchill (Churchill@highbury.net)
From: J. Knightley (highbury_33@hyper1.net)
Subject: This stupid e-mail quiz.Message: Emma, do you really think I have nothing better to do with my life than fill out quizzes with answers you already know, and to hear the answers I already know about other people? Don't you have anything better to do? If you need business to keep you busy, I'm sure I could call a few friends who are getting married and give them your business number.
Jordan
---------------------------------
NAME: Jordan Alexander Knightley
NICKNAME: Jordan "In the heat of the" Knightley (thank you, Chris Berman)
HOME: Highbury, IL
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: retired pro baseball player
HEIGHT: 6'2"
EYES: green
HAIR: dark brown
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Law & Order
FAVORITE MOVIE: Casablanca
FAVORITE MAGAZINE: Baseball Weekly
FAVORITE SONG: Adagio for Strings by Barber
FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Trivial Pursuit
FAVORITE SMELL: Coconut
FAVORITE SPORT: This is for you, Em--"I'll give you two guesses, but you're only gonna need one."
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD: Kellynch Knights logo
BEST FEELING: when I spend time with my family and friends
WORST FEELING: being alone
MEMORABLE MOMENT IN THE PAST YEAR: retiring from baseball
WHAT WOULD YOUR FRIENDS SAY IS YOUR MOST ANNOYING HABIT: If you were to ask Emma, it would be chastising her too often
DO YOU GET MOTION SICKNESS? No.
ROLLER COASTERS: SCARY OR EXCITING? Exciting.
PENS OR PENCILS: Magic Markers
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE: If it's someone I like, I'll answer it.
FAVORITE FOODS: Creme brulee, hot dogs, popcorn.
FAVORITE BRAND OF GUM: I'm not picky. I'll chew just about any type of gum
DO YOU GET ALONG WITH YOUR PARENTS? They're no longer living, but I did get along with them when they were alive
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME: Emma, really! What kind of question is that?
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE? Yes. And I hate being driven YOUR FIRST CAR: A Chevette. It was my brother's car so I didn't have much of a choice
YOUR CURRENT CAR: 2002 Porsche
YOUR DREAM CAR: A Pinto. Either that or a Plymouth Fury that I will name Christine
DO YOU SLEEP WITH STUFFED ANIMALS? No I sleep with real ones--there's a tiger at the foot of my bed every night, a horse's head on the pillow next to me, and snakes all around to keep out intruders
THUNDERSTORMS: COOL OR SCARY? Cool. I like sitting around waiting for tornadoes to come through
IF YOU COULD MEET A PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE: Babe Ruth, Charles Dickens, Shoeless Joe Jackson
IF YOU COULD HAVE A TATTOO WHAT AND WHERE WOULD IT BE: I'll have to get back to you on that one
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN LOVE? Yes
DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WEDDING: I'm in Vegas, getting married by an Elvis impersonator
IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? It's already been drank (drunk?)
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE CORRECT KEYS: No
LUCKY NUMBER: 33--I wore it for eighteen years
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED: something that drools and eats socks, which is why I never have matching pairs
SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Ehhh...Emma means well
SAY SOMETHING HONEST ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU: Emma is a real busybody
PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND: As I didn't send this to anyone, this question doesn't apply.
To: Jordan (highbury_33@hyper1.net)
From: Emma Woodhouse (emmarose@highbury.net)
Subject: Nothing to do?Message:
> Emma, do you really think I have nothing better to do with my life than fill out quizzes with answers you already know, and to hear the answers I already know about other people?Obviously you don't, Jordan, or you wouldn't have answered it, would you? ;)
> If you need business to keep you busy, I'm sure I could call a few friends who are getting married and give them your business number.I'd love to hear from them! Have them call me during business hours.
Em
Posted on Friday, 5 March 2004
1. Call Bradley Smithson (caterer) to arrange Steele-Ferrars food tasting. Remember to ask if they'll be able to use egg substitute in cake as bride claims there are a number of vegans in bridal party. Though since milk is also in cake, not sure why eggs are the main objectionable ingredient.2. Call Best Brides (boutique) to ask what the delay is with L. Steele's gown. Surely the alterations aren't that difficult!
3. Call Harry, ask if Phil has come to a decision about what he wants for groom's cake at wedding. "Anything but chocolate" is not very helpful.
4. Initial consultation with Frances Bennet about her daughter's upcoming wedding. According to F.B., daughter and son-in-law are contemplating elopement and she would like to avoid this if at all possible. Not sure why she's coming to me if that's the case.
5. Call Goosen's for reservation----JORDAN'S PARTY!!!! Must make sure to have best table at 7:30 pm!!!
6. Call Jane, make sure everyone knows that we're meeting at Goosen's. Subtly remind her that restaurant is not a good place for knock-down, drag-out fight with boyfriend, and that if it happens this time Goosen's will not let us eat there----ever again.
7. Call Frank, not-so-subtly remind him not to mention marriage. At all. Under penalty of death.
8. Call Jordan and threaten to kill him if he doesn't show up tonight. It's his party after all.
9. Call Harry and remind her not to embarrass Jordan by mentioning 51-game hitting streak, Randy Johnson, People Weekly, or World Series rings.9. Call Harry and encourage her not to talk baseball at all.
At ten minutes after nine in the morning, a dark blue Chevy Cavalier convertible pulled into a parking space directly across the street from a two-story brick building that housed the Lyles Accounting Agency, the bakery called Noreen's, and a wedding consultant's office called Weddings by Woodhouse.
The driver's door of the convertible opened and a young woman of average height emerged. The most eye-catching part of her ensemble was the wide-brimmed black hat with a peach ribbon. The hat, which obscured part of her face and almost all of her hair, looked like something that had might've come directly from Holly Golightly's wardrobe, which was precisely why the young woman had bought it. The peach ribbon matched the skirt and heels she wore with a white blouse.
The woman reached into the car to pull out her purse without her hat moving an inch. She slammed the door shut, and locked the doors. She glanced both ways to see what traffic might be coming before swiftly crossing the street. Occasionally, one could see what looked to be a copper-colored lock of hair peeping out from beneath the ridiculously large hat as she walked with confidence to Weddings by Woodhouse.
Before she walked in the door, she reached up to pull off the hat and ran a hand through her hair, which was indeed the color of a newly minted penny. Before one could comment or speculate on whether or not the color was real, the woman was gone, ready for another day of business doing what she'd proudly done for the past four years.
"You're late again, Emma," Hetty Bates said the moment the young woman stepped inside. It was said with an affectionate smile.
"I know, I know," Emma Woodhouse said as she rushed to the back office, where she tossed the hat and her sunglasses aside. "How close did I come this time? Oh, ten minutes. For heaven's sake, Hetty, that should hardly count." She returned to the outer room, which was painted a tasteful cream color and had various displays of wedding essentials. Hetty had already started the music, which would play romantic classical selections all day.
Hetty handed her three slips of paper without speaking. Emma laughed, thinking that Hetty was kidding, but when she took a closer look, she saw that they were real messages. Her eyebrows rose in surprise. She wasn't yet in such demand that someone would call so early in the morning.
All three messages were from the same woman----Susan Vernon. It was a name that impressed the hell out of Emma, who considered Susan Vernon to be a role model. She'd taken the nothing business her late husband had left her and turned it into a competitive corporation. Emma could only dream of such success. Of course, Susan Vernon ran a company that was bumping the bottom of the Fortune 500 list while Emma was a mere wedding coordinator, but one never knew what might happen.
"She was very surprised to hear that you were unavailable to speak with her the moment she called," Hetty said, her voice slightly censorious. "And you not even hired to do anything for her!"
"You didn't tell her I was running late, did you?" Emma asked, a little sharper than she should've. Hetty frowned at her and shook her head. "Thank God." Emma checked the messages. There was no number left where Susan Vernon could be reached. "Did she say when she would call back?"
"As the woman has called three times in the last fifteen minutes, I would say..." The phone rang, cutting off Hetty's sentence. "...now."
Emma reached for the phone only to have Hetty smack her hand away. "That's my job," she said as she picked up the phone. "Weddings by Woodhouse, how may I help you?" There was a short pause. "As a matter of fact, she has just finished up with the other matter. One moment, please." Hetty put the caller on hold. "You should make her hold for another few seconds, just so you don't look too eager."
"Somehow, I don't think she's the type who would appreciate that," Emma replied, holding her hand out for the phone. Hetty held it away from her.
"Emma, if you take the phone right away, you'll look desperate for the work, which you aren't. She'll take it as a sign of weakness. If your roles were reversed and you were calling her, how long do you think she would make you wait?"
Emma hesitated. Hetty was right, of course. "Okay, okay, I'll wait. But I'd like to know when I lost my position as boss around here."
"When you were five years old and I caught you eating mud in the backyard with Anna and Janie," Hetty said, giving Emma the phone and pushing the button to take Susan Vernon off hold.
"This is Emma Woodhouse speaking," Emma said.
"Ms. Woodhouse, at last. I was beginning to suspect that you weren't at work in spite of the fact that it is now nine-fifteen."
Emma was grateful the this was a phone conversation, as she blushed easily. It was the curse of being a redhead. Her voice didn't change as she said, "I was in the middle of a phone conversation with a caterer for another wedding, and I do apologize if you've been kept waiting long. How may I help you?"
"My daughter Erica is getting married," Susan Vernon announced, "to Matthew St. James."
Emma was surprised for the second time that day. Like Susan Vernon, the name Matthew St. James was one she recognized instantly. There were rumors that he was going to run for the Senate in the next couple of years, and with his charismatic good looks and earnest appeal, she had little doubt he would win.
"Congratulations," Emma said.
"Thank you. I've considered doing everything for the wedding myself but as you can imagine, Ms. Woodhouse, my schedule is quite full at the moment. So I've been looking at several different consultants and I was told that you had coordinated the wedding of Megan and Charles Forster. I was unable to attend that wedding, but I understand from Erica, who went in my place, that it was a beautiful ceremony."
"Thank you, Mrs. Vernon," Emma said, remembering all the hard work that had gone into that beautiful ceremony. Megan Forster had proved nearly impossible to please.
"What I want for Erica is something along those lines----elegant, beautiful, lavish. There will be no expense spared for this wedding."
Emma wished there was a chair nearby, because it was so rare that heard those words come from a client. Most of them wanted the best of everything until the subject of money came up. Then it was her fault that the caterer wanted one hundred and fifty dollars a head for the meal, that the limo service insisted on charging for all the extras the bride and groom wanted, that the flowers flown in special for the ceremony were so expensive.
Calm down, Woodhouse, you haven't gotten anything yet. She didn't say she was definitely going to hire you.
"Of course," Emma managed to say.
"Unique as well, a wedding that expresses Erica's...well, uniqueness. And Matthew's, of course."
"Naturally. I would have to meet your daughter and, if possible, her fiancé..." Down, girl. "...but if you were to go with me as your coordinator, I can promise you that Erica's wedding will be talked about for a long time to come."
There was a long pause. Emma clutched the phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white as she waited.
"Ms. Woodhouse, I believe Erica and I would like to meet with you," Susan Vernon said. "How does tomorrow at twelve-thirty sound? I can't be any earlier because I have meetings and the afternoon is full of plans as well, but I think I could fit you in."
"Twelve-thirty is perfect, Mrs. Vernon," Emma said quickly, before the woman changed her mind. "I'll look forward to meeting you and Erica."
"Excellent. I'll see you then." Emma thought the woman had hung up, but then she added, "It's always nice to talk to a young woman with manners. The three other wedding consultants were overly familiar, calling me by my first name. I have a feeling we're going to get along well together, Ms. Woodhouse." And with that, Susan Vernon did hang up the phone.
Emma still held hers, frowning slightly. She told herself she was being silly. Susan Vernon had said she'd talked to other coordinators before calling Emma at the beginning, so why had it bothered her at the end?
"Emma, did you tell Susan Vernon that you would meet her tomorrow at twelve-thirty?" Hetty asked, taking the phone from Emma's hand.
"Yes." It was then that the glow came, the growing excitement because she was about to take on the biggest client she'd ever had. "I'm meeting with her and..."
"You're supposed to be meeting Harry for your gown fitting at noon tomorrow, remember? I know I wrote it down on your calendar."
Emma groaned, because she knew Hetty was right before she even spoke. She'd already put off Harry and the Bridal Barn three times already because of other engagements. She'd sworn to Harry on a stack of bibles that she would make this appointment. And now she'd gone and agreed to meet with someone else.
"I guess it'll have to be put off until another day," Emma said.
"No, it can't. Harry's wedding is next month. You've ducked them three times. You have to go to this one." Hetty folded her arms across her chest and looked firm.
Emma sighed, because she knew what that look meant. Hetty Bates might seem to all the world as an impossible chatterbox without a thought in her head, but Emma knew better. Hetty was one of the best-organized people she knew and never forgot anything. That was part of the problem, actually. She remembered everything and talked about it when the opportunity arose. It was for just this reason that Emma had hired her when she'd gone into business for herself.
But it also meant she'd never hear the end of it if she cancelled on Harry again.
"But Hetty, it's Susan Vernon. She's offering me the chance to plan her daughter's wedding to Matthew St. James. Can you imagine what that will do for business? It'll go through the roof with people wanting the person who coordinated the wedding of the junior Senator from the great state of Illinois. Not to mention how much it sounds like Susan's willing to lay out for this wedding." Emma blinked, remembering Susan's parting comment. "Although I'll have to be careful not to call her Susan. She apparently doesn't like that because she's turned down three other coordinators for calling her by her first name."
"I don't care if you're hired to plan the wedding of the President of the United States. Harry is a good friend of yours and you can't just ignore the fact that you haven't gone in for a fitting. And don't give me that line about how you're sure the dress fits because you gave them your measurements. You've been in this business long enough to know how often that's not the case."
"I'm sure if I explain it to her..."
"Emma."
"Hetty! I can't pass this opportunity up! I just can't. Maybe we can get in to see the dressmaker a little early or I can postpone it until later in the afternoon. I don't have anything going on tomorrow afternoon, do I?"
"Does meeting with Catherine Morland about her wedding gown count?"
Emma groaned. She must be insane to even be thinking about taking on another wedding, considering the fact that she had five other ones going on right now, including one she was participating in. She thought of the calendar in her office, with each wedding marked in red. Ferrars-Steele. Bertram-Rushworth. Morland-Tilney. Grey-Willoughby. Elton-Smith. Not to mention the fact that she was meeting with Frances Bennet today about the possibility of another wedding. That would make seven weddings she was planning if the two potential ones agreed to work with her.
"That'll work. Catherine's gown is being made by Daniels' Bridal Creations, which is just a few blocks from the Bridal Barn. I can stop by the Bridal Barn after I get done with Catherine. I'll just call Harry now." Before Hetty could stop her, Emma had grabbed the phone and dialed her friend's number. While she was on the phone, she could check off a couple of things on her to-do list.
It was early October, a lovely time of year to live in a Midwestern state. The leaves on the trees were turning colors and the temperatures were warm without the brutal humidity of summer. Most years, Emma would've also said that it was a great time of year because it was when the baseball playoffs began.
This year, however, there was little to celebrate in that arena. Neither the White Sox, Emma's sentimental favorite, nor the Kellynch Knights, whom she'd learned to root for after Jordan had become part of their team, had made the playoffs. In addition to this, Jordan had announced his retirement after the Knights' season had ended. Everyone had known for a while that it would be coming. Jordan had been through two left shoulder surgeries and a third one was eminent. His knees were killing him. He played well in his final season, some said better than he had in years, but Jordan Knightley had known the time had come for him to go. He had too much pride to stick around once what he had was gone.
Tonight being the first night of the NLDS, Emma had decided to take Jordan's mind off of baseball by having a dinner party for him. His favorite restaurant was Goosen's, a family restaurant that practically everyone who lived in Highbury had worked for at some point or another as a teenager or adult.
Emma was the first to arrive, fresh from work and in a state that alternated between frustration and elation. She was excited about the opportunity to work with Susan Vernon, and while Frances Bennet looked like she was going to be a monumental pain in the butt, her daughter Liza had been nice. Liza had confessed that she and her fiancé, Fitzwilliam Darcy, were contemplating an elopement because of her mother, and after meeting the woman, Emma could understand why. Fortunately, Emma also knew how to take a negative and spin it into something positive, and she'd managed to convince Liza that having a wedding might not be so bad.
"After all, she's going to take her frustrations out on me," she'd said. "She won't have time to focus as much on you."
"You don't know my mother," Liza had replied with good humor, but she'd been convinced and Frances had been delighted that Emma was going to help plan the wedding.
The rest of the day had been spent going over the details of the weddings she was working on, having an argument with Bradley Smithson about the cake for Lucy Steele's reception, and fielding the usual phone calls from friends, clients, and one from her father.
As soon as Emma walked in the door, she was shown to the table she'd reserved earlier in the day. With a small groan, she sat at the head of the table and slipped her heels off. There were times, like today, when she wished she'd gone into a business other than wedding planning. If she were a writer, for example, she wouldn't have to dress up every day and could wear sensible flats.
Of course, she wouldn't be as happy with her life if she did anything else.
Emma smiled as she thought about her job. As frustrated as it made her sometimes, she loved every minute of it. She'd loved everything about weddings since she was nine and her much older sister, Isabella, had gotten married to Jordan's older brother John. She remembered the light blue satin dress she'd worn and the bouquet of wild flowers she'd carried. She remembered the candles and the music. She remembered John and Jordan standing side by side, groom and best man, looking so handsome in their gray tuxedos.
Most of all, Emma remembered the glow on her sister's face as she'd walked down the aisle on their father's arm. Dizzy had looked so beautiful, in contrast to the frazzled harridan she'd been the whole week before her wedding. Emma wished every day could be Dizzy's wedding day, because it had all seemed perfect. It was only years later that Emma thought of how frustrated her sister had been trying to put everything together, and how much easier it would've been if she'd had a wedding coordinator.
And after watching Father of the Bride, Emma knew what she wanted to do with her life. She'd taken out a small business loan and started up Weddings by Woodhouse the year after she'd left college. Of course, she'd known it wasn't as simple as it seemed in the movies, and it wasn't. And she had a number of brides who were just as frazzled as her sister had been come their wedding days, but Emma liked to think that she did help ease the burdens of most of her clients.
"You look like you're a million miles away. Where are you, Miss Woodhouse?"
Emma blinked several times and looked up to see Philip Elton, or Reverend Phil as he was known to most of the people in Highbury, smiling down at her.
"I'm thinking about how lucky I am to be doing what I love," she said as he took a seat to her left. "I think I might have the inside track on coordinating the wedding of Susan Vernon's daughter Erica."
"I'm impressed," Phil said. "Your reputation is growing quite nicely, Emma. You must be very proud."
"I am, but don't go telling Jordan I said that. He'll only say I'm getting a swelled head."
Phil chuckled. "Jordan's got his opinions, the rest of the world has theirs. Jordan tends to keep his on the pessimistic side, unfortunately."
Emma gave him a puzzled look. "Do you really think Jordan's pessimistic? I don't think he is."
"Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying he's a pessimistic person to be around or anything like that. In fact, I don't think I really meant pessimistic at all. Maybe I meant 'realistic.'"
It was then Emma's turn to laugh. "Or perhaps you meant 'correct.' Jordan's right. I tend to think too well of myself and my abilities, and without him puncturing my ego on a regular basis, I'd be impossible to be around."
"Nonsense," Phil said firmly. "Look at how great you've been with Harry about the wedding. She would probably still be trying to decide what her colors were and what dress she should wear, but with your help, I know our wedding's going to be sensational."
Emma smiled modestly, although silently she acknowledged that Phil had a point. She'd been friends with Harriette Smith for about six years, since the two of them had waited tables together at Luigi's until Emma had quit. Harry was a darling, but she wasn't always the most decisive. She hated to say it, but Harry was...well, easily led. Sometimes it came in handy, but there were times when it nearly drove Emma mad.
When Harry had announced that she was marrying Phil, Emma had been surprised that she'd accepted his marriage proposal without consulting half a dozen of her best friends to get their opinions on whether or not she should.
"Darling!"
The subject of Emma's musings was quickly making her way over to them, nearly tripping over a waiter rushing by with a pitcher of water. Harry apologized profusely to the young man, a blush creeping over her fair skin, before arriving at their table. She gave Phil a quick kiss on the cheek and sat in the chair next to his. Emma smiled at them, already picturing them in their wedding finery.
"I'm so glad I'm not late," Harry said. "I was afraid I might be, since I didn't get off work until forty-five minutes ago. I barely had time to go home and take a shower! Does my hair look all right, Em? I didn't wash it because I was afraid I wouldn't have time to dry it."
"Your hair looks fine," Emma replied. "It always does, Harry."
"Oh, thank you. You look wonderful, as usual. Good day at work?"
Emma nodded and decided to wait until everyone else had arrived before telling them her big news. She didn't want to sound like a parrot, repeating the same thing over and over again. Besides, she had a couple of things she wanted to bring up with the couple sitting with her.
"Phil," Emma said, all business now. "I have asked Harry four times if you've decided what you want for your groom's cake, and every time she says you don't care, as long as it's not chocolate."
Phil shrugged. "Well, it's true."
"If you don't tell me what you want for the groom's cake, it's going to be chocolate." Emma folded her arms across her chest and gave him a chastising look. "Do you want a vanilla cake? Spice cake? A red velvet cake in the shape of an armadillo?"
Harry giggled. "Why would he want a cake in the shape of an armadillo? That seems silly to me. Phil doesn't even like armadillos."
Phil smiled at his fiancée. "It's a movie thing, dear. You know Emma and her movies." He turned back to face Emma. "I guess a spice cake would be fine, something appropriate in shape...not an armadillo."
"Okay." Emma mentally checked that off her list. "The other thing is the final food tasting for the wedding. We need to set up a date sometime next week with Fiona Blake to make sure everything's to your liking."
"Why is that necessary?" Harry asked. "I mean, she knows what we want. She was nice enough to offer to cook for us because she's starting out. Surely it'll all be fine. And we tasted several different meals at other places before she offered to cook for us."
"You'd be surprised," Emma replied. "One of the first weddings I did, I had a bride who felt the same way. She wanted chicken marsala for her wedding because it was what she and her fiancé had had on their first date. They weren't able to get the restaurant to cater their wedding, so they went with someone else. The bride figured it would taste the same, but when the food was set in front of her, it was horrible. I felt bad, but I'd tried several times to get her in for a food tasting."
"Well, Fiona always cooks something terrific when we have potluck suppers at the church, so I don't see that being a problem. I see your point, though. When should we meet with Fiona? Because you know my schedule's flexible, and Phil...well, I shouldn't answer for Phil, I know he's always busy. Just part of God's work, right?"
Emma noticed that Phil's smile was a little strained, but she said nothing as she whipped out her date book. She rifled through a few pages until she came to the week in question. "Let's see...Phil, when do you have some free time next week?"
Phil closed his eyes and put his hands together, almost as if he were in prayer. After a moment, he said, "I believe I'll have time Tuesday, if that's amenable to you."
Emma looked at Tuesday with a small grimace. She had a date with Maria Bertram, her mother, and her aunt to look at potential reception sites, which would eat up the whole of the morning. Having met Rose Norris on several occasions, Emma wasn't looking forward to it.
In the afternoon, she had the final gown fittings for Lucy Steele's bridal party, and she had a feeling things weren't going to go smoothly. One of the bridesmaids, Charlotte Palmer, had just had a baby and had been unavailable for gown fittings until two weeks ago. Lucy had already called twice to wail that Charlotte hated the bridesmaids' dresses because they would make her look fat.
"Tuesday's not good," Emma admitted, and when she glanced at her calendar, she saw that the only real time she would have available was on Friday. She suggested it to the couple.
"Depends on what time it would be," Phil said, opening his eyes. "I have to leave Friday afternoon for a conference in Chicago. I'll be gone the whole weekend."
Harry turned pleading eyes to Emma, which she knew was a reminder not to mention to Phil what they would be doing while he was at his conference. Emma had forgotten that he was going in the excitement and frustration of her day, but now she remembered Harry's bachelorette party.
Damn. Where's Hetty when I need her? She glanced at her schedule again and said, "Friday morning would work for me, but I'd have to call Fiona to make sure it was all right with her."
Harry smiled and nodded her approval. She glanced at the doorway and said, "Anna and Jimmy are here."
"And about time, too," Emma said, looking at her watch in mock annoyance. "I was early for a change, and where's everyone else? Late."
"We are not late," Anna protested bent down to give Emma a quick hug before taking the seat to her right. "It's not even seven-thirty yet."
"So much for being fashionably late," Jimmy said, sitting next to his wife. "Hey, Phil, Harry. How are things going?"
"Great," Harry said, taking Phil's hand in hers. "Just great, except for certain people who keep putting off gown fittings because they have bigger fish to fry." Harry said this teasingly as she winked at Emma.
"What, again?" Anna did not look nearly as amused. "Emma, this is the fourth time you've put it off. I cleared space on my schedule just for this..."
"Which I told you was unnecessary. I'm perfectly capable of judging whether or not the dress is all right. And I'm not avoiding it altogether. I'm just going to be a little late because I have a meeting with a potential client, and I'm not saying another word until everyone else gets here." With that, she changed the subject. Knowing that Anna always had amusing stories about the kids she taught, Emma asked her how her day had gone.
"Oh, God," Anna groaned, burying her face in her hands for a second. "It was picture day at school."
A general groan arose from the table, for they all remembered picture days from when they'd been younger. Each student in the class had an individual picture taken for their families, and then the photographer took pictures of the class as a group. It was this second picture that always proved to be problematic.
"You remember Toby Lamb, from fourth grade?" Anna asked.
"That kid with the shoe polish? How could I forget? My white ruffled dress got ruined that day, no thanks to him."
"Well, his son T.J. is in my class, and he's not better than his father." Anna sighed. "At least it wasn't shoe polish. It was just a refusal to smile for the camera. He kept making faces at it."
"Yeah, but you always get someone who does that, don't you?" Harry asked.
"He was also giving it the finger."
"Classy," Emma said, rolling her eyes.
Phil was frowning. "What is wrong with today's youth?" he asked. "Or perhaps my question should be, what's wrong with today's parents? What kind of people can they be, if their son is going around making obscene gestures for cameras? Have you had other problems with this child?"
"Not on that level. I think he was saving up."
"Five years old, and they already know how horrible Picture Day is. Unbelievable," Emma said as she noticed Jane Fairfax striding into the restaurant with a bright smile on her face. "Uh-oh."
"What?" Jimmy asked.
"Jane does not look happy." Emma waved at her friend.
"What are you talking about? She's smiling," Phil said, confused.
"Yeah, but that's not a real smile. That's the kind of smile she has right before she announces that she's going to kill Frank. Dammit, they're fighting again." She gave Phil an apologetic look. "Sorry about that."
"It's all right. I can understand your frustration, only..."
"Try harder not to curse in front of the preacher man, I know." Emma smiled at him. "Hi, Janie!"
"Hello." She looked at Anna with pleading eyes. "I know it's a pain, since you're already seated, but..."
Anna sighed heavily. "Say no more." She got up and moved to Jimmy's other side so that Jane could sit next to Emma...and as far away from where Frank would have to sit as possible.
Emma, as she always did when Jane and Frank were fighting, felt a pang of guilt. Frank had been her boyfriend before he'd started dating Jane, a relationship which had lasted two years. If Emma were honest with herself, she'd say it had only lasted a year and a half, during which time Jane had returned from her "world travels" and had been introduced to the fledgling lawyer. Oh, Frank had tried to pretend he still loved her in the end, but Emma had done the right thing. She was a romantic at heart----how could she not be?----and she had stepped aside for true love.
Now, she couldn't help but wonder if she should've discouraged them, because the last year or so of their relationship had not gone well at all. It was a simple argument. Jane wanted to get married. Frank, with the lousy example of his foster parents and his aunt and uncle, didn't.
The entire table grew silent, no one wanting to be the one to ask the question that would open the floodgates. Emma glanced at her watch and motioned for their waiter to bring drinks. When Jane ordered a vodka martini, which was definitely not her drink of choice, Emma knew she'd have to be the one to do it.
Weak as water, the lot of them.
"Okay, Janie, what happened?" she asked once the waiter was gone.
Jane's cheerful facade disappeared so quickly, Emma would've thought she'd imagined it. Tears formed in her large blue eyes and her chin quivered. "He read my answers to t-that e-mail quiz you sent," she said. "And we got to t-talking about marriage, and where our relationship was going, and I asked him if he ever saw himself marrying me and he said he didn't know! Two years, and he doesn't know! Oh, Emma, what am I to doooo?" With that, Jane started sobbing loudly.
Emma flushed slightly and looked around the restaurant, which had a decent-sized crowd. The manager was looking over at them with a frown on his face, and she knew he remembered the fight Jane and Frank had had the last time the group had gotten together, even if it had been nine months ago.
"Bathroom," Anna mouthed over Jane's bent head. Emma nodded and stood up.
"Come on, Janie," she said briskly. "You don't want Frank to know you're crying about this, do you? You wouldn't give him the satisfaction, I know you wouldn't. So let's get you fixed up in a hurry."
Jane nodded. "You're right," she said, slowly rising to her feet. "The jerk."
Harry jumped up in a hurry, realizing where they were going. "I'll come," she said.
"No," Anna said. "If we all come back from the bathroom and Frank's here, he'll know she's told us. Let Emma go with her. It'll look less conspicuous that way."
Emma breathed a small sigh of relief as she led Jane to the bathroom. Harry was a sweet girl, but she didn't have the most tact in the world and she'd probably just come right out and ask Jane why she stayed with Frank. In Harry's mind, a couple either got married or broke up.
Goosen's ladies' room was one of the nicest Emma had ever been in. It reminded her of something you'd find in a posh restaurant rather than the local family place everyone went to on Sundays. She led Jane to the couch by the mirrors and practically forced her to sit down.
"Jane..." Emma wasn't sure where to start the conversation, in part because she didn't know what she wanted to say to her friend. She knew how much Jane loved Frank, and most of the time, Frank deserved her love. But when it came to marriage, Frank fell way short of deserving anything.
"H-he wants to know why we can't go on like we are now," Jane said in a low voice. "He says, 'Janie, I love you. You know I love you. Why do you need a piece of paper and a ceremony to prove it?'"
"Oh, God," Emma grumbled. "Does he not get it?"
Jane shook her head. "I don't think he does. In fact, I know he doesn't. It's not that Frank doesn't like change. For God's sake, look at his obsession with cars. But when it comes to personal stuff...he doesn't..."
Emma nodded in memory. "You can only get so far with him, and then he's content to remain where he is," she said. "I would've approached that with him if we'd lasted longer, I think. Although to be honest, I never saw myself marrying him."
"Well, I have. A lot. I think of my grandmother's dress...that beautiful dress she gave me before she went to the nursing home last Christmas...and I think of how it'll never be used again. I'll have to give it away because I won't be getting married in it!" This brought on a new burst of tears.
Emma frowned. "You know, you...you can still get married in it."
Jane gave her a vicious frown. "But I won't be marrying Frank, now will I? Not if I'm in a wedding dress. But I don't want to marry anyone but Frank, so I'll never wear it."
"I know you love him, Jane, but..." Emma paused. "Are you going to accept the fact that he doesn't want to marry you?"
"You make that sound like it's me he's rejecting. It's not. It's marriage."
Emma sighed. She knew that had come out wrong, and she wished she'd said it better. So much for my so-called tact, she thought wryly. "I'm sorry. I know it's not you. He didn't say he wanted to break up, after all. He just said he didn't want to get married. But you know where this is going."
Jane sniffled and nodded her head again. "I know. I have to decide whether or not I want to stay with him or break up because he won't marry me. I keep thinking that if I could just make him understand that I'm not his witch of an aunt and he's not his uncle..."
"You could try that."
"Yeah."
"Do you have any sort of plan at all for how you're going to accomplish this?" Emma asked. "You're going up against almost thirty years of history here."
"I...I guess I just...I should tell him that I want to get married or our relationship is over," Jane said. "That's where you're leading me, isn't it?"
"No!" Emma lied. "I wouldn't want to lead you anywhere. You have to decide for yourself what you want out of your relationship with Frank. You've said you want to marry him, that you can only see yourself as his wife and no one else's. He doesn't want to get married, not even to an angel like you."
"Would you stop with the angel stuff?" Jane said, sounding only slightly irritated.
Emma smiled. She'd known that would do the trick. "Do you see yourself accepting a life without marriage?" she asked. "Do you feel marriage is so important that you would risk losing Frank?"
Jane bit her lip. "I don't know," she said honestly. "Sometimes I think I'm just being foolish about getting married. You know, thinking that I have to do it. Grandma and Aunt Hetty have never condemned me for living with Frank without marrying him, but I can't help but feel that neither of them completely approves of it, either."
Emma didn't want to say that she knew for a fact Hetty was displeased with the situation. Hetty only mentioned it every chance she got.
"I want to marry Frank," Jane said, and this time she sounded more certain than she had before. "I want to be his wife, forever. And if he doesn't want that, then...then...it'll have to be over." She squared her shoulders and stood up, walking over to the mirror. She splashed water on her face, stared at her reflection for a few moments, then sighed. "When he sees how serious I am, he won't...he won't still refuse to marry me. He loves me enough to..."
Emma almost groaned as she saw uncertainty creep over Jane's determined face. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in, she thought. "He does," Emma said, hoping to avert disaster. "And if he doesn't, then Janie, he doesn't deserve you. Okay?"
"Okay." Jane sniffled, then tried to smile. "How do I look, Em?"
Like you've just been crying in the bathroom, Emma wanted to say. But she couldn't, otherwise Jane would never leave. "You look good, like you always do." She put an arm around Jane's shoulder. "Come on. Let's have dinner, congratulate Jordan on retiring, and think positively."
Posted on Thursday, 25 March 2004
By the time Jane and Emma returned to the table, Bobby Martin had called to cancel----he was covering a sick co-worker's shift. Emma was disappointed, although she knew him the least of all her friends. Bobby had been a friend of Harry's, and he'd started working at Luigi's in the last weeks of Emma's employment there. It hadn't given her much time to get to know him as well as Harry had, but Jordan liked him and that was enough for Emma.
"Where's Jordan?" Emma asked.
"Where's Frank?" Jane asked at the same time.
The people seated at the table looked uncomfortable. "We haven't heard from either of them," Phil admitted with his usual candor. "Would you like me to call Jordan, Emma? A good dose of guilt from his friendly neighborhood reverend might get him here faster than anything else."
"Or, knowing Jordan, he'll just laugh and know I put you up to it," Emma said. "Give him until eight, then call him. There are all sorts of legitimate reasons why he's not here." She practically forced Jane into a chair when her face turned white. "As for Frank, he's probably got business keeping him back. You know he's never on time unless it's for work."
"Yeah," Jane said softly before taking her vodka martini and downing half of it.
"Hey! Go easy on that, will you?" Anna gave Emma a worried look. Emma returned it, but what could they do? She'd spent ten minutes trying to cheer Jane up without success. The only thing that would make her happy was for Frank to ask her to marry him, and it didn't look like that was going to happen anytime soon.
They were saved by Jordan's arrival. The moment he stepped into the restaurant, people stared at him, wondering for a second if it was really him, then realizing that it was. Highbury's prodigal son had come home to stay at last.
Jordan Knightley was an attractive man----he was tall, muscular, and in addition to having thick brown hair that invited a woman's hands to run through it, he had deep green eyes that could pierce a soul or be brimming over with good humor. But it was his face that attracted the most attention, and annoyed him the most. The year after he'd been named to People's Twenty-five Sexiest Bachelors list, he'd tried to disguise his looks with beards and mustaches, only to realize how foolish he was being. Besides, it hadn't helped, as he'd become a regular on the list.
To Emma, he would always be "just Jordan," the brother-in-law of her sister, the guy who irritated her by pointing out her flaws, the man who would be there in a pinch for anyone who needed his help. Sure, he was attractive, but his good looks had little effect on her.
"Jordan! We were going to send out a search party," Emma said, standing up to give him a peck on the cheek.
"I'm not that late, Emma, you're just impatient," Jordan said, returning the gesture. After greeting the rest of the assembled group, he took a seat at the other end of the table. "Who are we missing?"
"Frank," Harry said.
Jordan glanced at Jane, assessed the situation in seconds, and said, "I'm starving. Anyone else? Let's order."
Yes, anything to get our minds off the fact that Frank isn't here and it's killing Jane, Emma thought as she placed her order. When Jordan's drink arrived, Emma stood up to propose a toast.
"To Jordan, who has for many years been the handsomest green-eyed man to play left field in Major League Baseball," she said with a twinkle in her eye. "Although I fear that you may wind up puttering around doing nothing, I hope that your retirement is as fulfilling as your career."
"To Jordan," everyone chorused, raising their glasses before taking a drink.
"Thank you Em...I think. And thanks to all of you guys for being here. I really appreciate it," Jordan said. "I've made a lot of friends while playing ball, but none of them are as precious to me as you guys are. I mean that."
"I'm flattered," Harry said. "I mean, to be considered a friend of yours and all. You hardly know me and..."
Phil put a hand over Harry's, which had the effect of shutting her up without asking her to be quiet. Emma wasn't sure she liked him cutting her off like that but she said nothing. Harry never complained, so why should she make trouble for her?
Jordan smiled at Harry. "No need to be flattered, Harry. I'm just a guy."
"Yeah, but most guys don't wind up as one of the Sexiest Bachelors in the World," Emma teased. She was one of the only people who could tease Jordan about this without him leaving the table in disgust.
Jordan gave her an infuriated look but said nothing.
"Have you given any more thought to what you're going to do now that you've retired?" Jimmy asked. "I read in the Post-Dispatch that you're thinking of going into sports analysis for ESPN."
Jordan nodded slowly. "They made an offer," he said. "I don't think I'm going to take it, at least not this year, anyway. I've decided I need a little time off from baseball altogether."
"So buying you Cardinals season tickets for Christmas is out?" Jimmy asked.
"No, you can still get me that. I just meant that doing anything other than watching baseball would be out for a while. I'd really like to relax for a year, think everything over, then decide what I want to do. Maybe I'll go back to college and work on my master's."
"What did you get your bachelor's in?" Phil asked.
"Psychology. If baseball hadn't worked out, I wanted to get into criminal psychology. It always fascinated me."
"You should see his library, Phil," Emma said. "He's got an entire section devoted to serial killers, mentally ill killers, psychology studies...it's frightening. It's a good thing you never married, Jordan, because your wife would've thought you were plotting to kill her with all those books on your shelves."
"I think it sounds interesting," Harry said. "Although I imagine I'd be terrified to read about serial killers. I have trouble enough sitting through horror movies, not that I do it anymore, of course." She gave Phil a fond look and ran her hand through his hair.
"Jordan, I've been sitting here for ten minutes trying to figure out how to ask you something without seeming presumptuous," Anna said. "My kindergarten class is...well, last week I asked all of them who their favorite celebrity was, and about half of the boys picked you. A few of the girls, too. They think you're 'cute for a boy.'"
"He's certainly that," Jane said, giving Jordan what might've passed for a flirtatious look. It would've been more effective had it not been for the sadness in her eyes.
"High praise from five-year-old girls indeed," Jordan said to Anna. "I'm guessing you'd like for me to come talk with them. Tell them about how cool being a baseball player is and all that."
Anna nodded. "And there's one boy..." She paused. "He's very shy. His father left his mother for another man and all the kids on the playground, hearing about this from their parents, tease him because of it. I see him sitting by himself sometimes and it just breaks my heart. He was one of the boys who mentioned you and I thought if you could..."
Jimmy put an arm around his wife to comfort her. Jordan looked at the two of them without speaking for a moment. "When do you want me to come for a visit?" he asked. "Do you need permission from the principal?"
"I do, but it shouldn't be a problem. I thought maybe you could play a little game of whiffleball with the kids, something fun, and answer questions."
Jordan nodded. "Get everything cleared with the school, and I'll be glad to show up. You know, I might even ask Bertram if he wants to come along. He could use come cheering up. Be sure to point out the little boy to me."
Anna got up from her chair and hugged Jordan. "You're the greatest. Has anyone mentioned that to you lately?"
"Too much for my own good, I'm afraid," Jordan said as Anna returned to her seat.
"How's Eddie doing?" Emma asked. She'd met the tall, attractive pitcher several times and might've flirted with him had he not been married. He was currently going through a messy divorce.
"Not well." And that was all Emma knew Jordan would say on the matter. When it came to his friends and their personal lives, especially a friend as well-known as Eddie Bertram, Jordan kept their secrets. Although she was dying with curiosity, she admired him more because he wouldn't say anything.
When conversation fell dead, Emma decided to bring up her big news. "Well, I am about to take on the biggest client I've ever had."
"Oh?" Jordan asked. "Someone big enough that you'll stop sending me e-mail quizzes?"
"Admit it. You like filling out those quizzes. You learn something about yourself when you do them," Emma said.
"No. They're a nuisance and they clutter up my inbox." Jordan took a drink from his scotch and soda. "Who's the big client?"
Emma took a deep breath and said, "Susan Vernon."
No one spoke for a moment. Emma thought they didn't know who she was. "I'm sure you guys have heard of her. She runs Vernon Enterprises, the ones who make..."
"We know who she is," Jordan said. "I'm just not sure that's who you want to be working for. She owns a chunk of the Kellynch Knights, and the rumor is that if she blocked our chance to make the playoffs this year by refusing to expand payroll so we could make a trade. Not only that, but she refused to trade Ray Mackey when every guy in the clubhouse wanted him gone."
"Aunt Hetty says she's already gone through three wedding coordinators," Jane said.
"She's only interviewed those others. She didn't say she'd actually hired any of them, and when did you talk to Hetty?"
"I called her during lunch to talk about...well, to talk. She told me that you were skipping out on the dress fitting tomorrow to meet with this woman."
"Postponing, okay? I am not skipping out, as I told Harry. I'm just putting it off for an hour or so. I will get in for the fitting tomorrow." Emma smiled. "I'm in demand, and I love it! Sue me for being happy."
"Don't think I won't," Jane said before finishing off her first drink and ordering another.
Jordan said, "She may not have hired any anyone for this wedding, but..."
Emma frowned. "Just what does that mean?"
"Her daughter Erica was engaged before, about two years ago. Her former fiancé's father owned the Knights before Susan Vernon and her investment group got a hold of it. She ran out on their wedding day. Rumor had it Erica didn't want to marry the guy but was being forced into it by her mother."
"Foolish girl," Jane said bitterly. "She should've been happy that some guy was willing to marry her. Guys always say they love you, but they really don't want to settle down. She had someone and walked out on him!"
"Jane, put yourself in her shoes. Would you want to marry someone your Aunt Hetty picked out for you?" Harry asked. "Poor girl. Why didn't she refuse to marry him in the first place?"
"You've never met Susan Vernon," Jordan said. "But she went through about five different coordinators before settling on Maggie Crawford, and after Erica ran out on the wedding, she tried to refuse to pay."
"How could it be the coordinator's fault that her daughter refused to get married?" Jimmy asked.
"It goes with the turf," Emma said. "When your wedding day is perfect, no one says anything. Hel----heck, half the time, I don't even get credit for what I've done. The bride and her family take credit for everything, and the only mention I get is, 'she helped with the incidentals.' When everything goes wrong, it's because I must've done something to screw things up."
"Is that true?" Phil asked. "I mean, does that always happen?"
Emma shook her head. "Well, I've never had a bride walk out on the wedding day." She knocked on the wood table. "I'm hoping it never happens, either. But I've had my share of problems pop up. Like this one time, the father of the bride got drunk and tried to take a swing at the groom for 'stealing his little girl.' The mother of the bride said it was my fault because I should've kept him away from the liquor cabinet. The worst part was, I couldn't point out to her that she'd been the one to give him a drink because he'd been so nervous."
"That won't be a problem at my wedding," Harry said with a little giggle. "My father's so excited that I'm marrying Phil that he'll probably gallop me down the aisle!"
"And Phil's so excited about being married to her that he'll probably gallop her back as soon as the ceremony's over," Jane said. Emma was getting seriously worried about her.
"I don't know about that," Phil said. "Galloping isn't dignified in a church. I might walk quickly, but I wouldn't gallop."
"Spoilsport," Jimmy said, laughing.
Emma looked at Jordan, who still looked worried. "Jordan, if I think it's going to be too much, I won't take the job," she lied. She had no intention of turning down the job that could make her a known name among wedding coordinators. "I have a lot going right now, so it's not like I'm dying for business. But...this is Susan Vernon, and...oh! I forgot to tell you guys who her daughter's marrying!"
"Who?" Harry asked, her eyes bright with excitement.
"Matthew St. James." Emma was pleased by the silence that fell on the table at the name. "So you see, it's in my best interest to do everything I can to get Susan as a client."
"I wouldn't mind having to spend time with him," Anna said dreamily, earning her a frown from her husband.
"He's not as cute as Jordan," Jane said. "Matthew St. James has never made a 'Sexy Bachelor's List.'"
"Is everyone determined to give me grief about that?" Jordan asked, annoyed. "What, did you have a secret meeting before I showed up?"
"That'll teach you to be late," Jimmy said.
"Emma told me not to mention it," Harry said in confusion. "I thought no one else..."
"I start out with the best of intentions," Emma said. "I really do. It's just that I start to look at his pretty face and I can't help but fall in looooove. And then I remember the People thing."
"You know, I just had a thought," Jordan said. "By marrying Erica Vernon, Matthew St. James is about to insure that he never appears on a list of sexy bachelors. Maybe I should think about getting married."
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Face it, Jordan. God blessed you with major hitting talent and good looks. You've done everything you can with the former and you've done everything short of plastic surgery to detract from the latter. Accept the inevitable. You're gorgeous," Emma said.
"Plastic surgery. I hadn't thought of that, either." Jordan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Just then, the waiter approached with a domed tray in his hand. It was unique because Goosen's didn't serve their food that way.
"Emma, there's not a horse's head under there for me, is there?" Jordan asked as the waiter stopped at their table.
"I didn't, but I don't put anything past Jimmy," Emma replied.
"Actually, this is for Miss Jane Fairfax," the waiter said. "I was told she'd be with Mr. Knightley."
The entire table turned to look at Jane, who was moodily staring at her refreshed drink. Jimmy gave her a gentle nudge, and Jane said, "What?"
"He's got something for you," Phil said, making his displeasure known with a frown at Jane.
"Oh. Is it from you guys? 'Cuz that's so sweet of you."
The waiter took the dome off of the tray and presented it to Jane with a flourish. Sitting on the silver tray was a cupcake.
"I'm not very hungry, though," she said, waving the tray away. "In fact, I may never eat again. Or maybe I'll start pigging out. Then Frank will leave me and I'll be free of him and..."
Emma gasped, because when the waiter ignored Jane's request to get rid of the cupcake and instead set it on her plate, she saw the flash of a diamond ring. Jane, along with everyone else, looked at her. Emma was so excited that she couldn't speak. She pointed at the cupcake. She finally managed to squeal, "Look!"
Jane's mouth dropped open when she saw the ring. Her face went very pale and she gripped the table hard enough to turn her knuckles white. She turned to the waiter, who hadn't left, and asked, "Where is he?"
The waiter smiled at her and pointed across the restaurant. Frank had been at the restaurant all along. He gave them a small wave, stood up, and walked over to them. Before anyone could say anything, he plucked the ring out of the cupcake and got down on one knee.
"Jane, I thought about what you said the other day and I realized how selfish I was being. You deserve..." Frank faltered, and Emma feared he was going to change his mind. "You deserve so much more than me."
Emma heard Jordan say, "Yes, she does." She glared at him, glad to see that it looked like no one else had heard him.
"No, I don't," Jane said, starting to cry.
"You deserve to have someone who will give you the wedding you want. Someone who wants to make you the center of his world. Someone who sees himself growing old with you." Frank paused again. "I'm going to be honest with you. Doing this scares the hell out of me. But...but the thought of a life without you scares me more."
Oh, no, don't let that sound as bad as I think it does, Emma thought. Don't let him be saying he's only getting married because she wants to get married. Please let him be doing this because he wants to marry her.
"You already know you're the center of my world. I'm ready for the world to know it, too. Jane, will you marry me?"
Frank barely got the words out before Jane threw her arms around him and said, "Yes!" The restaurant applauded as he held her close to him.
Emma smiled and applauded with everyone else. Nice recovery, Frank. You get to live after all.