AnnieMarie, Winnie and Monica were still at the table and Daisy was in the kitchen when the back door opened.
“Hey,” AnnieMarie glanced at her watch. “What are you guys doing here?”
Chrystina and Myles walked in. “The last time I checked this was still my mother’s home too.” Myles replied as he kissed Winnieford on the cheek.
“We wanted to stop by with news before going into the office,” Chrystina replied.
“Hello Chrystina,” AnnieMarie gave her a hug.
“I wasn’t sure I was still one of your favorite people after yesterday,” Chrystina hugged her back.
“You were a bit bossy,” AnnieMarie smiled. “But I know you were looking out for my safety.”
“Yes, she was,” Myles reached out and hugged her. “And so was I.”
“Hello Mrs. Michael,” Chrystina spoke. “How are you this morning?”
“Nice and full,” Monica replied. “Daisy prepared the most delicious pancakes. I worry about my youthful figure while a guest here.”
“Yes, Daisy will do that to you,” Myles smiled. “Good morning Daisy.”
“Hello Myles and Chrystina,” Daisy replied, “What are you two all smiles about?”
Myles turned to his mother. “After all the drama of yesterday, we decided to set a wedding date.”
“What?” Everyone cheered.
“When?” AnnieMarie cheerfully asked.
“The end of next month,” Myles replied as he pulled Chrystina into his arms.
“A month?” AnnieMarie protested. “That is not enough time.”
“We have to order flowers, get a caterer….” Winnie responded.
“A wedding planner, photographer, I could go on,” AnnieMarie declared.
“My sister is going to coordinate everything.”
The room fell silent. All eyes fell on Chrystina.
“What sister?” AnnieMarie asked.
“My sister, Gina.”
Winnie, AnnieMarie and Daisy glanced from one to another. AnnieMarie walked over and placed a hand on Chrystina’s forehead. “It doesn’t seem like you have a fever. Have you lost your mind?” She shouted with hands on hips. “You are putting the most important day of your life as a couple in the hands of a woman who thinks that a Gucci knock off is a great find? I refuse to allow that to happen.”
“We thought you would feel that way,” Myles replied. “Then we all agree, you are going to work with her to ensure our day is perfect.”
AnnieMarie was certain the expression on her face relayed her shock. “Say what?” She asked in a voice that was unfamiliar to her.
“I think that is a wonderful idea,” Winnie cheered with a clap of her hands.
“You think what is a wonderful idea?”
“You and Gina coordinating their wedding,” she turned to Chrystina. “Now the big question is who is going to do your gown?”
“I would love to help with that,” Monica raised her hand. “I made gowns all the time at home.”
“You are a designer?” Chrystina asked.
“I am. Would you like to see some of my brides?” Monica pulled her phone from her pocket, scrolled through then held up a picture.
“Oh my God, that is beautiful,” Chrystina gasped.
AnnieMarie stepped over to look at the picture. She looked at Monica in disbelief. “That is gorgeous. You made this?”
“I did.” Monica smiled.
“How long did it take you?” Chrystina asked.
“Once we selected the material,” she shrugged, “A few weeks.”
“I’m a pretty healthy girl,” Chrystina advised. “Do you think I would be able to get something like this?”
“Sure. Hand me the phone.” They gave the phone back to Monica. She scrolled through the phone a little longer, then gave the phone back to Chrystina. “This is another bride I helped.”
Chrystina and AnnieMarie gasped. “Okay. I’m convinced Mrs. Michael. When can we start?” Chrystina beamed.
“Start what?” Aunt Viv asked as she walked through the door with her husband Ken.
“Aunt Viv,” AnnieMarie held her arms out for a hug. “Myles and Christina have set a date for their wedding.”
“Congratulations,” Viv hugged Chrystina as Ken shook Myles’ hand.
“When is the date?” Ken asked.
“A month from now.” Myles replied. “We have no reason to wait any longer.”
“Where will the wedding be?” Viv asked. “You know places are selected a year in advance these days. You’re about eleven months behind the eight ball.”
“Until we walked in the door, we hadn’t planned out anything,” Chrystina laughed. “In less than thirty minutes, I have a dress designer and wedding coordinators.”
“The Estate,” AnnieMarie suggested. “It has a huge garden if you want to do outdoors and two ballrooms if you want to do inside.”
“And that gorgeous staircase,” Viv added. “I think that would be perfect. We will have to really look at the condition of it since Walker lived there, but the space is certainly large enough for up to six hundred guests.”
“Oh,” Chrystina waved her off, “We won’t have that many people.”
Myles raised an eyebrow, as did Winnie.
“Yeah you will,” AnnieMarie giggled. “As to the upkeep, I was there last night. A few cosmetic things need to be done, but the house is in pretty good condition.” She turned to her Aunt Viv. “In fact, that’s why I asked you over here.”
“That is our cue to leave,” Myles stated.
“Mrs. Michael may I call you later today to set an appointment to discuss a dress?”
“Please do,” Monica replied as she stood. “I will get some ideas together for you.” She ran up the back staircase.
“Thank you,” Chrystina waved as she and Myles were walking out. “We’ll talk to everyone later.”
“Okay, young lady,” Viv looked at AnnieMarie, as she took Monica’s vacated seat. “What about the estate?”
“What are you planning on doing with the estate?” AnnieMarie asked.
Viv and Ken glanced at each other. Viv cleared her throat then looked at Winnie. “I was thinking about putting it on the market. There are so many great memories there, but some overwhelming ones as well. Walker and Hepburn were a part of those memories. Ken and I talked about it and we know we are not interested in living there. The girls, well, they aren’t interested in the estate.” She shrugged. “I was going to talk with you about it before we did anything, Winnie.”
“It’s your parents’ home,” Winnie took her hand. “You don’t have to get my okay to do anything with it.”
“You are…were Hepburn’s wife. I would not do anything without checking with you. Myles is about to get married, maybe he would like to move in there.”
“No,” AnnieMarie jumped into the conversation. “I would like to buy the estate.”
Viv frowned. “That place is huge AnnieMarie,” she glanced at Ken. “At least ten thousand square feet.” She shook her head in disbelief. “You would get lost in that place.”
“No Aunt Viv, I wouldn’t. I know every inch of that house. From the attic down to the basement. I know how grandfather changed the filters in the furnace. Hell, it will be one of the first things I replace when I move in. I hate those filters. I love that house Aunt Viv. I want to buy it, now. I’m willing to do a straight cash purchase.”
“AnnieMarie the house is going to sell for millions,” her Uncle Ken said.
“Uncle Ken, I did an internet search last night. I know the market value for the property. I am willing to pay that plus ten percent more. I want Dunning Estate.”
Ken and Viv gazed at each other. “Well, we aren’t going to ask you to pay any extra, AnnieMarie,” Ken said as his gaze slowly moved from his wife to AnnieMarie. “We have discussed putting it on the market,” he shrugged then turned back to his wife. “It’s your property, Viv. What do you think?”
“If you need time to think about it Viv,” Winnie smiled as she patted Aunt Viv’s hand. “Take it. This was your family home.”
“It is,” Aunt Viv said. “But I don't need time to think about it.” She looked at Ken. “Did we get the keys back from Jerome?”
“Yes, he dropped them off this morning,” Ken replied.
“Give the keys to AnnieMarie,” she smiled at her. “I’d rather see family in it than strangers.”
AnnieMarie jumped up with a squeal. “Yes, oh my God. Thank you Aunt Viv.” She beamed at her Uncle Ken. “How soon can we do the paperwork?”
Ken smiled at her. “As soon as I get back to the office, I’ll begin the process. Whatever the market price is we’ll take it.”
AnnieMarie hugged her Uncle. “Thank you, so much.” She turned to her Aunt Viv. “I promise to care for it with the knowledge that this is a part of our legacy.”
Viv smiled at her. “I know you will AnnieMarie. I know how much the estate means to you.”
Winnie turned to Daisy. “I think we have something to celebrate. Daisy, let’s open a bottle of champagne.”
“We don’t have any,” came Daisy’s dry response.
“Of course we do, Daisy. If not open a bottle of wine.” Winnie laughed.
“I have plans Aunt Viv,” AnnieMarie started talking, sharing her plans with her aunt.
Daisy poured glasses of champagne for everyone, but did not participate in the celebration. A few hours later, Ken and Viv left to get the paperwork drawn up for the transfer of the estate. Winnie was closing the door behind AnnieMarie who left to go to the office.
Daisy waited until she and Winnie were alone. As soon as the door closed she spoke. “AnnieMarie cannot live in that house alone, Winnie.”
“You have been against this since AnnieMarie brought it up this morning. What’s with you?”
“I’m not against it,” Daisy said as she began putting things away. “It’s a big damn house. That girl will be in there by herself. Aren’t any of you concerned about her being there alone? What if the people after that Scott boy find out about her? None of you considered they may come after her to get to him? ”
“She’s not moving in there right away,” Winnie nodded. “Renovations have to be done before she can officially move in.”
“Did you not see the excitement in that child’s eyes, Winnie. That girl is going to move as soon as she has the keys in her hands.”
“Well, we know how to secure the house, Daisy. We can put a team in place there just like we have you and Jerome here. She is going to be just fine.”
“Maybe once the Scott issue is over, it will be okay. But right now, I am concerned with her being there alone.”
Daisy could only hope that Winnie was buying the explanation she was giving. There was no way she could tell her that it wasn’t a good idea for AnnieMarie to be fumbling around in that house. There were family secrets that needed to stay secret.