Free Julia 03 - Miss Julia Throws a Wedding by Ann B. Ross

thing Monday, I want you to call all the fencing companies in town and get some estimates. Then, as soon as the wedding’s over and things calm down, we’ll contract for a fence. It’ll cost us, but I expect we can take it off our taxes as a capital improvement. In the meanwhile, I’ll dealwith Mr. Carter. Just as soon as he replaces those lightbulbs, and I find somebody to replace him.”
    We smiled at each other, both of us pleased with our management strategy and how well we worked together. It’s never too early to teach a child the ins and outs of business. Although Little Lloyd’s first lesson was going to cost me an arm and a leg to fence the place in. Still, there was some satisfaction in knowing that I was thinking of doing something that Wesley Lloyd wouldn’t’ve done in a million years.
    We were on the other side of Delmont by the time Little Lloyd worked himself up to another worry.
    “Miss Julia? I bet I know who’s doing all that stealing.”
    “Who?”
    “I bet it’s that ole Dixon Hightower, don’t you?”

Chapter 8
     
     
    That night, as Lillian cleared the table before serving her lemon chiffon pie, I brought my guests up to date on what Hazel Marie and I had accomplished during the day.
    Then Binkie got down to business. “So what’s left to do, Miss Julia? Sounds like everything’s about done.”
    “Not even halfway,” I said. “We’ve been on the phone all day, and everybody we’ve talked to is coming. But, I’ll tell you something, Binkie, there’re people you’ve overlooked, like the sheriff, for instance. And what about a county commissioner or two and some of the judges you know? You have to think of your future, both of you. You may not be particularly close to these people, but they’ll consider it an honor to be asked and they’ll remember it. They can do you good down the line.”
    Binkie twisted her mouth, but finally gave in. “I hate to ask them just because I’m supposed to, but okay. That’ll bring the count up to fifty or sixty, though. Can we get all of them in here?”
    “I’m sure we can. The living room will be a nice-sized room, once I have the furniture moved out. You’ll be surprised how much space we’ll have with that heavy sofa gone, the chairs and that huge desk. And the whatnot that I’ve been wanting rid of ever since Wesley Lloyd insisted on putting it in there. I intend to move everything out to make room for the chairs and piano. That rental place closed at one o’clock today and Ihad to track the man down at home. He was pleasant enough when he heard what all I wanted to order.”
    Hazel Marie, her face glowing in the light of the candles on the table, said, “We’re going to set up the chairs so there’s an aisle for you to walk down, Binkie.” Mr. Pickens sat across from her, his black eyes watching her every move. “It’s going to be lovely.”
    “Where will I walk from? The kitchen and through the dining room or from the porch?” Binkie laughed. “Or maybe I’ll swing in through the window on a vine.”
    “Oh, Binkie,” I said. “From the stairs, of course. The only problem with that is if you have a dress with a train, every time you take a step down the stairs, the thing’ll come swishing down around your feet and be a hazard to life and limb.”
    “Little Lloyd could help with that,” Sam chimed in, surprising me that he knew the first thing about weddings. “He could hold it up for her as she comes down the stairs, then spread it out at the bottom. Isn’t somebody supposed to do that, anyway?”
    “Yes, they are, Sam,” I said. “And that’s an excellent idea. Little Lloyd, don’t look so anxious, you’ll do fine.”
    “I’m not going to have a train,” Binkie said. “So forget that little chore, Lloyd. No, we’re both going to wear jeans. Coleman’s going to wear a Duke sweatshirt, and I have a Wake Forest one that’ll look great with a veil.”
    “Oh!” I gasped. “Binkie, you