Free No Falling Allowed (No Kissing Allowed) by Melissa West Page B

program in place, a tiny packet of tissues with the bride and groom’s names on the cellophane packet, and a single mint, also with their names.
    “What do you think?”
    I turned around, surprised to have not heard anyone approach. “Your heels didn’t make a sound.”
    The woman beamed. “I’ve had practice.”
    I smiled back. “You must be Annalise.”
    “I am.” She reached out a hand to me. “And you must be Grace.” Her blond hair was pulled back in a messy, low bun, her face perfectly made up, and she wore a simple black dress and black pumps. At a best guess, she was in her forties, but in a city where age could be erased with a few injections, it was difficult to say for sure.
    “I am. And this is amazing,” I said, motioning around us. “Absolutely amazing. Magical, even. I can’t believe you did all of this.”
    She peered around, taking in her work. “It is beautiful, isn’t it? But it’s not me. It’s the venue, my team, and that special something that I can’t quite explain in any other way than to simply call it love. A wedding is magical. Two people committing to spend the rest of their lives together. That sort of love and devotion changes the air, changes everything around it. I only help shape it here and there to create what I hope to be the perfect day for them.”
    My heart warmed at her words and the contentment so apparent on her face. Clearly, she loved her job, and that sort of love was very convincing. Maybe this could work for me after all, and though it might not be an office job, like what Dad wanted, it was a career. A career creating a beautiful day that would remain in people’s memories for the rest of their lives. The thought of doing this, building a couple’s wedding from start to finish, made me hopeful for the first time since being laid off from the Met.
    “I think you’ve succeeded. This has to be one of the loveliest things I’ve ever seen.”
    Annalise smiled at me again. “You know, I was just thinking the same of you, dear. If you smile around the office like you are now, you will have clients begging to work with you. See, that’s the key to wedding planning. Anyone can follow a schedule and plan an event. It takes something extra to make it personal for the couple, to show them that it means as much to you as it does to them. You have that quality.”
    “I hope so, because I really feel I would be good at this. I’m willing to learn, and I’m a hard worker. Just ask Margo.”
    She walked around me and began adjusting a floral arrangement. “I have, and Margo speaks very highly of you. Well, let’s get you settled in and see how you feel after your first wedding. It’s a busy one!” She winked over at me and then passed me a schedule of tasks to be completed every ten to fifteen minutes from now until the reception ended.
    “I’ll say.”
    I spent the rest of the afternoon and evening following Annalise around, doing whatever she asked, the moment she asked, directing wait staff, and generally loving every minute of it. By the time the reception came to a close, the bride and groom dancing in the center of the dance floor while a jazz band played “The Way You Look Tonight,” I was so thrilled with the day that I would have almost agreed to work for free so long as Annalise gave me a job. Almost.
    “You were wonderful,” she said from beside me. “And as it sits, Perfectly acquired a major wedding down South. My Southern manager just went out on maternity leave, so I have been traveling there myself, but I could use an extra set of hands. If you are interested?”
    A grin took over my face, and I threaded my fingers together, unable to remain still. “So you’re offering me a job?”
    “Absolutely. I think you will fit in well here. Why don’t you come by my office Monday morning to go over the specifics. Does that sound okay?”
    I peered around as the rest of the guests joined the bride and groom on the dance floor, the whole thing