Free Iced Tea by Sheila Horgan Page A

available, we can do the cooking, we charge the price of the food, plus the hourly salary of the staff preparing it.   You can always have friends or family do the food, but Sugar, we can get the food cheaper than you can, we can do it more efficiently than you can, and you don’t want that problem on your wedding day.   For a wedding celebration the size of yours, as long as you decide buffet, I think three staff will be adequate, and if you don’t mind a bad joke or two, I know my husband would love to be one of those three.   He charges a dance with the bride.”
    Morgan didn’t know how to respond.   “I don’t know what to say.   I never imagined all of this.   I didn’t even know it was possible.   I can’t ask you to do all of this.   This is the first time we’ve met.   This is too much.   I really appreciate the offer, but I just can’t let you do this.”   She started to tear up again.
    “Sugar, if you don’t want to have your wedding here, I understand.   If the reason you don’t want to have your wedding here is a case of budget, or me, or some silly sense of propriety, you just need to stop, besides, I’m not done with you yet.   Listen to it all, then make your decision.”
    Jovana walked back out to the ballroom and shared her vision.   She outlined every cost, every option, and every alternative.   When she was done, Teagan, who had been taking notes, handed Morgan the results.
    “Oh Dear Lord.   For less money than we were going to spend to have our wedding at a little tiny church and our reception in a broken down meeting hall, we could have it here.   This just doesn’t make sense.   This can’t be right.”
    “Well, there is one more thing Sugar.”
    “What?”
    “AJ tells me that you are a website designer.   A graphic artist.   The numbers I called out are my cost on everything and the reason it’s such a great deal is that I didn’t add in any profit at all.   Instead of charging you for the regular profit I make, I’d like to propose that you help us with our website, and you design 12 flyers for us to use in the bar over the next 12 months.   I’ll supply you with whatever you need, but you do the work.”
    “Barter?   Your beautiful ballroom and wedding coordination, for my web design and a few flyers?   Hardly seems fair.”
    “Sugar, things only have the value that is assigned them in this life.  
When I was younger, some guy decided that a rock was worth some money, gave it a name, put it in a box, even made accessories for it, and the Pet Rock was born.   I have the facilities and the knowledge to help you with a beautiful wedding.   You have the knowledge and the tools to help me with my website and flyers.   You let me know if this is something you want to do.”
    “I should talk to Liam.”
    “Just give me a call when you make a decision Sugar.”
    Morgan’s phone rang.   “Speak of the devil.”   She smiled.  
    As Morgan excused herself and walked to the other end of the building, I thanked Jovana, gave her a hug, and told her she is forever a part of the family.
    Morgan came back, a smile lighting up her face.   “He said yes.   Anything I want.”
    “So we’re going to do it?”
    “I can’t believe it, but yes, I would love to get married here.”
    “Well then Sugar, I got a bunch of stuff down in the office, from the people to call for your insurance, to check lists to make sure we got everything covered.   The only thing better than a wedding is the birth of a child.   Thank you for letting me be a part of it.”
    It started out very quietly, then the music got a bit louder, then louder still.   A beautiful waltz.   Jovana’s husband walked into the ballroom, a smile on his face.   With great aplomb he took Morgan’s hand, bowed, and said, “May I have this dance?”  
    She smiled.
    He escorted to her to dance floor, where they began a beautiful waltz, spinning and posing.  
    “Wow, she’s introducing the