“Easier for me than for you, I guess. I haven’t seen any of the Hamilton brothers either. Last weekend, only Simon played. I had to send some of my guys over to play on the other team.”

“I guess everyone’s been busy. Dave and Jamie are working on this business thing. It’s taking up a lot of their time.”

“Cooper leaves soon too, right? For his missionary service?”

I nodded. “The first week in October.”

Gaspard buzzed through again. “Hey, text me Javie’s schedule,” I said to Carlos. “I’ll come watch her play sometime.”

He smiled. “She’d like that.”

Fortunately, Gaspard’s needs were mild. Raspberry honey sauce with the coconut shrimp appetizer instead of blackberry. Since the printed menus read “berry honey sauce,” I figured no one even needed to know we’d replaced one with the other. Those were my favorite kinds of problems. The ones that didn’t involve seeking out already stressed bridal party members or very busy wedding planners.

Gaspard clearly had a handle on everything in the kitchen. April and Ida were managing check-in for the few wedding guests still trickling in. And everything outside, at least everything that could be done ahead of time, was ready to go. Which meant . . . I was technically done for the day. I glanced at my watch. At twelve thirty.

My phone buzzed with an incoming text, this one from Simon. Had an appointment cancel, so I’m suddenly free. Do you have time to look over inn financials?

Oddly, my afternoon is clear as well. Meet here? Or I can come to you this time.

I’ll come there. See you in a few.

I headed back to my office to wait for Simon. He knocked on my door a few minutes after I got there myself.

“Come on in,” I called.

“Looks like you’re throwing quite a party out there,” Simon said. He closed the door behind him before walking to my desk, where I’d just sat down.

“We have a wedding tomorrow morning, which is why it’s so weird that I have nothing to do this afternoon. Normally I’m working like crazy to get everything finished.”

“Was this one easier?”

“Not really. I just spaced the work out a little better. That, and Jamie’s been in California, so I’ve worked late the past two nights.”

“Ah yes. I know well the perks of a long-distance relationship. No reason to ever leave work.”

“How’s Karen doing? Has the dig been successful?” We’d talked about her a few different times in our various interactions. Enough that I felt like I’d gotten to know her a little. I hoped I could meet her one day. If she ever came back to the country, anyway.