Be Mine Forever (A St. Helena Vineyard Novel) by Marina Adair Page B

if she was qualified to prepare their toddlers for Julliard.
    That it was hosted by the Garden Society, which was constructed of the PTA mafia and other ladder-climbing mommies of wine country, only made the opportunity that much more amazing. Once they learned that there was to be a performance at the most exclusive ball of the year, every aspiring ballerina and tot-size tapper within a three town radius would be twirling through her door, their mothers begging for classes.
    “Before you go dreaming of sugar plum fairies, you need to sign here. Make it official.” ChiChi handed over a thick contract and Sara felt her heart drop.
    “What’s this?”
    “Finalizing your appointment as the official Gala Entertainment Chair,” Pricilla said with a smile. “You should be proud. You beat out three other applicants.”
    Sara flipped through the very long, very binding contract. “I don’t remember applying.”
    “Oh, we did that for you,” Lucinda explained. “When Peggy threw out her hip and the committee found themselves short one coordinator, we immediately thought of you.”
    Peggy was the owner of the Paws and Claws Day Spa and therefore knew every old biddy and business owner in town. She was outgoing, a gossip, and perfect to plan such an event. Sara, on the other hand, was fairly new to St. Helena, kept to herself, and had never mastered the art of gossip.
    “You run the event and your studio gets hired to provide the opening entertainment.” Pricilla patted Sara’s knee. “Just think about all of the exposure your studio will get.”
    All Sara could think about, as she read through the list of itemized responsibilities of things still left to be done, was all of the time it would take to coordinate an event like this. Opening ceremonies, hiring a band, finding an MC, mandatory Garden Society meetings—the list went on. Even with Heather helping out at home and in the studio, between her classes and Cooper’s schedule, it would be exhausting—if not impossible.
    “Is anything on this list checked off?” she asked.
    All three ladies shook their heads.
    “Peggy’s a procrastinator, but she always comes through,” ChiChi defended. “Always.”
    Apparently not this year , Sara thought.
    “I can help with the opening entertainment, but run the whole night?” Sara shook her head. “I have no idea where to find an MC or a band and even if I did, there is no way I can do this without giving up more time with Cooper.”
    “I’ve been spending time with Archie,” Lucinda explained. “He plays Old Blue Eyes for Rat Pack Redux, a cover band from the local Masonic Lodge. Let me tell you, that man sure knows how to fly me to the moon.” The older woman sighed and when Sara choked, she added, “Don’t give me that look. Just because you aren’t getting any doesn’t mean the rest of us aren’t.”
    Now wasn’t that wonderful? Even the senior section of town had a better love life than Sara.
    “We’ll act as your liaisons at the Garden Society meetings,” Pricilla offered diplomatically. “Representing your ideas and helping execute the Gala’s agenda in any way that you see fit.”
    “Uh-huh.” Right now, they were being diplomatic, but the first time Sara’s ideas clashed with theirs, she knew that there would be a battle. In the end, the only agenda that they would push would be the one that benefited their own ideas.
    “Now hurry up and sign before Deidra shows up for class,” ChiChi snapped.
    “Mrs. Potter from Petal Pusher: Buds and Vines?” Sara asked. Deidra’s flower shop was right next door to the studio, and even though it was obvious that ChiChi wasn’t Deidra’s favorite person, Sara couldn’t imagine why they wouldn’t want her to head up the entertainment. She’d be perfect.
    “One in the same,” Lucinda said. “Deidra didn’t even wait for the plaster to dry on Peggy’s cast before she was propositioning the Garden Society with a new idea for the