KNOT: A Wake Family Novel Read Online Free PDF Page B

for everyone. There were many, and for me, fighting that reality was foolish.
    I only made it four pages— quiches and tarts —then my eyes started to water, and exhaustion started petting me to sleep.
    With the bookmark replaced, I set the book next to me, scooted down into the club chair and fell off into nowhere particular.
     

     
    Smile.
    “Of course I’ll take the picture.”
    Check the seats, the flowers, the cake, the kitchen. It was my job—and I was on.
    “Nora, the band is here.”
    Smile.
    Check the servers and bartenders. The photographer showed. No announcer.
    I stepped up and spoke into the microphone. “I’d like to congratulate the happy couple…”
    Smile.
    Go to the bathroom. Look at email.
    Check-in for my morning flight.
    Get through tonight, Nora.
    Smile. Take three more photos.
    Where’s that photog at anyway?
    Tell the bartender to stop serving the dude with the camera. Make a note for his file. Don’t use him again.
    I need a drink.
    Announce the first dance.
    “Yes, she’s stunning.”
    “Yes, the cake is magnificent.”
    “Yes, the hotel is happy to accommodate any of your future event needs.”
    Midnight snacks are a hit.
    The cab service is here.
    My feet hurt.
    Smile.
    Dole out the checks. Take the business card of a photographer who’s interested in referrals. Make a note to look him up, possibly add him to the contractor directory replacing the lush working for us now.
    Cleaning crew showed up on time. Perfect .
    Take shoes off in the elevator.
    Take a shower.
    Take a minute to look over wrap-up checklist.
    Smile for real . I did it.
    Fall asleep and dream of the cold lake wind on my face and the sound of it as it rushes past my ears.
     

     
    “The Harbor,” I told the taxi driver as I got into the cab at O’Hare, headed downtown.
    I hadn’t been to Chicago in a few years, and as we pulled out into traffic, the skyline appeared before me. I said a silent prayer that they’d ask me to stay after the event.
    It had been an early flight, and my feet still hurt from the long day and night before. I was glad for the slip on flats I’d chosen to wear for my flight. I’d packed enough clothes to wear last week, not even bothering to leave the hotel—even in the city where I lived—and came straight from L.A. to Chicago without even going home to water my probably-dead-by-now plants.
    Don’t buy me plants. I’m herbicide.
    I couldn’t be responsible for the survival of foliage. I didn’t even like dead flowers, why would I want a terminal plant to nurse? I couldn’t be held accountable for their well-being. It was too much pressure.
    We rode through the city, and I fell in love with it all over again, even if there wasn’t any fresh snow.
    The Harbor-Chicago’s previous planner had left them high and dry, but I hoped I’d find she also left a lot of the information and plans. Otherwise, I’d be starting from scratch, which I didn’t mind, but it was a new town for me. I didn’t have too many contacts yet, and the fact was I had less than a week to perform a miracle.
    I was staying at the Harbor while I worked for them that week. If I was lucky, I’d prove to them why they needed me on their team. I’d show management how efficient I could be. How decisive and easy to work with I was. I’d take extra care to learn the existing staff and utilize them, making it a team effort—and therefore someone they’d want to work with, side-by-side going forward.
    Adrenaline coursed through me as I paid the driver and pulled my two giant bags behind me into the lobby.
    It was showtime.

 
    Reggie—Monday, February 11, 2008
     
    “S howtime,” I said to Justin as we walked down the glass hall to the conference room.
    The account was already locked down, a sure thing. We’d shared the work on it, and the firm liked having a junior and senior partner working on large scale projects. Precisely like the one we were about to finalize.
    All that was left was signing the