The final weeks before the wedding were a whirlwind of activity, and despite hiring a wedding planner, Alessia found herself dealing with unexpected hiccups. One such disaster struck three days before the wedding: her makeup artist bailed.
Alessia was in the kitchen with Avery, feeding her slices of banana while Theo prepared a cup of coffee. Her phone buzzed on the counter, and she reached for it, frowning when she saw the message.
“What’s wrong?” Theo asked, noticing the shift in her expression.
Alessia groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “It’s my makeup artist. She just texted saying she can’t do the wedding anymore. Something about a family emergency.”
Theo frowned, setting down his mug. “What? Three days before the wedding? That’s ridiculous.”
“I know,” Alessia said, pacing the kitchen. “I can’t believe this is happening. How am I supposed to find someone good enough on such short notice?”
Rachel, their wedding planner, arrived later that morning to finalize some last-minute details. As soon as she walked through the door, Alessia practically pounced on her.
“Rachel, makeup artist just canceled,” she blurted out. “I’m freaking out. What am I supposed to do?”
Rachel’s eyes widened momentarily before she composed herself. “Okay, first, deep breath. We’ll figure this out.”
“There’s nothing to figure out,” Alessia said, throwing her hands up. “Good makeup artists are booked months in advance. Everyone worth hiring is probably busy.”
Theo walked in, Avery perched on his hip. “You’re panicking,” he said gently. “Let Rachel do her thing. She’s the professional.”
“Right,” Rachel said with a nod, pulling out her tablet. “Give me a few hours. I’ll make some calls and see what I can find.”
By early afternoon, Rachel, returned with an update. “Okay,” she said, sitting down at the dining table with Alessia and Theo. “I’ve called five different artists, and three of them are fully booked. But I did find someone—a freelance artist named Mia who specializes in bridal makeup.”
Alessia’s brow furrowed. “Freelance? Is she any good?”
Rachel smiled reassuringly. “I checked her portfolio online. She’s fantastic. Very clean, elegant looks. Exactly your style.”
“Did you book her?” Theo asked.
“She’s available, but I wanted to run it by Alessia first,” Rachel said. “It’s a bit of a gamble with someone new, but her work speaks for itself.”
Alessia chewed on her bottom lip, the tension evident on her face. “Do you think she can pull it off, Rachel? I can’t afford another disaster.”
Rachel reached out, placing a comforting hand on Alessia’s. “I wouldn’t recommend her if I didn’t believe she could. Trust me, Alessia. I think she’ll do an amazing job.”
Alessia exhaled slowly, glancing at Theo for reassurance. He leaned forward, his voice calm and steady. “Rachel hasn’t let us down yet. If she says Mia is good, then we go for it.”
Alessia nodded, the weight of the decision slightly lifted. “Okay, book her. Let’s do it.”
Rachel smiled. “I’ll confirm with her now and arrange for a trial tomorrow. You’ll get to meet her and see her work before the big day.”