Chapter 50

Turning back to Megan, Mac began making plans like she was waging a military campaign. "The pink has got to go! I'm thinking something in honey or caramel for the walls. The cream carpeting and lace sheers can stay, but I'll want darker drapes than the pink satin. The Queen Anne furniture needs to go too, I'll want something plainer, more streamline. I think a blonde wood finish would be perfect. The loveseats can go, I'll want a real couch and a couple of over-stuffed chairs, and please make sure the doilies disappear! I'll need a desk big enough for a computer and fax machine. That's all I can think of right now, but it should be enough to get started on."

"Yes, Ma'am. I'll have paint samples for you by tomorrow to choose the wall color and can call an interior designer for the curtains," Megan replied, scribbling quickly.

"Sounds good!" Mac answered and dismissed the girl. She was just about to escape the cotton candy room when her phone rang. She was surprised to hear her former partner's voice on the line.

"Mac, what the heck gives? First you leave JAG and now you're engaged to the President of the United States?"

"Hello and how are you too Harm…" she rebuked.

"Yeah, okay! Hello Mac…How are you Mac?"

"Why hello Harm! How nice to hear from you! I'm just fine and yourself?"

"Fine…fine…now what about the news I just heard?"

With an evil grin, Mac decided to let him stew a little longer. "Good to hear you're doing well, are you liking the new job? And how is Mattie doing? Is she settling in well?"

"Come on Mac! Everything is fine here! Same old job, just as boring as ever, the only thing different is the scenery out the window. Mattie is fine too, I'll tell her you asked after her. Now what is this craziness about you marrying the President?!"

"Nothing crazy about it, Fly-boy. Kenneth and I are engaged and will be married in two weeks. You and Mattie are invited if you can get away from your boring job."

"To see you finally walk down an aisle? I wouldn't miss that for the world! Is there a pool going yet on whether you'll go through with it?"

Yanking the phone away from her ear and glaring at it as if it was the thing that had just insulted her, she deliberately clicked it closed, ending the call. She stomped from the room with Blake on her heels and dialed Francesca Paretti's number as she made her way to the parking lot.

Mac was surprised when her call was put through so quickly by Francesca's assistant, but the reason became apparent when Francesca herself came on the line. "Hello Ms. Mackenzie! I just spoke to Papa and he said you would be calling."

"I hope that I'm not disturbing you Ms. Paretti, but when it was suggested that I need to choose a dress designer, your name was the only one that came to mind."

"No, not at all! I am thrilled that you thought of me! What is it that I can do for you?"

"Honestly I don't know anything about high fashion. The only two designer gowns I've ever worn were purchased for me by someone else. What I'm trying to say is, I don't know if you would have time to do a wedding dress for a ceremony only two weeks away or should I just contact you when I know a function is coming up?"

"Two weeks would usually be out of the question…however I love designing wedding gowns, but can only feature two a year so, I have many sketches that have never been made. Plus the honor and prestige of designing for the First Lady will do wonders for my career. Now I am sure you are insanely busy planning the wedding, but if you can clear some time on Tuesday, I can fly in to go over the sketches with you."

"Oh Ms. Paretti, that would be fantastic!"

"Please call me Francesca, and may I call you Sarah?"

"That would be fine, Francesca, and I'd be more than happy to meet with you on Tuesday."

"I think we will be come good friends Sarah…in fact there was a time I had hoped that we would be related!"

To be continued…..