A Callahan Wedding

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank my family for being so supportive:

Jeri Murphy, Sheila Kenney, Kim Kenney, William Kenney, Celya Tilley, Kennedy Tilley, Yolanda Tilley, and Shannon Murphy.

To my circle for listening:

Cherry Elder, Erica Black, Sharon Mahones, Janice Coleman, Kim Adams, Maria Persuitte, Judy Horsford, Daniel Espana, Donna Lefear, Lewis Stewart, Diane Kelly, and Angela Cavener.

To my readers for being patient and understanding.

If I didn’t name you, charge my head, not my heart.

Bless you all.

Celya Bowers

www.celyabowers.com

1

Four weeks and counting. 

Dylan Callahan sat behind his large desk in his office, staring at the calendar.   Four weeks didn’t seem like enough time with all he had going on.  How was he supposed to keep up with his thriving accounting business while all this madness was circling around him? 

He had exactly four weeks before his brother, Shane’s wedding.  Then exactly one week after that wedding, his cousin Ria was getting married in Ireland at their grandparents’ home.  To make matters worse, he was an attendant in both wedding parties.  He sighed in defeat. 

August was always a busy month for him.  Since he handled so many corporate accounts, August was like January, the beginning of another fiscal year for so many businesses.  He was swamped with new appointments, most days he didn’t even have time for lunch.  Just like today.

His office door opened and Denise Brown strolled in without knocking.  She took her customary seat in front of his desk.  You have to eat, she said in her no-nonsense fashion.  You haven’t had lunch in a week, so today, I blocked off time for you, and you’re going to have a real meal.

It was useless trying to argue with this woman.  She’d been his secretary since he opened his firm ten years ago, and she treated him just like one of her four sons.  In short, she was just like his Aunt Amelia. Right down to the caramel skin tone.  Denise, you know this is my busy time and I usually work through lunch.

Yeah, yeah, she said.  Everybody has to eat.  Amelia would have my hide if I didn’t make you take time to eat. I know for a fact you have clients coming in until six.  Why don’t you go to the bar and have some of that delicious Irish Stew Rhylee is making by the gallon?

Dylan laughed.  Shane had recently purchased the bar from their father and uncle and had made some serious upgrades, including hiring a chef. Each upgrade had increased business at least by fifty percent. Rhylee had been a godsend.  Not only was she a beautiful woman, she was willing to work for peanuts, just for the experience of working in the kitchen.  The more he thought about the scrumptious food, the more the idea of lunch appealed to him. Plus, it would give him time to harass his brother about his upcoming nuptials.  Okay, Denise, you win, but I’m leaning toward her shepherd’s pie.  Just about anything Rhylee prepared was delicious.

Oh, yes, that’s good too.  My husband loves eating there.  She rose from her chair, straighten her impeccable clothing, and looked at him.  Your first appointment is at one-thirty.  New account.

Dylan exhaled. 

Don’t you roll those blue eyes at me, she warned.  You made this appointment in my absence.  She left his office without another word.

Dylan shook his head.  Why o why had he hired his aunt’s best friend as his secretary?  Mainly because she was excellent at her job.  She kept the office running on schedule no matter what.  Of course, she was bossy, but that was just part of her charm.

With the August heat, he seldom wore a suit to work. Virginia was just too hot.  He was dressed in a golf shirt emblazoned with his company’s name and logo and a pair of slacks.  He rose from his chair, grabbed his wallet and car keys and walked out of his office. 

Denise smiled at him as she answered the phone.  He waved at her and left without another word.  He’d just sat behind the steering wheel of his BMW, when his cell phone rang. Hello?  He started the car and engaged the hands-free option on his cell phone. 

Hey brother, his sister, Colleen said. 

Okay, what do you want? She seldom called him during working hours and rarely called him brother. 

Wow, where’s the trust?  She laughed.  Okay, you got me.  I need a favor.

You never need a favor.  You just use one of your delicious cakes to do your bidding.  This has got to be big.  He put the car in gear and merged into the Turners Point traffic. 

Actually, it’s for a dear friend.

He smelled a trap.  Out with it.  He exited onto the freeway.  I’m on my way to the bar for some lunch. Why don’t you meet me?  Colleen was a stay-at-home Mom and had lately started dabbling in desserts and was quite good at it.  She also lived within ten minutes of the place.

Can’t.  I’m baking some cakes for Shane as it is.  I have two more to finish before tomorrow.  So, no time for lunch today.

Okay, I forget how busy you are nowadays.  What’s the favor?

Well, one of my friends needs an accountant.  Her business is doing well, but she doesn’t have time to maintain everything financially.  I told her you were an awesome accountant.  And yes, she can afford your fee. Please...  Colleen seldom begged.  Bartered, yes, but never just out and out begging. This had to be a good friend.

He was putty in the hands of the Callahan women.  All right.  Tell her to come by my office and with all her bank statements, invoices, etc.  We can go from there.

When?

That was a good question.  I’m a little crunched for time, since the third quarter is ending in another month, but I should be able to squeeze her in on Monday afternoon.  He thought for a minute.  What kind of business does she have? 

She runs Collyer Public Relations.

Oh, this should be pretty straight forward, he said, thinking out loud.  Shouldn’t take that long he mused. 

Colleen laughed.  She a one-woman tornado.  She opened it last year when she moved back to town, but I’ll let her fill you in on all that.  I’ll touch base with Denise to see when is a good time.

Smart girl.  He veered off the freeway for the city center. 

Thanks, Dylan.  You’re a lifesaver.  Colleen ended the call. 

He shook his head as he parked in front of the bar.  Hopefully, Colleen hadn’t set him up to meet yet another female.  He was the last single Callahan and he intended to stay that way.    

***

Britania Collyer grinned as she reached for her phone, glancing at the Caller ID option on her phone. Colleen came through!  Or at least she hoped her childhood friend had succeeded with her brother. She really needed help getting her finances in order.  Hello, Colleen.

Hey, Brit.  I know you’re swamped today, but I talked to Dylan and he’s agreed to consult you. You’ll need to bring some documents with you.  She rattled off a list of forms.  Call and speak with Denise, she’ll tell you the time. Her friend took a deep breath.  Now Denise’s bark is worse than her bite, but she’s awesome keeping Dylan on track.

Brit laughed.  Oh, so she’s another Amelia.  She liked Colleen’s aunt and was used to her brand of tough love.

Exactly.

Oh, well.  I guess that’s the price I’ll have to pay to get some accounting help.

Right and not to toot my brother’s horn, but he’s good at his job.  He’ll get your financials in order.

Brit hoped so.  She needed some guidance and order.  Her own father refused to get involved because her records were in such a mess.  She was behind in her quarterly tax payments. Thank you so much, Colleen.  I owe you big.

Don’t worry about it.  That’s what friends do.  She ended the call.

Brit returned the phone to its cradle and smiled.  Things might just work out after all.  She focused her attention on her latest account, the city of Turners Point.  What had she been thinking taking on the city?  Sure, the city manager was very specific of what he wanted, and since he wasn’t bad to look at didn’t hurt either. Too bad, he’d recently married.  All the good ones were taken. She shook her head. Focus girl, you have a lot to do and a little time to do it.

The city of Turners Point wanted to rebrand their image.  It was the part of her job she loved.  Rebranding was like starting over.  Wiping out the old, and bringing in something new and unexpected. She loved clean starts.

She had a meeting with the city manager in a matter of days, and hadn’t one idea of how to rebrand the eclectic city she called home.  Sure, like most of her classmates, she scurried out of Turners Point as fast as she could once she received her college degree.  But as the saying went, There’s no place like home. 

That was it!  There wasn’t any place like Turners Point.  Now to put that feeling into a catchy slogan, new logo, a great commercial, she mused.  She grabbed her trusty pad and started writing down ideas.

***

Hey, brother, what brings you by? Shane Callahan asked as he poured his Dylan a glass of bear.  Nothing wrong with the bar, is it?  He placed the beer in front of his brother. 

You know there’s nothing wrong with the bar.  Your profits are through the roof.  Denise kicked me out of my office, so I decided to have lunch.  He reached for the glass. 

Shane smiled.  I always liked Denise.  He glanced toward the kitchen area of the bar.  She reminds me of Rhylee.  He nodded to his fiancé.

You’re just in love, Dylan said.  Everything reminds you of Rhylee.  What’s good today?

Everything.  We’re already running low on Irish Stew.  Shepherd’s Pie is selling pretty good too, Shane said.  Don’t forget we’re getting fitted for tuxes on Saturday.

I hadn’t forgot.  On my calendar.  Speaking of the wedding, what about your bachelor party?

Shane put his index finger against his lips.  Man, are you trying to get me divorced before I get married?

Dylan was thoroughly confused.  What?

Shane leaned closer to him, so that no one could hear their conversation.  Man, I just raised holy hell because one of Rhylee’s friends wanted to hire male strippers for her bachelorette party, so I can’t have strippers.

You mean Rhylee isn’t having a party?  That didn’t seem like his future sister-in-law.  Rhylee was too independent to let Shane call the shots.

Of course, she is, he laughed.  You think she bought the ‘I am putting my foot down’ thing?

Well, of course not. Dylan took a drink of beer, watching his brother turn a healthy shade of red.  I’m guessing she gave you an incentive.

You know it, Rhylee said.  She placed a plate of Shepherd’s Pie in front of him along with a salad.  I incentive his brains out.  She kissed Shane on his cheek.  Enjoy your lunch, Dylan.  She walked back into the kitchen. 

Dylan watched his brother, watched Rhylee return to work.  Dylan took a bite of his meal and yes, he had to agree.  There was little Rhylee couldn’t do well.  Okay, so I’m guessing no strippers for you.  How about a night out?  You know, drinking, and doing manly things?  I could hire a car so we could drink as much as we wanted.

Before Shane could answer, Rhylee cleared her throat.  Loudly.  Dylan took the hint.  I’m guessing no, on the night of drinking?

Shane nodded.  We promised each other that there would be no drunken nights of things we won’t remember the next day.  Or something that would surely come back and bite me in the ass later.

Dylan wiped his mouth.  When did you turn into a woman?

Laughter erupted from the kitchen.  Shane shook his head.  You’re going to pay for that one, he promised.  I can’t wait until you meet someone.

Not going to happen, big brother.  Between watching you, Finn, and Campbell, along with the cousins fall in love, I’m not going out like that.  I’m going to watch for the signs and run like hell.

You can try, but when love comes barreling down for you, there’s nothing you can do, but surrender, Shane said.  Look at me, I didn’t think I’d ever settled down to one woman and now look.  We’re getting married in four weeks.

Dylan couldn’t refute his brother’s logic.  True enough, once Shane met Rhylee, he was down for the count.  I still think running is the best option, Dylan said.  He continued eating his lunch. 

2

Monday afternoon, Brit sat in her home office diligently working on her proposal for the City of Turners Point.  Who knew one contract would require such a paper trail?  The dishy city manager needed all her invoices to be detailed.  So detailed, that she was about to lose her mind. 

She glanced at her computer screen again.  Glancing at the lengthy email Tristan MacDonald just sent her.  Not only had he wanted line-by-line item invoices, he also wanted her to create a new logo for the city.  Rumor was that the city was in negotiation with one of the major-league football teams to relocate, hence the overhaul on the all things Turners Point.

Her cell phone rang as she toyed with some design ideas.  She pulled it to her ear and said, Brit Collyer.

Hello, this is Dylan Callahan.  You had an appointment with me about thirty minutes ago, he spat out.  Normally, I don’t call clients who are a no-show, but my sister, Colleen, swears that you really need my services.  And since I love my sister dearly, I’m giving you a second and last chance.

Darn it!  She’d gotten side-tracked and now she’d missed her appointment with the accountant. After all the trouble she’d went through to get the appointment, she still missed it.  Her bad luck had apparently followed her to Turners Point.  I’m so sorry, Mr. Callahan.  I lost track of time, I was working on a project for the city, and...

Save your excuses, Ms. Collyer.  I have an opening at five.

I’ll be there. Promise, she