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Harrison’s face softened.   “She didn’t tell me,” he said quietly    “Though from what I’ve heard about her mother from others, I don’t blame her.   This might be prying, but has your family met her?  Do they like her?”

That got a smile out of him. “Yes, they like her a lot. When she was in the hospital last December, they came with me and visited her.” Just remembering that visit – how he’d introduced them, and how the elder Maples had taken to Katelynn like their own child – warmed him even more than the cocoa.

“Even before she lost her mother,” he said quietly, “Katelynn didn’t really have any family. But my parents already consider her part of ours.” 

“Good,” Harrison nodded approvingly.  ”She’s a good girl and she deserves to have a family that loves her, not that horrible wretch who only made her feel bad about herself.  You’re both lucky on that note,” he added, thinking for a moment of Wayne’s struggles.   Lord Scott never even bothered to meet him before writing him and his son off.  

Jack watched him quietly for a moment. He hadn’t followed every detail on the news about Wayne Scott being disowned by his family, but he’d heard enough that he knew this topic might hit close to home for Harrison. “You’re right, we are lucky. But my parents are very loving people.” He gave a dry, bitter chuckle. “They had to be, to take in a child like me." 

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He nodded and sipped on the last of his cocoa as well.  ”Do you have any family on this planet Jack?  I know Katelynn’s mother is not exactly… stable so she isn’t a part of Katey’s life.”

Jack bit his lip. “Katelynn’s mother actually died this s-spring.” For a moment, as a pang of guilt shot through him, his stutter came back. “She … hell, I’ll c-come right out and say it, she was a horrible person. But it still hurt Katelynn a lot. She doesn’t like to talk about it, so … I just wanted to warn you.”

He swallowed uncomfortably. “But yes, I have family. My adoptive parents, Aloysius and Bonnie Maple.” 

Harrison’s face softened.   “She didn’t tell me,” he said quietly    “Though from what I’ve heard about her mother from others, I don’t blame her.   This might be prying, but has your family met her?  Do they like her?”

That got a smile out of him. “Yes, they like her a lot. When she was in the hospital last December, they came with me and visited her.” Just remembering that visit – how he’d introduced them, and how the elder Maples had taken to Katelynn like their own child – warmed him even more than the cocoa.

“Even before she lost her mother,” he said quietly, “Katelynn didn’t really have any family. But my parents already consider her part of ours." 

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Harrison would much rather wedding plan with Katelynn without Jack there thank-you-very-much, but he shrugs and says, “Sure.  I did tell her I would do anything in my power to be helpful.   Have you two picked attendants yet?   I never mind dress shopping.”

“Well, Katelynn’s told me she’d like her friend Six to walk her down the aisle. And I don’t have many male friends, but I wouldn’t mind having Bernard Jones as my best man. Beyond that, we’re still deciding.” 

Jack finished his hot chocolate, and nudged the mug away. “I really do appreciate all your help, Mr. Drake. Katelynn and I don’t have any real experience planning parties, and neither does anyone in our families. We’re glad for any and all advice.” 

He nodded and sipped on the last of his cocoa as well.  ”Do you have any family on this planet Jack?  I know Katelynn’s mother is not exactly… stable so she isn’t a part of Katey’s life.”

Jack bit his lip. “Katelynn’s mother actually died this s-spring.” For a moment, as a pang of guilt shot through him, his stutter came back. “She … hell, I’ll c-come right out and say it, she was a horrible person. But it still hurt Katelynn a lot. She doesn’t like to talk about it, so … I just wanted to warn you.”

He swallowed uncomfortably. “But yes, I have family. My adoptive parents, Aloysius and Bonnie Maple." 

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Jack hesitated. It didn’t sound very wedding-y, but maybe if they went for some of the more elegant types of pasta …

“I think that might work.” The artist gave a weak chuckle. “Katelynn would probably like it, but I really shouldn’t be making those kind of plans without talking to her.” He hesitated. “Maybe the three of us could meet again, sometime?” 

Harrison would much rather wedding plan with Katelynn without Jack there thank-you-very-much, but he shrugs and says, “Sure.  I did tell her I would do anything in my power to be helpful.   Have you two picked attendants yet?   I never mind dress shopping.”

“Well, Katelynn’s told me she’d like her friend Six to walk her down the aisle. And I don’t have many male friends, but I wouldn’t mind having Bernard Jones as my best man. Beyond that, we’re still deciding." 

Jack finished his hot chocolate, and nudged the mug away. "I really do appreciate all your help, Mr. Drake. Katelynn and I don’t have any real experience planning parties, and neither does anyone in our families. We’re glad for any and all advice." 

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“That all sounds quite lovely, as long as the weather cooperates,” Harrison points out. “Are you going to have a separate reception site or are you thinking of doing that al fresco too?”

“Well, it would be nice to have it outdoors too,” he replied. “Under a tent, maybe. But as you said, it depends on the weather. And we still haven’t decided what we want for the meal. Something simple and casual, probably.”

“What about a pasta buffet?” Harrison suggested. “It’s easy to keep the meat and vegitarian options seperate and people can serve themselves. And it’s much less delicate that other foods that would be hard to transport and keep warm.”

Jack hesitated. It didn’t sound very wedding-y, but maybe if they went for some of the more elegant types of pasta …

“I think that might work.” The artist gave a weak chuckle. “Katelynn would probably like it, but I really shouldn’t be making those kind of plans without talking to her.” He hesitated. “Maybe the three of us could meet again, sometime?" 

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Harrison was thankful that Jack had picked some kind of topic.  ”Do you have anything in mind already for decorations?” he asked, mildly curious.   

Jack nodded. “A few things. We’ve been swapping ideas ever since we got engaged.” He shifted a little in his seat. He was quite happy with the decorating ideas he and Katelynn had come up with, and worried Harrison might think they didn’t measure up. “We’d like to keep it simple. Katelynn wants white lilies as the flowers, and I suggested we add orchids too, for color. And I’d like to try my hand at making watercolored streamers. We might set up some lanterns, too, if the forest’s owner will allow it.” 

“That all sounds quite lovely, as long as the weather cooperates,” Harrison points out.  “Are you going to have a separate reception site or are you thinking of doing that al fresco too?”

“Well, it would be nice to have it outdoors too,” he replied. “Under a tent, maybe. But as you said, it depends on the weather. And we still haven’t decided what we want for the meal. Something simple and casual, probably.”

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“Good,” Harrison said with a pleased smile, his first of the afternoon.  Then he took a long sip of his cocoa as an awkward silence set in.   He tried to run through a list of topics in his mind, but as that he barely knew the man across from him, he struggled to come up with any ideas for what to talk about.   

He wasn’t a very talkative person by nature, but the silence was just as awkward for Jack. He started fidgeting with his cocoa again. The wedding plans seemed to be a safe topic, so he settled back on that. 

“The decorating won’t be a problem, at least.” He sipped his drink. “I met some professional decorators when I was on tour. Even if they can’t come to Metro City, they can still give me advice.” 

Harrison was thankful that Jack had picked some kind of topic.  ”Do you have anything in mind already for decorations?” he asked, mildly curious.   

Jack nodded. “A few things. We’ve been swapping ideas ever since we got engaged.” He shifted a little in his seat. He was quite happy with the decorating ideas he and Katelynn had come up with, and worried Harrison might think they didn’t measure up. “We’d like to keep it simple. Katelynn wants white lilies as the flowers, and I suggested we add orchids too, for color. And I’d like to try my hand at making watercolored streamers. We might set up some lanterns, too, if the forest’s owner will allow it." 

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Harrison sighed.   Something about watching Jack fuss and fidget about the problem rather than solving it was getting on his nerves.   

“Look,” he said bluntly.  ”I don’t think this is something you two should have to worry about on your wedding day.   How about I take care of this for you?  I’m used to having a heavy security detail and I’ll make sure that the place is villain-fortified without the guests being any wiser.  Deal?”

Jack’s grip tightened on the cup. He knew Harrison was trying to be helpful (and they definitely needed his help), but the businessman’s curt tone still grated. He’d never had to deal with anything like hiring security before – was it his fault he didn’t know what steps to take?

“I’d appreciate that, Mr. Drake. And I know Katelynn would too. So yes, it’s a deal.” 

“Good,” Harrison said with a pleased smile, his first of the afternoon.  Then he took a long sip of his cocoa as an awkward silence set in.   He tried to run through a list of topics in his mind, but as that he barely knew the man across from him, he struggled to come up with any ideas for what to talk about.   

He wasn’t a very talkative person by nature, but the silence was just as awkward for Jack. He started fidgeting with his cocoa again. The wedding plans seemed to be a safe topic, so he settled back on that. 

“The decorating won’t be a problem, at least.” He sipped his drink. “I met some professional decorators when I was on tour. Even if they can’t come to Metro City, they can still give me advice." 

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“Well,” Harrison drawled, thinking for a moment.   “I’d given Grace the use of my private security team for the wedding itself, but they took her after the reception.   So I think it needs to be about more than just bodyguards on the day off.   Maybe post some people at the bridal suite as well.”

The blue artist nodded quietly, sipping his drink. He hated the thought of his wedding having to be surrounded by armed guards, but he hated the thought of a villain attack even more.

“If that’s what it takes for Katelynn and our guests to be safe, then okay. Maybe once we have the location booked, we’ll know what other steps we m-might need.” Jack fidgeted with his mug. He had plenty of ideas for the wedding decorations and food, but this aspect was far out of his depth. 

Harrison sighed.   Something about watching Jack fuss and fidget about the problem rather than solving it was getting on his nerves.   

“Look,” he said bluntly.  ”I don’t think this is something you two should have to worry about on your wedding day.   How about I take care of this for you?  I’m used to having a heavy security detail and I’ll make sure that the place is villain-fortified without the guests being any wiser.  Deal?”

Jack’s grip tightened on the cup. He knew Harrison was trying to be helpful (and they definitely needed his help), but the businessman’s curt tone still grated. He’d never had to deal with anything like hiring security before – was it his fault he didn’t know what steps to take?

“I’d appreciate that, Mr. Drake. And I know Katelynn would too. So yes, it’s a deal." 

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Harrison ordered a hot chocolate as well, with a shot of caramel sauce then turned back to the conversation at hand.   “I don’t want to sound like a negative nelly, but have you two discussed security?” he asked.   “I know Katelynn has made some enemies in this city and given what happened to Grace…..” he trailed off.   

Jack froze. He hadn’t given any thought to security, and now he was ashamed of himself for forgetting it. Harrison was right – with Katelynn’s history, and the kind of luck the two of them seemed to attract, they would need all the defenses they could. 

“I’m afraid we h-haven’t,” he admitted, embarrassed to hear his stutter come back. “But you’re right, we are going to need it. What do you recommend?” 

“Well,” Harrison drawled, thinking for a moment.   “I’d given Grace the use of my private security team for the wedding itself, but they took her after the reception.   So I think it needs to be about more than just bodyguards on the day off.   Maybe post some people at the bridal suite as well.”

The blue artist nodded quietly, sipping his drink. He hated the thought of his wedding having to be surrounded by armed guards, but he hated the thought of a villain attack even more.

“If that’s what it takes for Katelynn and our guests to be safe, then okay. Maybe once we have the location booked, we’ll know what other steps we m-might need.” Jack fidgeted with his mug. He had plenty of ideas for the wedding decorations and food, but this aspect was far out of his depth.