**Chapter 26: Venue Hunting**
They flew back to Chicago the following weekend, ostensibly to help Diane narrow down venue options in person, though Mara suspected her mother had already made up her mind and simply wanted an excuse to have everyone together again.
"There are four finalists," Diane announced, spreading printouts across the kitchen table with the focused intensity of a general planning a campaign. "I've ranked them by likelihood of availability for next fall, but I want your input before I call to schedule tours."
"Mom, we just got here. Can we at least put our bags down?"
"Bags can wait. Weddings can't. Well, they can, but a good venue books up fast." Diane tapped the top printout insistently. "This one's my favorite. The barn upstate, the one I sent you. Gorgeous lake v
