To Sharon Kearney,

      for too many years of friendship to count.

       1

      “STACY REALLY WANTS the circus theme,” Patricia Grange said, a note of appeal in her voice. It was a tone Karen Petersham knew well—the desperate cry of a woman who has spoiled her baby girl for so long she doesn’t know how to stop. As one of the top wedding planners in Philadelphia, Karen got her share of spoiled princesses and their bizarre wedding requests, but this was right up there.

      “A circus themed wedding is certainly unusual,” Karen said smoothly. “You don’t get a lot of them.”

      “It’s because of Cirque du Soleil,” Patricia explained, throwing her hands out in a gesture of helplessness.

      “Cirque du Soleil?” What on earth could a bunch of acrobatically theatrical circus performers have to do with a wedding?

      The mother of the bride nodded. “Hudson took Stacy to see the touring production of Kooza for their first date. They think it would be romantic to recreate the circus theme for their wedding.”

      “Well, I guess we can be happy he didn’t take her ice fishing for their first date.”

      The woman smiled weakly. “I suppose so.” She straightened the perfectly straight hem on her Gucci skirt. “Cirque is about both clowning and acrobatics, of course.”

      “Two excellent attributes of a successful marriage.”

      “Exactly.” The woman smiled at her gratefully. “And Cirque did perform at the Academy Awards one time. I remember seeing it on television.”

      Only a Philadelphia society girl could equate her wedding with the Academy Awards. Already Karen suspected that this ceremony was going to be one of those nightmares. The mother of the bride had shown up for the appointment, but no bride. Always a bad sign. She was conscious