Claim
Page 84
Tessa shuddered to imagine his reaction if everything didn’t go according to all of their many, many plans, both big and small. And given what a detail-oriented perfectionist her husband-to-be was, there was no question that he would notice if the tiniest thing went amiss. The wedding planner, thought Tessa wryly, would certainly be earning her keep with this event.
But at least with so many of the small details already taken care of, she could relax a little and actually enjoy all of the festivities and events that would be happening over the next week or so. Edward and Joanna would be flying in tomorrow afternoon, and staying here at the house with her and Ian. Both of Ian’s brothers and their families would be arriving two days later, though they had elected to stay at the Gregson hotel on Nob Hill rather than intrude on Tessa and Ian. As Victoria had said when graciously declining Tessa’s invitation to stay at the house, “Trust me, Tessa. The very last thing you need the week before your wedding is four wild boys - make that five if we’re counting Lucien - running to and fro. Selina and I are both bringing our nannies along for the trip, and we’ve even talked about hiring a third temporarily to help out. Selina in particular can use the help with the new baby.”
Selina had given birth - to yet another Gregson grandson - in February, and this would be the first time anyone in the family except for Edward and Joanna had met the new arrival. Selina, too, had gently refused Tessa’s invitation to stay with her and Ian, insisting that they would be much better off at the hotel, given the baby’s erratic sleeping habits.
“You’ll need your beauty rest before the big day,” her future sister-in-law had insisted. “And since Julien isn’t sleeping through the night as yet, having a crying baby in the house probably isn’t the best idea right now. But Colin and I appreciate your invitation, Tessa. And I can’t tell you how much we’re looking forward to the wedding. I’m probably not the first person in this family to confess that most of us never thought we’d ever see Ian this happy. We’ll look forward to seeing you soon, cheriè.“
Right on the heels of his brothers’ arrival would be those of his uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and business associates, most from England, but a few from other parts of the world. The guest list also included Ian’s wide circle of friends right here in San Francisco, people he had met through the various arts and charitable organizations he patronized and supported, as well as the corporations of which he was a board member. Others who had been invited were a good many of Ian’s executive staff, including Andrew, Kevin, Gina, Shelby, and Marisol.
Mrs. Carrington and her husband were making the trip up from Tucson to attend. “As though I’d miss your wedding to young Ian, my girl” the cantankerous older woman had sniffed when Tessa had called her recently. But Francine had seemed oddly touched by the call, and especially when Tessa had requested her presence on the morning of the wedding to help her get ready.
Tessa had also issued an invitation to Peter, knowing that the chances of him actually attending were slim at best. And while he’d thanked her for the invite, and wished her and Ian every happiness, he’d admitted that it would be both awkward and emotional for him to attend her wedding to another man and had declined.
On something of an impulse, she had asked Glen Rockwell if he and his wife would like to attend. She had exchanged several emails with the kindly editor since they’d met back in April, and he had shared more stories and memories about Gillian with her. But he, too, had had to decline the invitation, as he and his wife had already made plans to vacation in Spain at the same time. He had promised, though, to make it out to San Francisco within the next year so they could have a long visit. And he had sent Tessa one of her very favorite wedding presents thus far - some additional photos of Gillian that he’d dug up from an old file.
Their schedule for the days leading up to the wedding were packed solid with a whole host of activities - three separate family dinners, a joint bachelor/bachelorette party, a girl’s only tea, the rehearsal dinner, and of course the wedding itself. With Julia’s help, Tessa had been shopping like mad in order to put together new outfits for each occasion, as well as buying clothes and accessories for the two week honeymoon she and Ian were taking to the British Virgin Islands.
Julia had smirked knowingly as Tessa had looked through a rack of pricey bikinis. “You probably don’t need more than two or three, you know,” she’d joked, elbowing Tessa in the ribs. “If your honeymoon is anything like mine was, the bathing suit won’t stay on for very long. And I, ah, managed to get rid of my tan lines after just a few days.”
But now, with just over a week remaining until she became Ian’s wife, all of the shopping was done. Her suitcases for their honeymoon were nearly packed. All of the arrangements for pre-wedding events had been made, and the wedding itself was ready to go off like clockwork. Tessa was still in disbelief that everything was so well organized that all she needed to do at this point was simply show up.
She gave a sigh of pure contentment and rested her head on Ian’s shoulder. They had gone for a walk in their neighborhood after dinner, enjoying this time of the year when it stayed light until well past eight o’clock each evening. Afterwards they’d cuddled in bed while watching a movie that had just ended a few minutes ago.
Ian touched his lips to her temple. “Happy, darling?”
Tessa nodded, wrapping her arms about his torso and nuzzling her nose against his throat. “Deliriously so. Especially since I just realized I have barely anything left to do until our wedding. I may be the only bride in history who will actually be able to enjoy herself on her big day.”
He grinned at her. “Sometimes it pays to be extra diligent, doesn’t it? Are you willing to admit I was right all those times when I insisted we followed up on a weekly basis with Zara?”
She poked him in the shoulder. “You’re always right,” she grumbled good-naturedly. “But especially about this.”
Ian dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “I knew with so many friends and family members flying out for the wedding that it would be bedlam here for at least a week. And I wanted to be certain that both of us were free to enjoy ourselves at all of these dinners and parties. That’s why it was so important to get all of the wedding details firmed up ahead of time. Now we can relax a bit and enjoy ourselves. Speaking of which.”
But at least with so many of the small details already taken care of, she could relax a little and actually enjoy all of the festivities and events that would be happening over the next week or so. Edward and Joanna would be flying in tomorrow afternoon, and staying here at the house with her and Ian. Both of Ian’s brothers and their families would be arriving two days later, though they had elected to stay at the Gregson hotel on Nob Hill rather than intrude on Tessa and Ian. As Victoria had said when graciously declining Tessa’s invitation to stay at the house, “Trust me, Tessa. The very last thing you need the week before your wedding is four wild boys - make that five if we’re counting Lucien - running to and fro. Selina and I are both bringing our nannies along for the trip, and we’ve even talked about hiring a third temporarily to help out. Selina in particular can use the help with the new baby.”
Selina had given birth - to yet another Gregson grandson - in February, and this would be the first time anyone in the family except for Edward and Joanna had met the new arrival. Selina, too, had gently refused Tessa’s invitation to stay with her and Ian, insisting that they would be much better off at the hotel, given the baby’s erratic sleeping habits.
“You’ll need your beauty rest before the big day,” her future sister-in-law had insisted. “And since Julien isn’t sleeping through the night as yet, having a crying baby in the house probably isn’t the best idea right now. But Colin and I appreciate your invitation, Tessa. And I can’t tell you how much we’re looking forward to the wedding. I’m probably not the first person in this family to confess that most of us never thought we’d ever see Ian this happy. We’ll look forward to seeing you soon, cheriè.“
Right on the heels of his brothers’ arrival would be those of his uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, and business associates, most from England, but a few from other parts of the world. The guest list also included Ian’s wide circle of friends right here in San Francisco, people he had met through the various arts and charitable organizations he patronized and supported, as well as the corporations of which he was a board member. Others who had been invited were a good many of Ian’s executive staff, including Andrew, Kevin, Gina, Shelby, and Marisol.
Mrs. Carrington and her husband were making the trip up from Tucson to attend. “As though I’d miss your wedding to young Ian, my girl” the cantankerous older woman had sniffed when Tessa had called her recently. But Francine had seemed oddly touched by the call, and especially when Tessa had requested her presence on the morning of the wedding to help her get ready.
Tessa had also issued an invitation to Peter, knowing that the chances of him actually attending were slim at best. And while he’d thanked her for the invite, and wished her and Ian every happiness, he’d admitted that it would be both awkward and emotional for him to attend her wedding to another man and had declined.
On something of an impulse, she had asked Glen Rockwell if he and his wife would like to attend. She had exchanged several emails with the kindly editor since they’d met back in April, and he had shared more stories and memories about Gillian with her. But he, too, had had to decline the invitation, as he and his wife had already made plans to vacation in Spain at the same time. He had promised, though, to make it out to San Francisco within the next year so they could have a long visit. And he had sent Tessa one of her very favorite wedding presents thus far - some additional photos of Gillian that he’d dug up from an old file.
Their schedule for the days leading up to the wedding were packed solid with a whole host of activities - three separate family dinners, a joint bachelor/bachelorette party, a girl’s only tea, the rehearsal dinner, and of course the wedding itself. With Julia’s help, Tessa had been shopping like mad in order to put together new outfits for each occasion, as well as buying clothes and accessories for the two week honeymoon she and Ian were taking to the British Virgin Islands.
Julia had smirked knowingly as Tessa had looked through a rack of pricey bikinis. “You probably don’t need more than two or three, you know,” she’d joked, elbowing Tessa in the ribs. “If your honeymoon is anything like mine was, the bathing suit won’t stay on for very long. And I, ah, managed to get rid of my tan lines after just a few days.”
But now, with just over a week remaining until she became Ian’s wife, all of the shopping was done. Her suitcases for their honeymoon were nearly packed. All of the arrangements for pre-wedding events had been made, and the wedding itself was ready to go off like clockwork. Tessa was still in disbelief that everything was so well organized that all she needed to do at this point was simply show up.
She gave a sigh of pure contentment and rested her head on Ian’s shoulder. They had gone for a walk in their neighborhood after dinner, enjoying this time of the year when it stayed light until well past eight o’clock each evening. Afterwards they’d cuddled in bed while watching a movie that had just ended a few minutes ago.
Ian touched his lips to her temple. “Happy, darling?”
Tessa nodded, wrapping her arms about his torso and nuzzling her nose against his throat. “Deliriously so. Especially since I just realized I have barely anything left to do until our wedding. I may be the only bride in history who will actually be able to enjoy herself on her big day.”
He grinned at her. “Sometimes it pays to be extra diligent, doesn’t it? Are you willing to admit I was right all those times when I insisted we followed up on a weekly basis with Zara?”
She poked him in the shoulder. “You’re always right,” she grumbled good-naturedly. “But especially about this.”
Ian dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “I knew with so many friends and family members flying out for the wedding that it would be bedlam here for at least a week. And I wanted to be certain that both of us were free to enjoy ourselves at all of these dinners and parties. That’s why it was so important to get all of the wedding details firmed up ahead of time. Now we can relax a bit and enjoy ourselves. Speaking of which.”
