“Perfect!” Sue approved.
Tessa thought so, too. There was a deep special joy sparkling in her eyes. Her wedding day... It was like a dream come true.
There was a tap on the door. “The cars are here,” her mother called out. “Are you ready? May I come in now?”
“Yes,” both women chorused in eager anticipation.
The door opened. Joan Stockton looked smart and elegant in a tailored suit of shell-pink silk. An orchid corsage dressed one lapel, proclaiming her mother of the bride. Her face was carefully made up to complement her clothes, but her poise was instantly crumpled by a well of tears.
“Oh, my dear!” She came forward and took Tessa’s hands, squeezing them lovingly as she shook her head in wonderment and blinked hard. “Is this the baby I held twenty-four years ago?”
“She makes a beautiful bride, doesn’t she, Mum?” Sue said with warm pleasure.
“Very very beautiful...” Joan drew in a deep breath and let it out on a shuddering sigh, then at last managed a smile. “I’ve never felt prouder of you, Tessa.”
“Thanks, Mum.” Her voice came out huskily. It had to fight past a lump of emotion in her throat.
“Time to go. Your father is waiting at the front door with Jessica.”
Sue picked up the bouquets, handed Tessa hers, then fell back to pick up the train of the wedding dress.
Ten minutes later, Tessa was settled beside her father in the back of a white limousine, heading for the church... and her marriage to Blaize Callagan.
“I’m not sure I’m ready to give my little princess away,” Mortimer Stockton said gruffly, a film of moisture in his sherry-brown eyes as he looked at his daughter in her wedding finery.
“Sure you are, Dad. That’s why you’re all dressed up,” Tessa teased, struggling to hold on to her composure. She tweaked the pink carnation in his lapel. He was looking distinguished in his light grey suit and pink silk tie, perfectly matched to her mother’s outfit, and she loved him very dearly. Her father...about to hand her over to her husband-to-be.
He sighed. “Well, I’ve got to admit if I have to give you away, I’m pleased that it’s to a man like Blaize, sweetheart. I’m sure he’ll look after you and treat you right.”
“He’s been very good to me, Dad,” she said truthfully. In fact, when she thought about it, Blaize had done everything she had asked of him. Could Sue be right? Would Blaize do anything for her? Did he adore her? Did adore mean love?
They arrived at the church in good time. A photographer took a spate of photographs. They moved up the steps to the vestibule of the church. Sue made sure the forward section of Tessa’s veil was arranged correctly over her face, then fixed the long train so that it would flow perfectly up the aisle. Her father tucked her arm around his. “Ready, sweetheart?” he asked softly.
“Ready, Dad,” Tessa assured him with a glowing smile.
The organ inside the church stopped playing a hymn and began Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.” Sue raised an eyebrow at Tessa, received a nod, then gave Jessica a gentle push to start her walking up the aisle. The little girl performed as though she was born to it. Sue followed at a stately pace.
Her father gave Tessa’s arm a reassuring squeeze. “Now?” he whispered.
“Yes,” she whispered, suddenly having an attack of nerves. Her mind frantically dictated instructions. Eyes straight ahead. Smile. Blaize is waiting for you. He chose white. White is for brides. This is your wedding. You can’t stuff up now.
But was it right? What if she was making a terrible mistake? What if Blaize never came to love her as she wanted him to?
Her heart seemed to thud heavily in time with the music as they started out. One foot... pause... other foot... pause. Her legs felt very shaky.
Then the man waiting in front of the altar turned to watch her coming to him, and the dark eyes slashed a straight tunnel between them, blocking out everything else. They fastened on her with intense command, driving her heart faster, pouring strength into her legs, drawing her towards him, step by inevitable step.
No release.
For better or for worse, she was Blaize Callagan’s bride. And when Mortimer Stockton handed his little princess to the man who had claimed her, Blaize’s fingers curled so warmly around Tessa’s that it felt as though they were curling around her heart. To have and to hold from this day forth.
The ceremony started. Blaize made his responses in a quiet firm voice. Tessa’s voice quavered a little over hers, not because she was nervous or panicky any more, but because she felt so much. And the look in Blaize’s eyes when he lifted her veil to kiss his new wife... it had to be love, or something very close to it. His kiss was gentle, tender, very loving.
The reception was a triumph for Joan Stockton. The best of everything, everything perfect. Nothing could have been more right and proper. Particularly the bride and groom, who behaved as though the sun and the stars shone out of each other. Joan even allowed herself a little weep when they departed. That was perfectly permissible for the bride’s mother, and of course, Mortimer was at her side to comfort her.
Blaize and Tessa drove to Sydney... man and wife. Tomorrow they would fly to Tahiti for a two-week honeymoon on Bora Bora. Tonight they would spend at the apartment. Neither of them had wanted to go to a hotel.
“Happy?” Blaize asked softly as they sped along the expressway.
“Yes,” she answered. “It was a lovely wedding, wasn’t it?”
He smiled at her. “Happy and beautiful.”
Tessa privately wished he hadn’t said those particular words. It recalled that first weekend they had spent together—a fantasy weekend outside of real life. She wondered if that was how he thought of today’s ceremony, a white fantasy. He had her now, all his, for as long as he wanted her. The last pretty bow tied.
No regrets, she told herself.
This was what she wanted, too. Only probably more than Blaize did.
As if to complete the fantasy for her, when they arrived at their apartment, Blaize scooped Tessa up in his arms and carried her over the threshold.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she half-protested.
The dark eyes glowed at her, a warm mixture of deep satisfaction and contentment. “I really do have old-fashioned values,” he said, then smiled as he kept carrying her straight into the master bedroom.
“Be a little patient, Blaize,” Tessa chided him. “I’ve got a wedding present for you.”