Page 18 of California Waves

Mila had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. She adored Tessa, but that was a bit much for a girl to hear about her brother. Archer might be a famous actor, but he was also her super annoying sibling. Several wisecracks sprang to mind, but before she could utter one of them, Betsy said, “You’re looking pleased with yourself this morning, Mila.”

For a split second, Mila was tempted to tell the truth of what was on her mind. She was crushing on a man, and hard. But even though these women were closer to her than anyone else on earth, they’d ask questions, and since nothing had happened yet, she’d just feel like a fool. For now, she would keep this crush to herself. She arranged her muffins on a plate and announced she had a feeling she was going to make a big sale this weekend.

Her mom was looking at her as though she knew full well there was more to her good mood than a house sale. Nothing got past Betsy Davenport, especially when it came to her children. After all, Mila sold houses all the time—phenomenal houses, at that—but rarely did they make her feel effervescent on the inside like she did now. But her mom also knew when to push the matter and when to stand back. As soon as Mila smiled enigmatically and then looked as if she had nothing more to add, Betsy jumped up, smoothed her chic blue shirtdress, and fetched a plate of fruit from the fridge. With that, they had the perfect blend of healthy and decadent breakfast offerings.

While Mila poured herself a mug of fresh coffee, Erin turned to Tessa and tapped the folder. “I love how organized you are. What’s in here?”

Tessa shook her head, and her dark hair fell across her forehead. “I don’t feel organized at all. I don’t know where to start when it comes to a glitzy wedding. Jay says we should announce our engagement publicly soon, so I really want to have the bare bones of my big, fancy, fake wedding already figured out. Arch suggested I read some bridal magazines, and I’ve been tearing pages out of them and jotting down ideas, but none of it really feels like me. I talked to Crystal Lopez, Damien’s friend, and he was right about her. She got Francesca to agree to cater our family wedding even though it’s less than two weeks away. Plus, she’s talking to another planner in Edinburgh who can help us there. She seemed to think there was no wedding problem she couldn’t solve, but she also encouraged me to bring some ideas to the table. So this file is half my real wedding—the family-only one—and half some pretty big ideas for the Scottish wedding. I thought I could start this morning by running some of them by you.”

“Excellent,” Mila said. “I’ve never been to Scotland, and I’m kind of looking forward to the rugged terrain and the men with gorgeous Scottish accents wearing kilts that show off their fine legs.” She paused and happily bit into a blueberry muffin. It was soft and sweet. A little mischievously, she added, “Have you talked Arch into wearing a kilt?”

Tessa laughed, and Mila was glad. She didn’t like seeing her soon-to-be sister-in-law so worried about something she didn’t even want in the first place.

Tessa said, “The first thing he made me promise when we agreed on a wedding in Scotland was that he didn’t have to wear a kilt.”

Betsy made a clucking sound and said, “Howie will be disappointed. He hasn’t been able to find a Davenport tartan, but I’m pretty sure he’s hoping to find he’s part of a clan and wear a kilt. I hope that’s okay, especially if he walks you down the aisle.”

Tessa said simply, “Howie can wear whatever he wants to my wedding. I’m just so happy he’s going to be there.”

Her response was one of the many reasons Mila loved Tessa as much as if they’d spent a lifetime as sisters.

Tessa went on, “I’m so happy all of you have welcomed me into your family the way you have. It means the world to me.” She could hardly finish the words as she choked up with tears. And then, of course, Erin and Betsy started blinking furiously. Mila had never been quick to cry, but she couldn’t help but feel overcome by Tessa’s sincerity. It was so refreshing to meet someone so openhearted.

Naturally, Betsy pulled herself together first and put her hand over Tessa’s. The two women’s diamond rings sparkled in the morning light. “I couldn’t have chosen a better bride for Archer,” she said warmly, releasing her hand after a hearty squeeze to tuck a strand of her honey-colored hair behind her ear. “You make him so happy.”

Mila could take only so much emotion at ten in the morning, so, remembering her promise to her brother, she said, “Before this turns into a full-on sobfest, what are you planning to wear?”

Tessa wiped the corners of her eyes and then sat up straight as though ready to face opposition. She looked almost guilty. “I really want to get my dress at a thrift store. I just can’t bear the thought of spending an awful lot of money on a dress I’ll only wear once.” Before anyone else could speak, she said, “I know Archer has a lot of money. It’s not really about that. It’s about who I am and the values I live by. Of course, I do understand I’m going to be a celebrity’s wife, and I’ll try never to embarrass him, but it’s my wedding too. At least with the family, I want to be myself.”

Mila had thought her brother was being a big drama queen when he’d told her she had to talk Tessa out of wearing a thrift-store dress, but Tessa was serious. Mila could totally get behind the whole notion of thrifting, but she did think Archer had a point about the media frenzy that would ensue if it got out that his bride was wearing a secondhand dress to marry him.

Erin, who was munching on a slice of cantaloupe, looked puzzled. “If it was me, I’d make him take me to Paris and get a designer bridal gown from Dior. Or London for an Alexander McQueen number. I mean, it’s your wedding. Why not have a little fun with it? You only get to do this once.”

“Hopefully,” Mila joked, not being able to help herself.

But when Tessa looked truly sad, Mila realized she and Erin had accidentally ventured into sensitive territory.

Tessa said quietly, “But it’s not my first wedding. The first time I got married, I had the big poufy dress, and I let myself be talked into something that wasn’t me. I don’t want to do that again. With Archer, I’m truly myself, and I need to start that very important first day of our marriage showing the world who I really am.”

It was hard to argue with that. Mila wouldn’t compromise herself for any man either. She glanced at her mom, and saw an expression on Betsy’s face that made her think Arch had also confided in his mother his fears about this thrift-store dress.

Betsy sliced the frittata. “I have an idea. Instead of wearing a thrift-store gown, what about a family one?”

Once again, Tessa’s blue eyes turned sad. “I’d have loved that, but my mother didn’t keep her gown. My sister’s much smaller than I am…” She trailed off and then quietly added, “Besides, I can’t imagine wearing her dress.”

In the most casual way possible, Betsy said, “I was thinking about my wedding dress. I’ve kept it all these years because it was so beautiful, and I’ve had a very happy marriage. Would you like to see it? I think you’re about the same size I was when I got married.”

Who was she kidding? Her mom was trim and worked out almost daily and was probably the exact same size she’d been in the eighties. Dad always told Mom, and anyone else who was around, that she looked as beautiful now as she had on their wedding day, and he really wasn’t exaggerating.

As she watched Tessa absorb this offer, Mila was impressed at her mother’s tact and smarts. Trust Betsy to find the perfect solution. She could also see that Tessa was quite thrilled by the idea, but she immediately looked at the two sisters.

“What about Mila and Erin? Surely one of you should wear your mother’s gown.”

They glanced at each other and shook their heads. “It’s a great dress, but I don’t want it,” Mila said.

Erin agreed. “It’s just not my style. But even though it’s from the eighties, it’s classic. It could look really good on you, Tessa.”

Mila looked at her mom. “You would never let us play dress-up in that gown, no matter how much we begged. I guess now I know why. Because it was meant to be worn again in a real wedding.”

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