Page 56 of California Waves

“There’s just time to go surfing before work,” she said brightly. “Then tonight, the girls will sleep over at Mom and Dad’s, including Tessa, and the boys will hang out with Arch. We’ll go to Mom and Dad’s in casual clothes and then dress up there.”

Hersch tried to stifle a yawn and wake up fully. “Wow, this is definitely a clandestine operation. Good thing I signed that nondisclosure agreement.”

“Very funny.” There was a pregnant pause, but she didn’t invite him to come, at least not to the wedding. But she did invite him to go surfing. He accepted, still nervous but confident that Mila would be by his side.

When they got to the beach, he realized that all the dread he usually felt had melted away. Mila was making this fun for him, and he followed her into the water with his boogie board. It was interesting that, even though both of them were still processing what it meant to be so serious about each other, it hadn’t ruined their budding friendship and respect for each other one bit. Maybe that was the foundation of a long-lasting relationship.

Swallowing down any residual fear, he managed to paddle his boogie board out. He could still touch the sand at the bottom, but now he was up to his shoulders in water. He couldn’t believe his progress.

Mila beamed at him and then said the words he was so longing to hear. “I am so proud of you.” She kissed him firmly on the mouth, her hand stroking the back of his neck. “You’re a superstar.”

He stared at her, realizing it was the greatest, most important compliment anyone had ever given him. Forget space and moon landings. Mila’s praise and Mila’s kisses were better than all the stars and the planets in the universe combined.

In a rush, as though she had to get the words out before she regretted them, she said, “I know it’s really late notice, but would you like to come to Arch and Tessa’s wedding with me?”

He knew how much it meant that she had invited him. “Luckily for you, I had my suit freshly dry-cleaned. Just in case.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Saturday dawned bright and clear. It was the morning of Arch and Tessa’s real wedding, and everyone was busy getting ready. The previous night, the women had gathered at the family home to sleep, and all the men had slept over at Archer’s. Traditional though it was, they were definitely sticking to the notion that the groom shouldn’t see the bride before the ceremony, and it had just seemed natural that Tessa would start out at the Davenport home. She was such a part of the family, Mila was always forgetting that she wasn’t her actual sister and they hadn’t grown up together.

As expected, everyone was excited about this first wedding of a Davenport sibling. Mila found it interesting that they were all calling it the first, as though there would be more, despite all the kids holding out this long. Still, when she saw the happiness glowing in Tessa’s eyes, she couldn’t help but feel wistful that maybe one day she’d be sitting there having Erin do her hair and makeup and chatting nervously about how much she hoped she wouldn’t screw up on her big day.

They’d all suggested she get her hair and makeup done professionally, but Tessa had steadfastly refused. “Nobody does my hair and makeup better than Erin,” she said now, staring at herself in the mirror. “Remember what an amazing job she did for that red-carpet event with Arch? I’ll let some professional make me over in Scotland, but for this wedding, I want everything to be real.”

If it had been her wedding, Mila would have put herself in the hands of makeup and hair professionals, but she had to accept that she and Tessa were very different. Besides, Tessa could show up in a burlap sack and still look gorgeous. She was a beautiful woman anyway, but the glow of love and excitement in her eyes made her almost ethereal. Every time Mila looked at her, she had to smile.

Erin came over and whispered, “It almost makes you believe in love just to look at her, doesn’t it?”

“I know,” Mila replied. “And if she can feel like that about Archer, we can definitely do better than that.”

Erin snorted with laughter. It was still hard for either of them to imagine any woman finding bratty Archer Davenport irresistible, though they’d had a few years to get used to it as he’d blazed across the big screens, making a career for himself as a heartthrob. She figured it was all in the way you saw a person. To millions of women around the world, he was gorgeous, sexy, and strong. To Mila and probably Erin, he was the annoying brother who’d teased them. Still, no matter what, any of her brothers would always have her back. As she’d have theirs. And now Tessa would be part of all that.

Betsy said, “You know Howie would be more than happy to walk you down the aisle.”

Tessa’s eyes filled with tears. “I know. And I appreciate it. But Margaret really wanted to do it, and when you think about it, she’s the one who brought us together. I want to walk down the aisle toward Arch on her arm, just as I did that day on Carmel beach when I first met him. But I’m definitely looking forward to a dance with Howie later.”

Betsy wrapped her arms around Tessa from behind, being careful not to muss her hair, and Mila looked at the two women reflected in the mirror. Her heart hurt with how much she loved them both. It made her think about family. “Are you okay that your sister’s not going to be here?”

A shadow of sadness crossed Tessa’s pretty face. “I hinted that maybe we’d do something small for our wedding, but the minute I started talking about the castle in Scotland, my sister shut down any idea of a small wedding and said that absolutely, since I was marrying a man of so much wealth, I should be sure to spend some of it on a big wedding. So, while I’m a little sad not to have my niece here, they’ll be more than delighted to play a bigger part in the Scottish wedding.” She glanced around and said, “I think of you all and Margaret as my family now.”

Betsy tightened her hold and said, “And you are like another daughter to me. It warms my heart to see how happy you make Archer.” Both women blinked furiously, and Betsy pulled away. “Before we spoil our makeup, let’s get you ready to get married.”

The dress that Betsy had first worn nearly forty years ago hung in perfect condition. The dry cleaner had managed to remove the stain so beautifully that no one could tell it had ever been there.

Mila teased, “So, that’s your something old. Now you need something borrowed and something blue.”

Tessa blushed furiously. “I went out and bought blue satin lingerie. It’s the most money I’ve ever spent on any item of clothing in my life. So that’s new and blue.”

“Sexy blue lingerie? There’s hope for you yet,” Mila said.

“And obviously, the dress is borrowed.”

“No,” Betsy replied, looking surprised. “Honey, it’s a gift from me to you.”

Tessa looked both grateful and perturbed. “I’m honored that you would give me your beautiful dress, but if I don’t return it, then I don’t have something borrowed.” She glanced at the women around her. “Isn’t that bad luck?”

“I’m sure it’s not,” Betsy assured her, “but why don’t I lend you those lovely pearl earrings you wore to the red-carpet event?”

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