Page 92 of Love Is…?

“To the wedding?”

Tessa laughed softly.

Abby pursed her lips. “I hope the wedding is on Saturday. Sam will kill me if I’ve forgotten.”

Jayde gave a quick laugh, then exhaled slowly. “I’d love to come, if that’s?—

Abby reached for Jayde’s hand “Need I remind you that you’re a not-awful journalist, and you’re dating my daughter’s chaperone.” Tessa tightened her embrace at that stamp of approval. “And, more importantly, you’ve become a friend.”

Jayde’s inhalation pressed against Tessa’s chest.

Abby patted Jayde’s hand again. “Both my daughter and my fiancée like you as well, and they’re good judges of character.”

Tessa wondered if Sam and Grace’s judgements had been made in the first week. Tessa’s certainly had.

As if reading Tessa’s mind, Abby smiled. “It was during their first interviews with you. Sam marched into the tech booth in theatre one to announce that she thought you were a good sort and would definitely make the profile not boring.”

“A not-awful journalist who writes not-boring articles,” Jayde said, deadpan.

Abby grinned. “Has a ring to it, doesn’t it?”

Then,suddenly everything seemed to accelerate. The beautiful Garlard House, situated in the centre of the Botanic Gardens, was an 1854 sandstone homestead formerly the residence of one of Melbourne’s early governors, and the venue for the wedding and wedding rehearsal dinner.

Although, it really wasn’t a rehearsal dinner at all. Sam decided that a rehearsal dinner would just be a rehearsal of awkward interactions so she announced that the entire evening would involve casual dress where everyone got to know everyone else through informal conversations.

“I don’t do awkward,” she said, nodding at Grace, Abby, and Tessa that morning.

Abby spluttered. “Oh, you do so. Look at how you were when you met me.”

Sam huffed. “You were just as bad.”

Grace pointed her fork. “You were both hopeless. Even at nine years of age, I could tell. But I agree with Sam. Less awkward, more chill.”

Therefore, Tessa, holding fast to Jayde’s hand so she appeared less awkward and more chill, watched Very Famous People in jeans, jumpers, and sneakers wander into Garlard House’s gorgeous reception room.

Tessa had discovered early on in her career, as an executive nanny and chaperone, that Very Famous People, like Abby Taylor, were rather ordinary and maintained true friendships with people who were generally not famous at all. Abby might be the figurehead of Abigail Taylor Industries, but as a person, she was incredibly down to earth, and so her friends were of similar ilk.

Tessa estimated that of the eclectic group of guests, only about thirty were somehow involved in the film industry.

“So many opportunities for my book,” Jayde whispered in Tessa’s ear.

Tessa giggled. “I know you’re itching to interview, but you’ve given your phone in and signed NDAs just like everyone else, so you’ll have to make do with scintillating conversation and journalistic frustration.”

They grinned at each other, then Jayde lifted Tessa’s hand to kiss her palm. “I’m also suffering from another type of frustration,” she murmured.

Tessa gave a playful little grin. “Your place?”

Jayde rolled her lips in thought. “Do we run the gauntlet of Angel’s fangirling and her interrogation for details about absolutely everything, or Dad’s desire to know how gorgeous the Garlard is because he’s never been inside, how lovely Abby is, if we talked to some friendly people, and if the chicken was cooked properly?”

Tessa laughed and fell into Jayde’s chest. “With all due respect to Angel, I think your dad sounds like the better option.”

Speaking of fathers, Eric Markson, Sam’s father, strolled past, beamed at both of them despite not having a clue who they were, and made a beeline for Sam.

Tessa leaned into Jayde’s shoulder. “Eric Markson. I’ve seen his photo. He’s Sam’s dad.”

“The resemblance is there.” Then Jayde lifted her chin at two people who walked through the double door entry and into the foyer. “My turn. That’s Felicity Davis and Tal Diamandis.”

“Yep. Grace’s principal, and Tal is an inspector?” Tessa lifted the end of the sentence. She knew Felicity, but Tal was an unknown entity.

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