Page 134 of A Legal Affair
A chorus of “Aww” filled the room.
Chuckling, Daniela untucked her legs from under her and bent to put on the rhinestone-studded Louboutin heels Caleb had bought her—along with twenty other pairs of designer shoes (he was totally enabling her addiction). The red bottoms complemented her slinky white dress with jeweled spaghetti straps and a low-cut back, and her hair was pinned up with a few loose curls artfully framing her face.
“Hey, did Adele find you? She needs new headshots and she wanted to get April’s—” Kennedi broke off and blinked, a wide grin stretching her lips. “Sorry, I got distracted by that boulder on your finger.”
Everyone laughed as Daniela looked down sheepishly at the twelve-carat diamond on the exquisite platinum band circling her finger. Caleb had surprised her with the engagement ring during a romantic getaway to an exclusive private island resort in French Polynesia. After a dreamy dinner overlooking the vivid blue sea, he’d gotten down on one knee and proposed for the second time. She’d cried, laughed, cried some more, forgetting once again to say yes until he gave her one of his sexy crooked grins. After sliding the ring onto her finger—naturally, the diamond was pink—he’d swept her up and carried her into theirthatched-roof bungalow, where she’d spent the rest of the night sayingyes, yes, yesa thousand times.
“That rock is so damn big, every time you move your hand all I see are constellations,” Kennedi joked, setting off more laughter.
“Her ringandTamia’s are ridiculous,” Robinette teased.
“For real.” Kennedi looked heavenward, her hands clasped together in supplication. “Lord, I see what you’ve done for others?—”
There was an outbreak of laughter.
“We’d better head back before they send a search party for us,” Tamia teasingly announced, rising from the rocking chair. After kissing her sleeping daughter’s forehead, she laid her down in the crib and tucked a handstitched blanket around her little body.
As if on cue, her nanny materialized from another room. Mrs. Mosley, a widowed older black woman with a sweet grandmotherly smile, had been hired when the Chamberses first arrived in DC. Tamia had initially balked at entrusting their child to a complete stranger’s care, but Brandon insisted she would appreciate the help. True to his word, the kind, nurturing nanny quickly proved indispensable to the family. As an added bonus, she reminded Tamia so much of her beloved late grandmother that she was now convinced that Mrs. Mosley was her reincarnated Mama Esther—and no one could tell her otherwise.
“Okay, ladies,” Tamia said, leading them from the nursery, “let’s go find the boys and hit the dance floor. I’m ready to shake my ass.”
Laughing, they made their way down a grand staircase, slipped outside and headed across the marble terrace leading into the torchlit backyard, the sounds of music and celebration growing louder as they approached.
“Just three more weeks,” Kennedi singsonged, draping her arm around Daniela’s shoulders and pressing a loud kiss to her cheek. “Three more weeks until you become Mrs. Caleb Thorne!”
Daniela grinned as the others whooped and cheered their way into the party.
The sprawling lawn was filled with family, friends, colleagues and a sprinkling of high-profile politicians. Crandall Thorne had invited a slew of relatives, and even more would be attending the wedding. Daniela had enjoyed meeting them all at the engagement party, trying her best to put names to faces. Caleb had fared only slightly better with her aunts and uncles and cousins, many of whom were also present today. Her grandparents and Caleb’s were already becoming best friends.
Clouds of pink and white blossoms adorned dogwood trees artfully planted around the yard. Towering oaks dripped paper lanterns and strings of fairy lights that glittered like stars as the afternoon faded into twilight.
Across the yard was an enormous outdoor screen with a projector. A slideshow featuring Caleb and Daniela’s official engagement photos had been running on a loop all day. April Kwan, who’d traded law school for a camera lens, had photographed the couple in her upscale portrait studio, a space Caleb had generously financed to support her dreams. She’d also arranged photo shoots for them at various other locations, and the stunning results of her work had blown everyone away. An unavoidable scheduling conflict prevented her from being here to bask in the well-deserved praise, which would have tickled her no end. Although she was super bummed about missing today’s party, she’d attended all the other pre-wedding events, and as a bridesmaid, she couldn’t wait to celebrate with everyone on the big day—which was taking place at the ranch, on a hilltop overlooking the valley. April said the wedding venue was goingto look breathtaking in photographs, and Daniela couldn’t agree more.
Dozens of blankets and pillows were scattered around the huge screen, fanning out across the grass like theater seats. There were people everywhere, men, women and children spread out on blankets or lounging in lawn chairs, chatting and laughing as they waited for the show to begin. An independent filmmaker and close acquaintance of Brandon’s was giving them a private screening of his family-friendly movie before he jetted off to the Cannes Film Festival.
At the far end of the yard, laser beams crisscrossed a dance floor and a brilliantly lit stage where a DJ was playing Top 40 hits for a large crowd that included Beau Chambers and his lovely date.
Kennedi spotted the couple in the distance and let out a sad moan. “I need a drink.”
“I could go for one, too.” Robinette grabbed her hand. “C’mon, the bar’s this way.”
No sooner had they wandered off than a group of children raced toward Daniela and Tamia, brandishing glowsticks and squealing as they darted through the throngs of adults. Leading the pack was Brandon Junior, who grinned and waved at his mother as he streaked past. Right on his heels were Kenneth and Janie’s adorable fraternal twins.
“Hi, Auntie!” KJ and Lourdes yelled at Daniela as they raced by, a blur of neon glowsticks and beaming smiles that left her grinning.
Bringing up the rear was a gorgeous little girl with a butterscotch complexion and long curly pigtails. Tamia reached out and grabbed her, pulling her close and bending to kiss the top of her head. Apollonia was her four-year-old niece, the child of her incarcerated sister and Brandon’s best friend. Fiona and Dre had argued back and forth over the name Apollonia. Dredidn’t want his daughter named after Prince’s sexpot paramour, who’d famously bared her breasts in the moviePurple Rain. Dre insisted that Apollonia sounded like a stripper name, way too grown and sexy for his child. But Fiona didn’t see why that was a problem. She’d reasoned that Apollonia was a bad bitch and someday their daughter would be one too; additionally, Apollonia was a Greek name that meant “destroyer,” which appealed immensely to Fiona. As a compromise, they’d agreed to call their daughter “Apple” for short.
Dre was super protective of his little girl, who was fittingly the apple of his eye. He rarely let her out of his sight unless she was accompanied by her nanny.
“Where’s Josie?” Tamia asked her niece.
“Talking to a boy.”
Tamia scowled and took Apple’s hand. “Let’s go find her before your daddy does.” She threw Daniela an apologetic look. “Go get your man. I’ll catch up.”
“Okay. Good luck.” Daniela kept walking, accepting hugs and congratulations from guests while scanning the yard for her fiancé.
Beneath a large white canvas tent, dozens of tables were set with crisp white cloths, flickering candles and fresh flowers. Several people lingered after dinner, enjoying second and third helpings of assorted desserts prepared by a Michelin-starred pastry chef.
