Chapter Twenty-Seven
The party continued as they sat down to eat the beautiful meal that Mila had helped choose. It was delicious, as she knew it would be, but she was still glad that everything was perfect for Tessa. Smith Sullivan made the first speech. He talked about how he and Archer had wooed a lot of women onscreen, but when the real thing hit, no rehearsal helped you navigate the new role of husband. His advice, given with a humorous smile, was to always accept that your wife knew best.
“Absolutely,” echoed Valentina, who looked stunning in a blue silk dress.
Next was their mom. Betsy stood, gorgeous in a deep pink dress patterned with flowers. “What a beautiful day this is for all of us. Howie and I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome you into our family, Tessa. You have been beyond wonderful in caring for our son, and though I would never have wished a broken leg on anyone, I’m glad it brought you and Arch together. You healed him, and you loved him. I thank you for that, and welcome you to our family.” Then she turned to Arch. “Since you were a little boy, everything you touched turned to gold, but nothing in your life has ever shone brighter than your love for Tessa. I know you two are forever, and I love you both.”
Everyone raised their glasses in appreciation, and Mila took a happy sip of champagne. Her mom took her seat, and her dad gently wiped her tears from her cheeks before standing himself. He smiled at his guests. “First, Tessa, as my beautiful wife just said, we all adore you. I’m so glad you’re part of the family now. And Arch.” His voice broke with emotion, and he took a moment to calm himself. “Arch, welcome to the married life. And well done falling for someone as lovely and perfect for you as Tessa. To see your child find their perfect fit is one of the greatest joys a parent can know. Here’s to forever love!”
They all raised their glasses in a toast.
Nick, as the oldest brother, was next to stand. Mila could see that he was a bit embarrassed that his eyes had already filled with tears. He swallowed hard and said, “Arch, Nick, Damien, Finn, and I have always been such a tight-knit unit that I’ll admit I thought when Arch got married, something might change. But now I see that we’re all going to be closer than ever. Being witness to your love makes me realize that every time we bring a new person into the family circle, the love only gets bigger. It’s a thrill to gain another sister.” He grinned at Tessa. “Welcome to the madhouse… I mean, welcome to our family.”
Everyone laughed and raised their glasses in another toast.
Arch rose and replied to the toasts, thanked the bridesmaids, joked about his brothers, and then thanked Tessa’s parents, who he was sure were smiling down on this day. He finally turned to thank Betsy and Howie. “You two showed us all what a real marriage and real love look like. It took me a long time to find that kind of forever love, but when I met Tessa, I knew I was done for.” To the assembled guests, he said, “Thank you all for coming and helping us celebrate this special day. Now, let’s party!”
And then the dancing started. Arch led Tessa across the makeshift dance floor, and everyone watched in a happy hush as they moved in perfect harmony. After the song ended, Howie and Betsy stepped onto the dance floor, Howie partnering with Tessa and Betsy her son.
Mila was a little worried that Erin might feel like the only singleton, since Mila had brought a date at the last minute, and Erin hadn’t. But to her surprise and secret delight, Jay Malone had also come alone. He’d been smart enough to realize that none of those underwear models he dated could be trusted not to blab the secret of this wedding to the paparazzi.
The minute the dance floor opened up, he went over to Erin and offered his hand. Mila watched her sister hesitate for just a second, then nod and get up. She didn’t know what Jay said, but he made Erin laugh, and then she relaxed in his arms. And just for a moment, Mila wondered if…
Then she shook her head. She was getting overly romantic because she was at a wedding. Pushy Jay Malone and quiet, intellectual Erin? No. That could never work.
Herschel asked her to dance, and as she settled in his arms for their own first-ever dance, she discovered that they fit perfectly, and the astronaut had some real moves.
Damien danced with a couple of his aunts and Tessa, and then she saw him go over to Crystal. He obviously asked her to dance, and Crystal, still wearing her headset, made a gesture toward the cake. He shook his head and, reaching up, removed the headset. Good for him, Mila thought.
He led the still protesting Crystal out to the dance floor, where Mila was able to watch how much the two old friends enjoyed each other. It must be such a relief to Damien to be able to let go with someone he trusted, since they’d known each other long before he’d become famous. The more she watched them dancing, she more she noticed that there was real chemistry between the two of them. But Crystal didn’t stay on the dance floor long, abandoning him to head back to her duties.
Damien danced the next one with Margaret, who had been waltzed around by each of the Davenport men in turn. Second to Tessa, Mila thought that Margaret was the belle of the ball. She only hoped she was as gorgeous and feisty and vibrant when she was that age.
Then it was time to cut the cake. When the big chocolate fudge cake came out, Herschel leaned over and whispered in her ear, “I’m going to need a very large piece of that cake to go.”
Immediately, her thoughts turned to the night they’d spread chocolate cake all over each other and licked it off their bodies. She was never going to look at chocolate cake the same way again.
After everyone had enjoyed a slice of cake, Smith Sullivan came over to where Mila was standing beside Arch and Tessa. He said, “Great job on keeping the ceremony on the down-low. I noticed the well disguised security outside the house, but it wasn’t needed. The ruse worked.”
She was glad he didn’t mention that he and Valentina might have been followed. It didn’t matter now, and besides, it was probably just a fan who’d caught sight of Smith and decided to follow him. As she knew from her famous brothers, fans did stuff like that all the time.
Arch nodded with pride. “The decoy wedding worked. Between Crystal being a brilliant planner and everybody who came today keeping the secret, right down to the caterers and servers, I couldn’t be happier.”
“Are you going to have a honeymoon?” Smith wanted to know.
He nodded. “We’re going to Damien’s island in the Bahamas.” He turned a teasing glance on his bride. “It’s gorgeous, right on the beach, and fully staffed. Tessa’s not sure about the butler and the servants, but I think she’ll get used to them.”
Smith laughed. “I know you’re going to have a great time.”
Tessa said, “Then we’ll have our Scottish wedding. But I won’t mind the fuss, because I’ve already had my perfect backyard wedding. And also, I can’t wait to see Scotland.”
“You’re coming, right?” Arch asked. “There’s not a schedule clash with filming?”
Smith put his arm around Valentina and looked down into her face to find her nodding. He tightened his grip slightly and said, “We’re hoping to, but Valentina’s been a little under the weather the past few weeks.”
“You’re not sick?” Arch started to say in alarm, then saw his best man’s huge grin.
“You don’t mean—are you—”
“Pregnant?” Valentina said. “Yes.” She raised her champagne flute of sparkling water.
Arch grabbed her for a hug, being gentle, as though she might break. Then he gave Smith a big hug too. “I didn’t think I could be any happier on this day, but this is the best wedding gift I could hope for.”
“This is just wonderful,” Tessa said. “And if you’re not up to the Scottish wedding, of course we’ll understand.”
“I’m having a maternity wardrobe made,” Valentina admitted. “I definitely plan to be there.”
After the bride changed into a gorgeous pale pink dress, she and Archer said their good-byes, and everybody clapped and cheered as they left the house. They’d spend what was left of the night at their house in Carmel, and the next morning, they would jet off by private plane to Damien’s island.
Smith and Valentina left soon after, holding hands.
Herschel and Mila continued dancing until she couldn’t take it any longer—she just wanted to be alone with Hersch.
They left the house hand in hand. Hersch said, “That was amazing. One of the best weddings I’ve ever been to.”
“I’m so happy they pulled it off,” she said. “And I agree. I almost felt that my brother deserves Tessa, and most of the time, I don’t think he deserves anybody.”
Herschel chuckled. “Spoken like a sister. He’s a good guy. And she’s a wonderful woman. If there were ever two people who deserved to be happy, it’s Archer and Tessa.”
She looked at him. “You should have made that speech. It would have made a great toast.”
He shook his head at her. “There were plenty of toasts. Nobody needed mine.”
“I hope it wasn’t too Davenport-family for you?” she asked.
He seemed to think about her words. “It was plenty Davenport-family, but I happen to like the Davenports. Even Howie’s brothers and their wives.”
“Even if my dad put you to work?”
“Especially because your dad put me to work. It made me feel like I was one of you.”
She was delighted he’d figured that out. Because the truth was, it had been Howie’s way of letting Hersch, and probably her, know that he felt Herschel fit right in. Subtle her dad wasn’t, but he was the most loving, bighearted man you’d ever meet. She didn’t say any of that to Herschel, just reached out and took his hand. Then she said, “Your place or mine?”
“I don’t care, so long as we’re together.”
She made a sudden decision. “Let’s go to my place. Closer to the beach.”
He gave an exaggerated groan. “You never give up, do you?”
“Herschel, you’re getting more confident every day. I don’t want to break this winning streak.”
“Good thing I left some board shorts at your place, then,” he said. “I had a feeling I’d be needing them.”