Chapter 3
Ava’s parents finally left on Wednesday evening after shopping success. Can’t say I was sorry to see Elizabeth leave. The woman exhausts me. But I will grin and bear her going forward, and only trample mildly. We’re just establishing the boundaries. I’m managing her expectations. Building a bond. It’s love/hate all the way. For both of us. But as I know she is of me, I’m fond of her. How could I not be? She’s irritatingly endearing. And Joseph? Top bloke.
The next ten days seem to drag for years. Ava’s been at work every day, and I’ve been busy. So fucking busy. But it’s still dragged. I knew Sarah was the scaffolding of my business, but I truly didn’t appreciate how much. I’m dealing with things I never knew needed dealing with, finding paperwork for things I didn’t know existed, but it seems Sarah had her own unique system of filing shit, and as a departing gift, she didn’t leave a key to what that system is. She also upended every filing cabinet in my office and the storage cupboard. I’m a little lost, to be honest. Drowning in emails and masses of paperwork, navigating the accounts system blindly. Requests from my accountant for invoices, quarter end accounts for the VAT return, employee documents, and statements have overwhelmed me. John has tried his best to support me but, like me, he’s dumbfounded. If we ever needed anything, we asked Sarah. Sarah knew where everything was kept, filed, who needed what and when. I’ve not heard from her, but it’s been difficult not to think about her when every fucker I see asks where she is. And Ava? She wanted details of Sarah’s eviction from The Manor. Naturally, I was selective with the information I shared. She’s gone. The end. Let’s move on.
It”s now finally Friday. The Manor has been cleared of any evidence that may point to the happenings, the communal room door has been locked and bolted, and Tessa has been flying around all day getting everything in place. Ava’s parents have arrived, along with her charming brother, family, friends, and some people I don’t even fucking know. I’m pretty sure Elizabeth went back to Newquay and rounded up the locals to bring to her daughter’s wedding.
Everyone is here.
Except my fucking bride.
I look down at my Rolex, grumbling to myself. It’s that Ruth woman again, I just know it. She’s demanding, exhausting. I slide my phone off my desk and dial Ava, getting up and stretching my quads.
“Where the hell are you?” I grumble when she answers, wandering to the door and pulling it open.
“I couldn’t fit my outfit in the back of my car without it getting all creased. Zoe’s having it delivered.”
I smile. Her outfit. And fitting anything in her car won’t be a problem soon. That reminds me. I need to chase up the dealership on Ava’s wedding present.
I wander through the summer room that’s set up with rows of chairs and stand at the end of the aisle, looking to where I’ll be waiting for her. We made it. Fucking hell, we actually made it. “How long will you be?”
“Nearly there.”
“I’m hardly going to get any time with you this evening.”
“But you’ve got the rest of my life,” she muses, making me grin so wide.
“Just hurry up, will you?” I snap. “Your mother’s swanning around like lady of the fucking manor throwing out orders. She wouldn’t even let me in my own fucking suite earlier.”
Ava laughs. I don’t know why. Her mother’s driving me nuts. “You’re not allowed in my room.”
I frown. “It’s our room.”
“Not tonight. Tonight it’s my room.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s tradition for us to spend the night apart.”
Say what? “Ava, come on,” I implore. “You’ve been working non-stop, you won’t give me a honeymoon?—”
“I will give you a honeymoon just as soon as I’ve caught up with work.”
I grimace. If she worked for herself, she could be more in control of work commitments.
“Jesse!” My shoulders shoot up when Elizabeth’s shrill shriek of my name hits my back.
I snarl at the beautiful bouquet of flowers at the end of the aisle. “Your mother’s found me again,” I hiss, and Ava chuckles. “Hurry up.” I hang up, slap on a smile, and face Elizabeth. “Hey.”
“You shouldn’t be in here,” she says, taking my elbow and guiding me out.
“Why?” I ask, looking back.
“It’s bad luck.”
“Stop making shit up, Elizabeth,” I say, laughing. “How else do you expect me to get to my office?”
“You go through the spa.”
“How do you know that?”
She shrugs, and I breathe in my patience. “We need your help.”
“With what?”
“The cake.”
“Kate’s taking care of the cake.”
“But where is it going?” she asks, leading me into the bar.
“I really don’t give a shit where the cake goes,” I say, looking at my watch again, jolting when she smacks my arm. I smile through gritted teeth. “In that corner,” I say, pointing, pulling my phone out and texting Ava.
“What?” Her face bunches. “Don’t be silly. No one will see it.” She goes to another corner and assesses. I click send on my message.
It’s a good thing I adore you or your mother would be squashed.
“It should go here,” Elizabeth says. “Agreed?”
“Wherever you want it to go, Elizabeth.” I smile, reading Ava’s reply.
Keep your trampling under control, Ward.
I REALLY love you.
I REALLY know.
I back out of the room, bumping into Kate. “All right?” I ask, noting, not for the first time recently, her lack of sparkle.
“I’m fine,” she says, carrying a bunch of calla lilies to the bar.
“You sure about that?” I ask, but I get no answer. She’s definitely off, and something tells me Ava’s brother is the cause. And, again, not for the first time recently, I ask myself how much Sam knows. Because if he does, he’s not letting on, and I definitely don’t want to be the one to share the news of Kate’s and Dan’s history. Especially since there’s clearly unfinished business. I’m also wondering if it’s why Dan’s stuck around.
I still for a moment. Wait. Was Ava texting and driving? Because that’s not acceptable. I go back to my phone, but just as I’m about to call her—not text—I hear the crunch of wheels on gravel. I back up, looking out of the open door. I see her Mini.
“Oh, the bride’s arrived,” Elizabeth sings, passing me, going to greet her daughter.
I don’t think so.
I rush past her, hearing her shocked gasp, and pull Ava out of the car, hauling her gently up onto my shoulder.
“Whoa!” she yelps. “Jesse, what the hell are you doing?”
I’m getting my fix before some fucker robs you from me.
“Jesse Ward!” Elizabeth shrieks, tottering alongside me as I haul Ava into The Manor. “For Christ’s sake, put her down.”
“Nope.” I take the stairs two at a time.
“But she has guests to welcome!”
“I’m sure you’ll manage, Elizabeth,” I call back.
“God damn you, Jesse Ward!”
I smile as Ava chuckles, not fighting me as I carry her around the gallery landing and take us into my suite. I hear the echo of Ava’s mother’s scornful voice hit the wood of the door as it closes, and I lower Ava to her feet. “How’s your back?” I ask, taking her hands.
“Better. Yours?”
“Better.” I ease her down to the carpet and spread myself all over her, settling, breathing easy, but I refrain from resting all of my weight on her stomach. “We made it,” I whisper.
“We made it,” she breathes, smiling, and it’s fucking dazzling. She’s happy. She wants to marry me. How could I have doubted that?
“Don’t make me sleep away from you tonight,” I beg. It’ll feel like my limbs have been cut off. I won’t get a wink of sleep, and Ava won’t have me cuddling her all night. Wrong. So wrong.
“It’s one night,” she says. “It’s bad luck. I don’t want any bad luck.”
I sigh, burying my face in her neck. Compromise. One night in exchange for thousands. “Fine. But I get you until midnight.”
At that very moment, there’s a knock at the door before it swings open. I don’t look up. The horrified gasp tells me who it is. “Please, you two, won’t you leave each other alone for just a few minutes?”
“Fuck off,” I whisper into Ava’s skin.
“We’re coming,” she says, chuckling.
“Are we?”
“Yes.” Ava wriggles, trying to move me, and I grunt, rolling onto my back. Elizabeth stands over me, her face a picture of disapproval. Could give a fuck. But I absolutely do not. She helps Ava to her feet while I remain on my back, moody.
“Get up,” Elizabeth says, offering her hands.
“I’m just going to stay here.”
“Why?”
“Well, because this is where I’m sleeping tonight.”
She swings a horrified look Ava’s way, and Ava rolls her eyes. “He’s not sleeping in here tonight, Mum,” she says. “He’s winding you up.” Ava tilts her head, giving warning eyes. “Stop it.”
“No.” I force myself to my feet and let Elizabeth direct me out of the room. “I liked you when I met you,” I say to her.
“I was just thinking the same about you,” she retorts. “Out.” I’m thrust into the corridor, just as Zoe appears with one end of a huge dress bag draped over her arms, the other end held up by John.
Fuck me, that’s some dress. My stomach does a cartwheel.
“My dress,” Ava breathes, biting her lip as she joins me outside the suite, her face subtly thrilled. My God, what is the dress like?
“Quick, in here,” Elizabeth sings, opening the door wider and hurrying John and Zoe in. Then she grabs her daughter, and hauls her into the room with her.
And shuts the door in my face.
I snarl at the wood.