Chapter 11 Planning Forever
The first week of being engaged was complete chaos.
Wonderful chaos.
The kind of chaos that came with happy tears, excited phone calls, and people who suddenly felt entitled to opinions about flowers, venues, cakes, and wedding colors.
Tessa had barely made it home from Piedmont Park before her phone started exploding.
Someone had posted the video of Jamison's proposal.
Her mother was crying.
While cousins screamed congratulations in the background.
Then Sunday her church family celebrated them.
When she returned to work the nurses on the fourth floor nearly caused a hospital-wide disturbance when she walked in wearing her engagement ring.
Especially Lizzie.
"Oh my goodness!"
The entire nurses' station turned.
Tessa immediately regretted entering the building.
"Tessa's engaged!"
Every nurse within hearing distance rushed toward her.
"Let me see it!"
"Girl, that ring is beautiful!"
"When's the wedding?"
"Have you picked colors?"
"Do you have bridesmaids?"
"Can I come?"
Tessa laughed so hard her stomach hurt.
For nearly fifteen minutes, no actual nursing happened.
Just excitement.
And questions.
Lots and lots of questions.
Eventually Denise narrowed her eyes.
"You know who deserves credit for this relationship?"
Tessa groaned.
"No."
"Lizzie."
Immediately Lizzie stood taller.
"That's right."
She pointed dramatically.
"If I hadn't given that man your phone number—"
"You absolutely invaded my privacy."
"You're welcome."
The nurses burst into laughter.
Tessa couldn't even argue.
Because deep down...
Lizzie wasn't entirely wrong.
Meanwhile across town, Jamison wasn't having much better luck.
His family had somehow transformed into a wedding planning committee overnight.
His mother called at least three times in one day.
His sister Jasmine was worse.
Much worse.
"Have you set a date?"
"No."
"Venue?"
"No."
"Honeymoon?"
"No."
"Colors?"
"No."
Jasmine stared.
"Do you have any plans at all?"
Jamison looked up from his laptop.
"Marry Tessa."
His sister rolled her eyes.
"Very helpful."
Jamison smiled.
Because honestly?
The details didn't matter much to him.
As long as Tessa was standing at the end of the aisle, everything else would work itself out.
A week later, Tessa sat at her kitchen table surrounded by bridal magazines.
Two wedding planners.
Four notebooks.
Countless sticky notes.
And one giant headache.
A knock sounded at the door.
Thank God.
A distraction.
When she opened it, Jamison stood there carrying pizza.
Her favorite.
And cheesecake.
Also her favorite.
Tessa immediately stepped aside.
"You are my favorite person."
Jamison laughed.
"Good."
He entered the apartment.
Then looked at the dining room table.
And froze.
"Oh."
Tessa sighed dramatically.
"Exactly."
Jamison carefully approached the disaster zone.
Wedding magazines everywhere.
Color samples.
Venue brochures.
Guest lists.
Budget sheets.
And approximately fourteen million sticky notes.
His eyebrows lifted.
"It looks like a crime scene."
Tessa pointed at him.
"That's exactly what I said."
Jamison immediately grabbed her hand.
"Come on."
"Where?"
"Away from this."
Tessa laughed.
"But—"
"No."
"Jamison—"
"No."
Five minutes later they were sitting on the couch eating pizza.
Ignoring wedding planning completely.
And honestly?
It was exactly what they needed.
As the weeks passed, wedding preparations slowly came together.
They toured venues.
Tasted lots of cakes.
Interviewed photographers.
Discussed guest lists.
And learned something important.
Wedding planning was stressful.
Very stressful.
One Saturday afternoon, they visited their fifth venue in two weeks.
The place was beautiful.
Elegant.
Expensive.
Massive.
The coordinator spent nearly an hour showing them every detail.
Afterward, they sat in the car.
Exhausted.
Silent.
Finally Tessa spoke.
"I don't care anymore."
Jamison looked over.
"What?"
"I don't care about chair covers."
He laughed.
"I don't care about centerpieces."
The laughter grew.
"I don't care about flower arrangements."
Jamison grinned.
Tessa threw her hands up dramatically.
"I just want to marry you."
For a moment, silence filled the vehicle.
Then Jamison reached for her hand.
His expression softened completely.
"Me too."
The simple honesty of the moment washed away all the stress.
Because she was right.
The wedding wasn't the point.
The marriage was.
One evening, a month later, Tessa found herself sitting in Jamison's penthouse staring at a guest list.
A very long guest list.
Jamison sat beside her.
Equally overwhelmed.
"How do I know this many people?"
Tessa laughed.
"You own half of Atlanta."
"I do not."
"Close enough."
Jamison pointed at the paper.
"I haven't spoken to half these people in years."
"Then don't invite them."
His eyes widened.
"Seriously?"
"Seriously."
Tessa took the pen from his hand.
Then started crossing names out.
One after another.
Jamison watched.
Amused.
"It’s that easy?"
"It’s that easy."
A smile spread across his face.
God, he loved her.
The way she simplified everything.
She reminded him what actually mattered.
Tessa never cared about appearances.
Only authenticity.
Truth and love.
As their wedding day drew closer, another change slowly began happening.
Neither of them expected.
Jamison's family became Tessa's family.
And vice versa.
Sunday dinners together became routine.
Holiday gatherings became larger.
Birthday celebrations became louder.
Life became fuller.
Richer.
Warmer.
One evening, Tessa watched Jamison helping her little nephew assemble a toy truck.
Both looked equally confused.
She laughed so hard she nearly dropped her drink.
Jamison looked up.
"What?"
"You have no idea what you're doing."
"That's not true."
The truck immediately fell apart.
Tessa laughed harder.
Her nephew laughed too.
Jamison sighed dramatically.
The two most important people in his life were making fun of him.
And somehow he loved every second of it.
A few weeks before the wedding, Tessa found herself working a very difficult shift.
The hospital was extremely busy.
Several emergencies had arrived one after another.
Everyone was exhausted.
Around midnight she finally escaped to the break room.
Collapsing into a chair.
For a moment she simply sat there.
Breathing.
Trying to recharge.
Then her phone buzzed.
A picture message.
From Jamison.
Tessa smiled instantly.
The photo showed him standing inside a bookstore.
Holding a stack of books.
A very familiar stack.
Her favorite authors.
Beneath the picture was a message.
Jamison: Wedding stress survival kit.
A second photo arrived.
Coffee.
Books.
Chocolate.
Tessa laughed.
Then typed back.
Tessa: You forgot flowers.
His reply came seconds later.
Jamison: Check your nurses' station.
Confused, Tessa left the break room.
The moment she reached the station, she stopped.
A beautiful arrangement of white roses sat waiting.
Along with another note.
"For the woman who changed my life one night in room 415.
I love you.
— Jamison"
Tears started to fill her eyes.
At this point she was beginning to accept that Jamison Edwards would probably make her cry for the rest of her life. In the best possible way.
That night, after her shift ended, Tessa drove directly to the penthouse.
She didn't call first.
Didn't text.
Didn't warn him.
She simply showed up.
When Jamison opened the door, she threw her arms around his neck.
The force knocked him backward against the wall.
He laughed.
"Good morning to you, too beautiful."
Tessa kissed him.
Passionately.
When they finally separated, Jamison blinked.
"Well."
She smiled.
"Thank you."
His expression softened immediately.
"For what?"
"The flowers."
His arms tightened around her.
"The books."
A kiss to her forehead.
"The notes."
A kiss to her temple.
"The love."
His eyes met hers.
Filled with emotion, certainty and forever.
"There will always be that."
Tessa's heart completely melted.
Because she believed him.
Without hesitation, fear or doubt.
She finally believed that someone would stay through the good and bad days with her.
And that realization was the greatest gift of all.
As they stood together watching the sunrise paint Atlanta gold, neither knew exactly what the future would bring.
Some Challenges.
Some Victories.
Maybe Children.
Unexpected surprises.
But it would be their life together.
All of it.
And they knew one thing with absolute certainty.
Whatever would come next...
They would be together.