Page 140 of Tuxedos and Tinsel

‘Do tell,’ she said, tucking her arm through the crook of his elbow, loving him more in that moment than she had ever loved him.

A big grin split his face. ‘I’m going to put my hands over your eyes and lead you into the ballroom.’

‘Okay,’ she said, bemused. Then she guessed it. The family had been determined to give her an engagement party. Now that she and Dominic actually were genuinely engaged she would happily go along with it. She would act suitably surprised. And be very happy. Getting engaged to this wonderful man was worth celebrating.

She could tell she was at the entrance to the ballroom. ‘You can open your eyes now,’ said Dominic, removing his hands.

There was a huge cry of ‘Surprise!’ Andie was astounded to see the happy, smiling faces of all her family and friends as well as a bunch of people she didn’t recognise but who were also smiling.

What was more, the ballroom had been transformed. It was exquisitely decorated in shades of white with hints of pale blue. Round tables were set up, dressed with white ruffled cloths and the backs of the chairs looped with antique lace and white roses. It was as if she’d walked into a dream. She blinked. But it was all still there when she opened her eyes.

Dominic held her close. ‘We—your family, your friends, me—have organised a surprise wedding for you.’

Andie had to put her hand to her heart to stop it from pounding out of her chest. ‘A wedding!’

She looked further through the open glass doors to see a bridal arch draped with filmy white fabric and white flowers set up among the rows of blue agapanthus blooming in the garden. Again she blinked. Again it was still there when she opened her eyes.

‘Your wedding,’ said Dominic. ‘Ourwedding. You asked to be married as soon as possible. I organised it. With some help from the Party Queens. Actually, alotof help from the Party Queens. Jake Marlow and some other friends of mine are also here.’

‘It...it’s unbelievable.’

‘Only if it’s what you want, Andie,’ Dominic said, turning to her so just she could hear. ‘If it’s too much, if you’d rather organise your own wedding in your own time, this can just turn into a celebration of our engagement.’

‘No! I want it. It’s perfect.’ She turned to the expectant people who seemed to have all held their breath in anticipation of her response and gone silent. ‘Thank you. I say I do—well, I’msoongoing to say I do!’

There was an eruption of cheers and happy relieved laughter. ‘Here comes the bride,’ called out one of her brothers.

Andie felt a swell of joy and happy disbelief. It was usually her organising all the surprise parties. To have Dominic do this for her—well, she felt as if she was falling in love with him all over again.

But the party planner in her couldn’t resist checking on the details. ‘The rings?’ she asked Dominic. He patted his breast pocket. ‘Both ready-to-wear couture pieces,’ he said.

‘And this is all legal?’

‘Strictly speaking, you need a month’s notice of intent to be married—and we filled out our form less than a month ago. But I got a magistrate to approve a shorter notice period. It’s legal all right.’

Her eyes smarted with tears of joy. This was really happening. She was getting married today to the man she adored and in front of the people she loved most in the world.

Her fashion editor friend, Karen, dashed out from the guests and took her by the arm. ‘Hey! No tears. I’ve got my favourite hair and make-up artist on hand and we don’t want red eyes and blotchy cheeks. Let’s get your make-up done. She’s already done your bridesmaids.’

‘My bridesmaids?’

‘Your sisters, Hannah and Bea, Gemma, Eliza and your little niece, Caitlin. The little nephews are ring-bearers.’

‘You guys have thought of everything.’

Turning around to survey the room again, she noticed a fabulous four-tiered wedding cake, covered in creamy frosting and blue sugar forget-me-nots. It was exactly the cake she’d talked about with Gemma. She’d bet it was chocolate cake on the bottom layers and vanilla on the top—Gemma knew she disliked the heavy fruitcake of traditional wedding cakes.

‘Wait until you see your wedding dresses,’ said Karen.

‘Dresses?’

‘I’ve got you a choice of three. You’ll love them all but there’s one I think you’ll choose. It’s heavy ivory lace over silk, vintage inspired, covered at the front but swooping to the back.’

‘And a veil? I always wanted to wear a veil on my wedding day.’ This all felt surreal.

‘I’ve got the most beautiful wisp of silk tulle edged with antique lace. You attach it at the back of a simple halo band twisted with lace and trimmed with pearls. A touch vintage, a touch boho—very Andie. Oh, and your mother’s pearl necklace for your “something borrowed”.’

‘It sounds divine.’ She hugged Karen and thanked her. ‘I think you know my taste better than I do myself.’