Coming Home to Love (Lakeside Porch Series Book 2) (34 page)

In response to the minister’s cue, she stepped onto the terrace wearing a long blue sundress the color of her eyes. She carried a bouquet of Stargazer lilies, deep lavender roses and baby’s breath. She walked slowly—step-pause, step-pause—down the aisle between the chairs. When she pried her eyes away from Joel for a moment, Justin gave her a warm smile and a wink. She winked back and flashed him a big smile.

As soon as Manda reached her position, Phil and Gianessa stepped onto the terrace and paused for a moment. Gianessa squeezed Phil’s arm and bent close to whisper something to him. Phil blushed with pleasure. He had consented to wear a polo shirt and chinos, just like Joel and Justin. Justin’s polo was gray-green. Joel’s was dark green. Phil’s was deep purple to coordinate with Gianessa’s violet sundress.

Gianessa had never been more beautiful. Her toffee hair was artfully arranged—thanks to Sara—in layers around her face, and a violet ribbon wove its way through. Her simple sundress was nearly to her ankles but allowed him just a peek at the sandals on her slender feet and the violet ribbons that criss-crossed up her calves. If she let him, he’d undo those ribbons later, very slowly, one shapely leg at a time.

Her face radiated happiness and contentment. Her bouquet, a cascade of the same blooms Manda carried, rested easily on her belly. She showed off her baby curves today. His mouth stretched in a silly smile, a mix of disbelief and joy beyond measure.

When she arrived at the rose arbor, she stood facing him and gazed deep into his eyes. Time stopped for a moment. Justin felt himself shift to a place he’d never been. He saw their children playing on the lawn at the house near the birches, saw quiet mornings on their lakeside porch, evening strolls down to the water’s edge and back, and nights filled with love and sharing.

The minister intoned, “Dearly beloved.”

Justin’s heart sang with joy as Gianessa spoke her vows. He spoke his own vows to her with a steady voice. When he envisioned them loving and cherishing each other from this day forward, he added, “One day at a time.”

When the moment came to kiss as husband and wife, Gianessa stroked his cheek and whispered, “I love you.”

He tipped up her chin and kissed her lips lightly before whispering in her ear, “I will love you all of my life and beyond.” He had no idea where the words came from, but they healed something in him, that soulsickness he’d suffered from so desperately when he had first arrived home.

Their guests cheered and clapped. Sydney and the young women on Gianessa’s side of the aisle dabbed at their teary eyes.

Joel shook his hand and Justin clapped him on the shoulder. There was no need for words.

Amid more hugs and handshakes, two big carts
putt-putted
up to the terrace. A quick trip to the Manse took the guests to a catered cookout Joel had arranged for them.

Gianessa was deep in conversation with Phil and Tony when she saw Justin embrace the bosomy blond with salon-styled hair. She was sure it was That Sydney Woman.

“Excuse me,” she said quietly and made her way across the porch to her husband. As she approached, she heard Justin say, “We’ll never stop being friends, Syd. You’ll always have a little piece of my heart.”

“Nonsense, Justin, I never did.” The woman dabbed at her eyes.

“It’s true, and I value your counsel in this new role of mine.”

Justin’s eyes cut to a handsome gentleman, who could be an ad for athletic wear for the middle years, making his way toward them.

“Is your husband going to deck me?”

Sydney chuckled, “No, but Gianessa might.” She reached out a hand to the bride. “My dear, you are beyond beautiful. Justin is a lucky man.”

Gianessa took her hand in both of hers and said softly, “Yes, and he knows it.” She lifted her cheek for Justin’s kiss. “Sydney, we’re so glad you and Danny could make it to the wedding. You’re a very important friend to my husband, and I hope that will continue. You’re welcome here any time.”

“How gracious.”

Justin put his arm around his wife and held out a hand to Danny. “Mr. Shorey. Pleasure to meet you.”

“Danny, please, and it’s Brennan, by the way. Congratulations to you and your lovely wife.” Danny shook Gianessa’s hand and raised his eyebrows. “Strong arms. You work out?”

Gianessa rewarded him with a musical laugh. “I do a yoga routine every day, and I’m a masseuse and physical therapist. That builds strength. I see you keep fit, Danny.”

He shrugged, but his flushed cheeks signaled his pleasure. “Played basketball at Notre Dame, and that discipline stayed with me, I guess.” He gave her a conspiratorial wink and eyed Justin and Sydney. “I can’t tell you how glad I am about your marriage, Jessica.”

“Gianessa.” She placed both hands on her belly. “The twins are glad, too.”

Sometime later, Justin stood by himself with a fresh glass of sparkling water, surveying the smiling guests. He felt a touch on his arm and turned to see the raven-haired woman in the pink Paris suit.

“Justin, nice to see you again after all these years.”

“I don’t believe I know you. Have we met?”

Gianessa moved toward them, her forehead set in an angry frown.

Justin opened his arm to welcome his wife.

The woman continued speaking, “We’d have been famous together if Netscape hadn’t beaten us to it.”

“Sweetheart,” he greeted Gianessa and pushed a wave back from her brow.

Belatedly he registered what the woman had said. He dredged up a name from twenty-plus years ago.
This must be Van Russell
. He had financed a high-tech venture for her that was subsequently trounced by a once-famous product.

Gianessa zeroed in on the woman. “Good of you to come, Mother.” Her words were gracious, her tone clipped. “And to bring Aunt Roseanne. You’re both looking well. I hope you’re enjoying the cookout.”

Justin’s mouth opened.
Van Russell is Gianessa’s mother?

“Your husband is an old friend,” Van simpered. She reached one hand to claw Justin closer to her. When he did not budge, she dropped her hand and told her daughter, “We were business partners, as he’s probably told you.”

“No.” Gianessa feigned disinterest.

Justin noticed one eyebrow cock as soon as Van’s attention shifted away from her daughter’s face.

He skewered the high-tech maven with, “Not at all, Van. Gianessa and I never talked about her mother. Did you know we’re honeymooning in Italy and visiting her Pop and Aunt Ariella? Or perhaps you weren’t aware they’ve returned to Italy?”

In Gianessa’s eyes, he saw unbridled admiration for the way he’d added two and two, taken her side and squashed her mother’s attempt to sully her happiness.

Justin said heartily, “Can I buy you and Roseanne a drink, Van? We find that Californians don’t always like our local wines. What’s your poison?”

“Marvelous idea.” Van turned briefly back to her daughter. “How nice that you’ve found someone to rescue you, Gianessa.”

Gianessa let out her breath in a laugh. “I’ll let Justin explain who rescued who.”

Justin hailed a passing waiter and deposited a twenty-dollar bill onto his tray. “Young man, you and your crew are doing a stupendous job for my wife and me. See that this lady and her sister, the woman in black coming toward us, find their way to the bar and order whatever they like.” He slipped a tip, another ten, into the young man’s palm.

“Van, it’s been lovely seeing you. You and your sister have a good time now.” He pointed Van toward the bar and gave her a bow of dismissal and a little push.

Sensing that his bride was on the verge of tears, he used his body to block everyone’s view of Gianessa and said loudly enough that anyone nearby could hear, “Sweetheart, may I have a moment in private?”

Gianessa let him wrap an arm around her and spirit her away to the patio. She was sobbing before they came to a halt in the privacy afforded by a screen of potted palms.

“I can’t believe the way she treated you, Gianessa. Why is she even here? I didn’t invite her. I had no idea who your mother was. You never said her name, did you?”

Her arms came around his waist, and she let him rock her and soothe her with his voice. When she reached the end of her tears, he handed her a handkerchief and reached for a chilled bottle of water on a nearby table. They sat side-by-side on a cushioned loveseat facing the lake.

He squeezed her knee. “Are you all right? What can I do?”

She nodded, licked her lips, and managed a weak smile. “Thank you for getting me out of there for a minute.”

“Just relax now. We don’t have to go back if you don’t want. I can make excuses if you want to take a break or leave altogether.”

She pressed his hand. “I’ll be okay in a minute.” She laughed. “My makeup may never recover, but I will. You were magnificent, Justin.”

“We’re a good team, sweetheart.”

“So, how did you know her?”

Justin explained what little he remembered of his business dealings with Vanessa Russell.

“Please tell me you didn’t sleep with her?”

“Oh god no. It was a cardinal rule of mine not to sleep with a client, but I wasn’t even tempted in her case.” He heard what he’d said. “No offense, sweetheart.”

Gianessa let out a belly laugh, and he squeezed her hand.

“Justin, I didn’t fully appreciate how quick witted and socially adept you are until this happened. You should be president of the college, no question.”

He reached for a cloth napkin, poured some of the water onto it and handed the bottle back to her. He attended to her face, dabbing away the two streaks of mascara.

Gianessa drank the rest of the water and set the empty bottle on the patio.

“I invited her,” she said, “and Aunt Roseanne. My sponsor suggested it. And now we know it was a bad idea. Except that this is the first time in my life I’ve stood up to her.” She took a deep breath and puffed out her chest. “That felt good.”

“You were forceful. Her face fell flat when you brushed off her snarky comment about being rescued.”

“Thank you for helping me do that.”

“You’re wearing a saucy smile.” He placed a tiny kiss on the side of her mouth. “What’s that about?”

“I love you more each day, dude.” She welcomed his next kiss with willing, parted lips.

As the kiss ended, Justin spied Sara waiting behind the potted palm. “Someone needs to interrupt us,” he said in a playful tone.

“Who?”

“Sara.” His voice was full of merriment. “She’s holding something—a box. She’s pointing to it and pointing to you. Now she’s pointing to her eyes and lips and pointing to you.”

Gianessa’s laughter filled the patio.

“She’s mouthing something. I can’t make it out.” He motioned Sara to join them. “Give me a clue, pretty lady.”

Sara giggled. “Silly man. There’s only one reason I’d interrupt a bride at her wedding.”

“The emergency makeup repair kit.” Gianessa wiped happy tears from her eyes.

Justin gasped. “Good lord, I don’t belong here.” He gave Sara a wink and kissed his wife’s cheek. “I’ll check on the Tompkins College people.”

Gianessa reached out a hand to her friend, “Ohmigod, you always know what I need, Sara.”

Sara set up her makeup kit and got her giggles under control. She turned Gianessa’s face to the best light and made deft repairs to her foundation, mascara, eye shadow, and lipstick. “So who was that overdressed witch anyway, and who invited her to the party?”

“I did. She’s my mother.”

The brush suspended its arc. “Sorry, I forgot you still had a mother somewhere. Vanessa, right?” She wrinkled up her nose. “Seriously, she used to be passionate?”

Gianessa’s face softened with compassion. “I’m sure she’s forgotten the passion. To be honest, I think she’d forgotten me. It was probably Justin’s name on the wedding invitation that drew her here. They did business together way back when. It failed.”

Sara held out an open tube of lipstick. “Hold this while I brush it on. Then you’ll be good to go.”

When Sara had finished her artful job, Gianessa told her, “I’d never say this to Justin, but all the ways I had to stand up to him this year made me strong enough to hold my own with her today. I’m proud of myself.”

Sara focused on packing her kit.

Gianessa reached for a brush that had rolled off the table and handed it to her.

“Thanks. I’m going to miss you, Gianessa, but I’m not going to worry about you.”

Gianessa touched her shoulder and drew her into a gentle hug. “If we cry we’ll ruin your artistry. Justin has started working out with Joel Saturday mornings. We should cook or do a thrift shop run some Saturdays.”

“Until the babies come,” Sara said, her smile a little sad.

“Justin and I are going to find a nanny to help out so I can keep working and cope with twins. We can make sure she’s willing to work on Saturdays.”

Sara brightened. “Now you’re talking. I might even know someone.” She tucked the kit under her arm and offered Gianessa a hand. “You’re getting bigger. How are the three of you doing?”

“Jack and Jill are kicking up a storm right now. I’m a little tired but very happy.”

Sara giggled. “You’re not really naming them Jack and Jill, are you?”

“You’re my key people next year,” the president told Justin and the provost, Lydia.

Justin smiled and curbed his impatience.
Doesn’t he know this is a wedding?

“Justin, I expect you to get the curriculum defined. It needs to be excellent, current and challenging, and it needs the buy-in of all the remaining faculty. Lydia, it’s your job to recruit and hire new faculty so we’re staffed and ready to roll out the new curriculum the following fall. I have a few administrators left who will work with me to tighten the policies and procedures and review the budget.”