Chapter Forty-Six
Tessa called her boss first thing Monday morning to tell him that, due to a sudden illness, she was quitting her job. She apologized for the short notice. Mr. Ambrose was both annoyed and sympathetic, and assured her that he would make certain she received whatever funds were owed her. To her surprise, he told her there would be a place for her should she ever wish to return.
After disconnecting the call, she returned to bed. Though she could be awake during the day, she sometimes found it difficult to stay awake when the sun was up.
“It’s more normal for you to rest during the day,” Andrei had told her on more than one occasion. “That will change as you get older.”
“But you prefer being awake during the day,” she’d said. “And I want to be with you.”
“Not so, my love. I only kept those hours to be with you.”
She smiled as she slid into bed beside him. He had been unusually quiet and withdrawn since returning home. She knew he was upset over what Katerina had done, but then, who could blame him?
Resting her head on his shoulder, she breathed in his scent. Soon, they would be married. What would their lives be like? A thought could take them wherever they wanted to go—across the street or across the world. They had no jobs to tie them down, no responsibilities. No children . . . Did Andrei ever wonder what it would have been like to have children? Did he ever think about it? Was it something he missed? Would she regret not having a family in years to come?
Blinking back tears, she closed her eyes and let the darkness steal her away.
* * *
Tessa met Jilly at the bridal shop on Tuesday evening. As he had before, Andrei tagged along. His presence reminded her that Katerina was still out there somewhere, still a threat.
Sitting in the dressing room with Jilly, waiting for the consultant to bring some dresses in, Tessa blew out a sigh. “Seems like we just did this, doesn’t it?”
Jilly nodded.
“Is something wrong? You’ve been awfully quiet.”
“No,” Jilly said quickly. Too quickly.
“Is it me? Do I make you uncomfortable now?”
“No, silly. It’s just that . . . well, I have news but I’m not sure you want to hear it.”
“What kind of news?”
“Here we are,” the consultant said, sweeping into the room with several dresses draped over her arm. “If none of these work,” she said, hanging them up, “just give a holler.”
“Thank you.”
“I don’t know how you’ll ever decide,” Jilly said. “These are even more beautiful that the last ones we looked at.”
“They are, aren’t they? But I want something completely different from the last one.”
“Maybe a mermaid gown?” Jilly suggested. “Or a princess style?”
Tessa looked them over, then picked one with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt adorned with brilliants.
“Oh, I like that one!” Jilly said. “You look like Cinderella.”
Tessa smiled at her reflection in the mirror. “I love it.”
She tried on several others, but always came back to the first one. When the consultant brought her a long veil to try on, she was sold.
“I’ll just go ring this up for you while you change,” the consultant said.
Tessa waited for the clerk to leave, then said, “Okay, Jilly, what’s your news?”
“I’m . . . that is . . . we’re pregnant.”
“That’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you. Why didn’t you want to tell me?”
“Well, I just wasn’t sure how you’d feel, because . . . you know.”
“Oh, right.” Vampires couldn’t reproduce. “But I’m still happy for you and Luke.”
“He’s decided to give up vampire hunting. Says it’s too risky a job for a married man with a baby on the way.”
“He’s right. You tell him I said so.” She stepped into her boots and opened the dressing room door. “I’ll call you when we decide on a date. It’ll probably be in a day or two, now that I have a dress.”
“All right. Just let me know.”
Tessa hugged her. “I really am happy for you.”
* * *
It was true, Tessa thought as she hung her dress in the closet at home. She was happy for Jileen and Luke. They were very much in love. They deserved to have a family and live happily ever after.
She stared at her wedding gown. It was beautiful. She felt like a fairy-tale princess in it. And she had her very own Prince Charming.
So why did she suddenly feel like crying?
She quickly shut the closet door when she sensed Andrei’s presence. “Hey, you can’t see the dress until the wedding,” she said, forcing a note of cheerfulness into her voice.
“Right. I forgot.” He leaned his shoulder against the doorjamb. “Everything okay?”
She nodded. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
Stepping into the room, he closed the distance between them, his gaze searching hers. “You wouldn’t lie to your future husband, would you?”
“Everything’s fine.”
“Uh-huh. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She sank down on the edge of the bed, hands clasped in her lap.
Andrei blew out a sigh, wishing he had never taught her how to block her thoughts because the wall she had built in her mind was ten feet high and rock solid. “Are we still getting married?”
“Of course. Anytime you want.”
He nodded. “How about Friday?”
“No!” She shuddered, remembering all too clearly what had happened at the last ceremony. “Fridays are bad luck for us.”
“Right. How about tomorrow?”
“Can we find someone to marry us so soon?”
“Leave that to me.”
“All right. Oh! Tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve.”
“And I can’t think of a better way to start the new year. You call Jilly and Bailey. I’ll bring the priest.” With a last, speculative glance, he left the room.
When she was certain he had left the condo, Tessa collapsed on the bed and let her tears flow.
* * *
Andrei stood on the landing, hands fisted over the railing as he tried to figure out what was bothering his bride-to-be. Women were complicated creatures. In spite of centuries of experience with females—human and vampire alike—he didn’t think he would ever understand them.
It troubled him that Tessa wouldn’t confide in him. Was it something major worrying her, or just a case of pre-wedding jitters? His biggest fear was that she was suddenly regretting her decision to become . . .
Vampire!
Andrei swore as the wind shifted and a familiar scent stung his nostrils. Katerina! Damn the woman. What was she doing lurking around here? Did the vindictive witch intend to burn down the condo, too? Not that he’d put it past her.
Hands curled into fists, he opened his preternatural senses, but it was too late. She was already gone. Nevertheless, her scent lingered in the air, an odious reminder of unfinished business that would mean the end of one of them.
Or perhaps both.