I'm glad so many people enjoyed the last chapter:) This is a bit shorter again, for that I apologize. I will work on getting the next update posted ASAP. Let me know what you think! As always thank you to all my faithful reviewers, without you I'd be lost. :)
Surrounded by magazine clippings, fabric swatches and post-its Jenna looked around helplessly. Who knew that planning a wedding in three months was so much work?
Jenna had planned on returning to work at Deveraux Architecture, but once they announced their engagement they discovered the amount of work that would be needed to pull the whole affair off in three months. So, therefore Jenna was put in charge of the wedding while Bernard and Erik took care of the firm.
She groaned as the phone rang once more, she picked it up and sighed in relief when she heard her mother's calming voice on the other end.
"Mom, I think Erik and I are going to elope," she said half seriously.
"Don't you dare! I've been looking forward to your wedding for 25 years you had better not take that away from me Jenna Christine!" her mother half yelled back at her.
Jenna sighed, "This wedding is never going to happen! Ever since we announced the engagement I've been getting phone calls from florists, clothing designers, banquet halls offering their services to me! I don't want any of this!" she pouted.
Her mother laughed at her "You'll figure it out…you want my advice?"
"Of course" she replied tiredly.
"You're getting ahead of yourself, what do you need to make this wedding happen?"
Jenna sighed, rolling her eyes "Well, we need someone to officiate the service, flowers, a photographer, and I need a gown, Erik needs a tux. I guess we don't need a caterer, Henri recently hired a wonderful chef…okay I get your point," she added.
"Good…I have to go honey. Your dad and I are going out. Love you, I'll call you later to see how you are doing"
"Thanks Mom, love to dad. Love you" the line went dead, signaling her mother had hung up. She turned the phone off and set it next to her.
Deciding to make things easy she picked up all the stuff surrounding her and threw it all away. She would start from scratch. She heard someone clear their throat behind her; she turned to see Erik standing behind her grinning.
"Hey" she said, standing up and walking over to him, wrapping her arms around him hugging him.
"Hello, how are the wedding plans going?"
She shrugged "I just got off the phone with my mom, she gave me some ideas."
He kissed the top of her head "Good, is there any way I can assist?"
She shook her head "I don't think so darling…I've got everything under control…sort of" she added, frowning. "Don't worry, this wedding will be beautiful"
"Of that I have no doubt" he replied with a smile. He bent down to kiss her gently, before pulling away "I have work that I must do, forgive me?"
She smiled "Of course, go on. I have a lot of stuff to take care of here," she said gesturing to her office.
He turned and left her to her planning. She sat down at her desk, drew out her sketchpad and went to work. She worked late into the evening, not noticing the lateness of the hour until a hand lay upon her shoulder. She jumped, dropping her pencil and sketchpad. She looked around confused for a moment before she saw Erik behind her, she sighed in relief. "Sorry Erik, I didn't hear you come in," she muttered straightening her hair.
"I had gathered as much," he said, amusedly.
She looked at her watch and gasped "I didn't realize how late it was, I'm sorry…" she said hurriedly putting her things away, making sure Erik didn't see the beginning stages of her wedding gown design.
"It's alright, I was just beginning to get worried. You missed dinner, something rare in itself"
"I got involved in my sketches," she explained, standing up taking his hand. "Forgive my absence at dinner…I'm sorry you had to eat alone"
"Think nothing of it my dear, I guessed that you were engrossed in the wedding plans and such…" a grin spreading on his face.
He escorted her out of the room, to the small breakfast nook where her dinner was waiting. He sat with her, enjoying a cup of tea as she ate her meal.
"Erik, what would you like me to have Jean-Michael prepare on the day of the wedding?"
Erik thought for a moment, making a gesture with his hand "Whatever you would like my dear. This is your day, have whatever you want"
"This is our day Erik, it's not about one person. It's about both of us, coming together joining in a bond that will never be broken…"
Erik sat forward "You are quite correct, but unfortunately my indifference to food still plagues me…"
Jenna nodded "Alright, I'll think of something" she said grinning. "I want you to enjoy this day too…"
"I will my dear," he said, taking her hand and placing a light kiss on the back. "With you by my side, it will be the best day of my very long life"
She smiled, feeling herself melt at the look of affection and love in his golden orbs.
After dinner they retired to the music room, Jenna sat herself in the chair close to the fire and immersed herself in a book as Erik worked on his music.
The next day Jenna woke up early to go into Paris, with her she took her drawings for her wedding gown. Bernard's wife had mentioned the name of the lady who had made her own wedding gown, and gave her the address of the little shop.
Jenna walked into the little store, looking around and liking the 'Old World Quaintness' before movement out of the corner of her eye startled her. She whirled around to see an older lady in her late 60's or so smiling at her.
"You are Mademoiselle Marcus, non?"
"Yes Madame" she replied nervously.
"Ah, Madame Juliene told me to expect you. She told me you were to be married?"
"That's right, in May"
"May! But that is only three months away!" the old woman exclaimed.
"I know, if you feel that you don' have enough time, please tell me"
"We will make you a beautiful gown in no time at all! That's why I hired assistants!" she added with a toothy grin.
She smiled "Alright, well I made a sketch of what I was thinking" she said, pulling out her drawings and handing them to the older lady.
"My dear, you have quite a talent…yes I think this will be quite doable"
Jenna smiled, the older lady returned her grin "And please, call me Babette. Now, lets go take a look at some fabric samples to see what you might want?"
Jenna nodded enthusiastically, Babette took her elbow and ushered her to a small room off to the side and pulled out some samples for Jenna to look at.
Three hours later, after considerable poking, prodding, measuring and contemplation Jenna walked out of the little boutique exhausted but thrilled at her selections. Her gown was going to be to die for. She hurried to her car, and made her way home. She walked into the manor, handing her coat and purse to Henri and accepting the cup of coffee gratefully.
"I trust your trip was a success?"
She smiled coyly "Yes, a great success"
Henri smiled, turning away to hang up Jenna's things. "Is Erik in his office?"
"I believe he was in the music room when I last saw him Mam'selle"
She nodded "Thank You Henri" she made her way up the stairs. She stopped outside the music room, listening to this private concert. She peeked inside, smiling when she saw Erik hunched over the keys, scribbling furiously on a piece of his new composition paper. She was about to turn and make a quiet exit and leave him compose in peace when his silky voice reached her ears.
"Leaving so soon ma belle?" he asked softly.
She stepped the rest of the way in the room, smiling "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."
He turned on the bench to her "You never disturb me my dear" he replied, holding his hands to her. She walked over and placed her hands in his, settling on his lap.
"Did you have fun on your shopping trip?"
She nodded "I did, I'm very pleased with what we came up with"
He placed a gentle kiss on her temple, as he wrapped his arms around her.
