"WHAT'S GOING ON?" ZOE ASKED AS A CREW OF WORKERS
set up an enormous white tent in the backyard by the pool.
"We're having a party!" Jacqui said merrily. "Now go put on that pretty dress."
"Whose birthday is it?" Zoe asked as Jacqui pulled the smocked French linen dress over the little girl's head.
"It's your mommy and daddy's," Shannon replied, helping Cody into a cute navy blue sailor outfit.
The team from Georgina's firm were putting the final details on the event--the driveway was being lit with tea light candles, a huge bower of roses had been erected above the front door, and in the backyard were three tents--one for staging, the middle one for dinner and dancing, and a third housing a fully equipped trailer with separate men's and women's bathrooms.
r /> Kevin was due to arrive any minute now from Manhattan. He had been so happy to hear that Madison had qualified for the tennis tournament, he had offered to take her out to dinner, just the two of them, for some father-daughter bonding. The kids were all dressed, and Jacqui had succeeded in talking William into wearing a nice shirt and tie.
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Unfortunately, they still had no idea where Anna Perry was. She was supposed to have come back from her weeklong trip to the spa in Arizona that morning, but she had yet to arrive.
It was five o'clock in the afternoon. Already the guests were starting to show up: Anna and Kevin's society friends, Kevin's parents, a few gossip columnists from the various newspapers.
Jacqui started to panic. If Anna never appeared, she was looking at a full-scale fiasco. Kevin would not be pleased to learn that "Anna" had orchestrated a hundred-thousand-dollar party and then failed to turn up at the event. Jacqui had to do something. Rob Thomas was scheduled to serenade the happy couple any minute now. A jazz trio was quietly playing standards in the patio as guests trickled inside.
She spotted Eliza walking through the front door on Jeremy's arm. The two of them were giggling, and Eliza was glowing. There was a visible new tenderness between them. Jeremy was wearing a linen suit, and Eliza looked gorgeous in a long white linen dress with a slit up to her knee.
Jacqui greeted the two of them warmly.
Eliza hugged her friend close. Her eyes shone. Part of her wanted to tell Jacqui everything. How Jeremy had surprised her with a reservation at the Bentley Hotel and how they had spent the night in the best room in the house when the hotel staff found out "Eliza Thompson" was staying there. Jeremy had learned there were some benefits to being a princess. And then how Jeremy had taken off her clothes so slowly and with such
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delicacy, she had almost died from anticipation. She hadn't even needed to wear the lingerie set. Everything had been perfect, and she hadn't planned a single thing. She restrained herself from spilling the beans. What had happened the night before was a beautiful secret that she wanted to keep to herself for the time being. The girl who used to suffer from TMI now realized why people didn't want to kiss and tell.
"You guys, you have to help me," Jacqui said, skipping the usual pleasantries.
Eliza immediately noted the urgent tone in Jacqui's voice. "What's wrong? What do you need?"
"Anna isn't here."
"Where is she?"
"I don't know. I checked her ATM card and tracked it down. She got on the flight, and she took a car from the airport, and she should have been here by now, but no one's seen her. I don't know what to do."
"Calm down," Jeremy said reassuringly. "She lives here. She's got to come home at some point."
"I know, but Rob Thomas--"
"Rob Thomas!" Eliza cackled.
Jeremy raised a questioning eyebrow. "Rob Thomas?"
"Is going to be on that stage in five minutes to serenade the 'happy couple.' Kevin is already on his way; he's going to be here any minute. I don't even want to think about what's going to happen if he finds this party and no Anna."
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"Okay, let's figure it out. Where does Anna usually spend most of her time? Maybe she went there," Eliza said helpfully.
Jacqui furrowed her brow. Anna . . . where did Anna spend her time. . . . The beauty salon . . . shopping on Main Street . . . but lately, she was always next door, at the Reynolds castle, participating in some drinking game. Jacqui took a quick look around the assembled guests and noticed that the web site guys weren't at the party yet, which was odd, since they had promised to be there.
"I think I know where she is," Jacqui said ominously. Duffy thought Anna was an MILE She wouldn't put it past him to make a move on an older, married woman. Duffy would probably think of it as just another adventure. Anna probably liked all the attention too. Maybe she shouldn't have let Anna tag along with her to all those clubs that summer or have introduced her to the web site guys. If Anna had hooked up with some guy half her age, it woudn't bode well for a reunion. . . .