Wicked Forest (DeBeers 2)

with all of them. although I thought Manon and her

group were really humoring and toying with her most

of the time.

With all my last-minute preparations, I had no

time to be concerned anyway. Both Mother and Amou

hovered around me. Bunny had asked to be called to

my last gown fitting. but I conveniently forgot,

imagining that she would find fault with something

simply because we hadn't taken her advice and used

the people she wanted me to use.

Thatcher had decided that he would spend the

night away. He told me he was going to sleep at the

beach house and that his friend. Addison Steele, had,

as promised, flown in from his home in Paris to attend

our wedding.

"Since we spent so many wonderful nights

there." Thatcher told me. "I think it's only fitting I

sleep there the night before our wedding.

I was too nervous to care or even to listen to

half the things he was telling me. For someone who

had avoided the wedding altar as if it were the

guillotine, he, on the other hand, seemed very cool

and collected.

When we kissed good night. I asked him why

he wasn't at least as nervous as I was. He paused to

consider, then shook his head and shrugged. "I think because it still feels like it's happening

to someone else. But soon enough, the reality will

strike home and then you'll hear my knees knock," he

promised, kissed me on the tip of my nose, and left. A

n hour or so later. I had a phone call from Mr.