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“No.” Jason gave a despairing shake of his head. “Top-notch fish restaurant. Not very grateful for my culinary extravagances, are you?”
“The shopping trip?” she asked, deflecting the conversation.
“Lubinsky will go with you. You’ll have to be quick. They will be closing for the evening soon.” Jason checked his watch. “You can meet us at the restaurant.”
Andrea halted in her tracks when she saw Lubinsky alongside Gemma on the quayside. “Is he necessary, Gemma?” she asked quietly.
“Yes. I don’t have a say, either, so best accept the situation. Jason would point out Italian gangs that like to kidnap the wealthy, so best not wander off.”
A short taxi ride took them to the boutiques Esteban, in his wisdom, had recommended—high-priced, fashionable, and filled with designer clothing.
Gemma bounced in and out of the shops. At home, she employed a couple of dress designers who catered to her personal tastes. Well-versed in the latest trends, she walked down the aisles, checking the stock. “Nope. Wrong colour. Not the right cut for you. Try this and this.”
She pulled clothes off the rails and handed them to the stunned Andrea, who gawped at the price tags and the materials. Buried under a pile of dresses, skirts, and tops, her future sister-in-law headed towards the fitting room.
Gemma waited outside as Andrea paraded in and out, twirling.
“Oh, yes. I think that works. Don’t you?”
Gemma gave a firm nod.
Andrea ducked back into the closet.
“No. Not you, Andrea.” Gemma shook her head at the latest outfit.
The brisk pace continued while Lubinsky hovered outside in the dying heat of the day.
“This is plenty, Gemma. Truly. Please don’t spend any more on me,” pleaded Andrea.
“Shoes?” remarked Gemma. “I think we’ve got enough time.”
Andrea gaped, and Gemma burst into laughter. “My darling soon-to-be-sister-in-law, I know you find it hard comprehend, but all this barely touches my purse strings.”
Calling over a shop assistant, she rattled off a string of instructions regarding delivery of their purchases to Sublime. Gemma didn’t want to be late to the restaurant.
***
“This is delicious.” John smacked his lips. “Not quite our usual night-out meal, is it, Andi?”
“Pizza Hut or something similar,” muttered Andrea.
Gemma couldn’t resist the small utterance of “pizza!” with relish. Jason rewarded her with one of his discreet thigh pinches under the table. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, suppressing a pained expression.
“Are you all right, Gemma?” asked John.
“Sure. Bit my tongue.” She exhaled as Jason let go.
“Have to watch your tongue,” said Jason giving her leg a pat.
“How are the wedding preparations going?”
“The wedding dress I can’t describe, as I don’t want John to know. A secret.” Andrea leant towards Gemma and whispered, “Ivory.”
Gemma put a finger to her lips.
“Andrea is being very traditional,” commented John. “Church wedding, the works. Her parents have given up on her older sister ever marrying her long-term partner and pulled out all the stops for Andi.” He sniffed the glass of white wine then picked up the bottle from the ice bucket to examine the label.
Gemma’s fork hovered in front of her mouth. “Church wedding. That will please Mum and Dad.”
