Danielle Steel - the Wedding (2000)

But I can't have lunch with anyone else, she complained. I'd never make it all the way through lunch without telling them. You have to come in and see me.

Not if you want me to go out tonight, Mrs. Hamilton. She loved the sound of it and so did he, and they loved playing with the words. She had written Allegra Hamilton all over her notepad. She hadn't played games like that since she was fourteen or fifteen, and in love with Alan.

And in the end, she decided to walk down Rodeo Drive and do a little shopping to see if there were any pretty white dresses, or suits, that would be suitable for a wedding in her mother's garden. She went to Ferre and Dior and Valentino, and Fred Hayman and Chanel, just to glance through the racks and get an idea what they had in white that was pretty. But she didn't find anything. Valentino had a beautiful white linen suit, but it didn't seem dressy enough, and Ferre had a fabulous organdy blouse, but nothing to go with it. But she had fun anyway. She couldn't believe what she was doing. She was shopping for her wedding dress, barely two months after she had met him. She almost wanted to call Andreas Weissman in New York to thank him.

She was going to skip lunch, but then she decided to stop in at the Grill for a quick sandwich and a cup of coffee. She usually saw people she knew there, either attorneys from her own firm, or agents from ICM and CAA or William Morris. There was the usual smattering of actors too, and some of her friends. The food was good, the service was fast, and the location was perfect.

And as her eyes scanned the booths as she arrived, she suddenly realized that her father was in a back booth. He was laughing at something, and she couldn't see who was with him. There was a huge temptation to just go over and tell him she was engaged, but she knew her mother would never forgive her for telling him first. She had to wait until that evening, when she and Jeff went to dinner. But she could at least drop by to say hello to him, which she did. She put her blue blazer over a chair at her own table, and went over to see him. She was wearing a short beige skirt, a pale blue sweater, and beige Chanel flats with a matching Chanel backpack. She looked very sleek and very fashionable, and as usual more like a model than an attorney.

As soon as she reached the booth where Simon sat, he glanced up and saw her, and his eyes immediately filled with pleasure. And then Allegra saw who he was dining with. She looked familiar at first, and then Allegra realized it was the British director she had seen him talking to at the Golden Globe Awards, Dame Elizabeth Coleson. She was very tall, and very young, and quite beautiful. She had a wonderfully deep, sexy laugh, and she was barely older than Allegra.

Well, hello there, her father greeted her. This is a surprise. He stood up and kissed her and introduced her to Dame Elizabeth, who was completely without pretension. She was very talented and very down-to-earth and she seemed to be having a very good time with Simon. This is my daughter, Allegra, he explained to Elizabeth with a smile, and he explained to Allegra that they were talking about a picture. I've been trying to talk Elizabeth into working with me for months, and so far, I haven't succeeded, he complained, and he sat down again, as Allegra watched them. They seemed completely at ease, and as though they were old friends, and had spent a lot of time together. Her father asked her if she would like to join them, but she didn't want to interrupt his meeting.

That's okay, Dad. I've got to get back to the office in a few minutes. I just stopped in to grab a sandwich.

What were you doing around here? he asked, and she grinned at him, dying to tell him, but she couldn't.

I'll tell you tonight.

That's a deal, he said. She shook hands with Elizabeth and left them, and went back to her own table. She ordered the Caesar salad, and a cappuccino, and fifteen minutes later she went back to her office. As she drove back, she found herself thinking of her father and Elizabeth Coleson. She didn't know why, but she had felt the same thing the last time she saw them together, that they knew each other very well and were completely at ease with each other. She wondered if her mother was friendly with Elizabeth as well, and reminded herself to ask her. And then her thoughts went back to her wedding. Her head was filled with it, and she called Jeff three times that afternoon just to giggle and talk about their secret. She could hardly contain herself a moment longer, and by the time they were driving through her parents' gate that night, she felt as though she were about to explode with excitement. She could hardly stand it.

Take it easy’ . Take it easy’ . Jeff said calmly. But he was nervous too. What if they objected, or thought it was too soon, or didn't like him. He had voiced his concerns to her before they left Malibu, and she had told him he was ridiculous, but he was still worried.

Her father greeted them at the front door, and explained that Blaire was on the phone in the kitchen. She was talking to the architect, and from what Allegra could hear in the distance, it was not a pleasant conversation. He had just explained to her that given the cabinetry she'd chosen, and the tiles, it would take at least seven months to finish the kitchen. And Blaire wasn't shrieking at him, but she was close to it.

Maybe we'll just move to the Bel Air for six months, Simon said, not entirely in jest, as he offered Jeff a drink, and Jeff asked for a Scotch and water.

They chatted pleasantly for a few minutes, and Blaire finally joined them, looking ruffled and irritated and excited.

Do you realize how absurd that is? she huffed at her husband, declining a drink as she ranted. Seven months! He must be crazy. Sorry, darling, she said to Allegra, and then kissed her and Jeff, trying to regain her composure. I just can't believe that.

Why don't we keep the kitchen we have, Simon suggested cautiously, but Blaire said it was out of date and completely out of the question. I'm moving out, he said in an undertone, and his wife shot him a warning look, and they moved on to other subjects. But Allegra could hardly contain herself. And as they sat there, in the lull before dinner, Jeff set down his glass, and looked at both her parents.

Allegra and I have something to tell ‘ er ‘ rather, ask you’ . I I know it hasn't been long since we've met, but ‘ He had never felt so awkward in his life, he felt like a kid again, and Blaire was staring at him in disbelief, while Simon smiled at him. He felt sorry for him.

Are you asking me what I think you are? Simon said, trying to lend him a hand, and Jeff shot him a grateful look.

Yes, I am, sir. He felt like a five-year-old sitting there next to her, asking her parents for her hand. We'd like to ‘ we're going to ‘ he said, trying to sound like a grown-up again, get married.

Oh, darling. Her mother rushed to take Allegra in her arms, and there were tears in their eyes as they hugged each other, and then Allegra looked at her father. His eyes looked damp too, but he looked happy for them.

Daddy? She wanted his approval too, but she could see that she had it.

I heartily approve. He shook Jeff's hand firmly, and both men looked pleased, as though closing an important deal, and it was the rest of Jeff and Allegra's lifetime. Well done.

Thank you, Jeff said, looking enormously relieved. It had been much harder than he thought it would be, though they had made it very easy for him. But it was still one of those ghastly, never-to-be-forgotten moments.

And from then on, everyone talked at once, and they hardly noticed when dinner was called. They talked of nothing else all through dinner. Samantha was out with friends, and they talked only about the wedding.

All right, all right, Blaire said after the first course. Now let's get down to details. How many, when, where, what kind of dress, long veil or short ‘ oh, my God! Blaire said, dabbing at her eyes with her napkin. It was one of the happiest nights of their lives, and certainly Allegra's, who tried to answer all of her mother's questions.