And So I Ran - Complete

Chapter 51

I was so nervous! My mother and Bob would be arriving in an hour or so. Christian, being Christian, had sent the GEH jet for them, collecting them from Savannah and flying them directly to Seattle overnight.

"Did they sleep in our bed?" I asked, slightly grossed out about the idea of my mother potentially joining the mile-high club in the same bed that Christian and I had made that milestone.

Christian smirked knowing the direction of my thoughts.

"No, baby. That part of the plane is strictly for us. The flight crew would have made them recliner beds in the front of the plane. There was security present the whole time, so I doubt that happened!"

We sat enjoying Mrs. Jones delectable breakfast. At my insistence, she and Taylor were joining us at Bellevue tomorrow as guests, but Gail had declared other than the Labor Day party, she would be working through until Christian and I left on our honeymoon. Today Christian and I settled on the final wedding guest list, there being a few last-minute additions. After all her help, Christian and I agreed Andrea deserved an invite. Reverend Walsh had dropped several not so subtle hints that he and Mrs. Walsh were usually invited to the wedding reception when he officiated at a wedding, so we obliged. It was still a small guest list by anyone's standards, and we were happy with that.

"Did you want to meet your mother at the plane? You could go shopping with her if you wish?"

I was too embarrassed to tell Christian, but I'd rung Caroline Acton yesterday and had a humiliatingly frank discussion with her. I'd explained my mother's penchant for spending other people's money, and occasional taste for clothing perhaps a little too young for her. To her credit, Caroline was a consummate professional, reassuring me this was far from the first request she'd had of this nature, and that she would ensure my mother had appropriate outfits and did not take undue advantage of Christian's largesse. I'd also taken the opportunity to book her all morning for Wednesday. Between Mom needing a gown for the wedding, and anything I needed for our honeymoon, I figured it would be worth her while.

"No, I think it's best she shops alone. I'll call her once she's settled in the hotel."

Christian was sending Ryan to collect Mom and Bob from the airport and escort them to The Fairmont, then he'd attend my mother as she shopped, so I'd wait for word she'd returned to the hotel.

"I've booked Altura for tonight," Christian offered. "It's Nathan and Rebecca Lockwood's new restaurant in Capitol Hill." We could have eaten at home, but I knew what Christian was trying to do. If my mother wanted to imagine living the high life, then we'd give her a taste of that. "I thought they could come here first for pre-dinner drinks, and then we can take a limo to the restaurant?"

"Won't that attract attention?" I asked.

"I thought that was the point?"