"I agree," George replied. "Love is a private matter."
In the end, they decided on a small ceremony, with a judge marrying them.
"Will your father be coming over for the wedding?" Kate inquired.
George laughed. "You couldn't keep him away. My father, my three brothers and my two sisters will all be here."
"I'll be looking forward to meeting them."
"You'll like them, I know." Then his eyes turned back to Alexandra.
Kate was very touched by the whole evening. She was thrilled for her granddaughter - pleased that she was getting a man who loved her so much. I must remember, Kate thought, to tell Brad not to bother about that financial rundown on George.
Before George left, and he was alone with Alexandra, he said casually, "I don't think it's a good idea to have a million dollars in securities lying around the house. I'll put them in my safe-deposit box for now."
"Would you?" Alexandra asked.
George picked up the certificates and put them back into his jacket pocket.
The following morning George repeated the procedure with Helen Thatcher. While she was on her way downstairs to see him ("I have a little something for you"), he was in her office getting the access card. He gave her a Gucci scarf - "a belated birthday present" - and confirmed his luncheon date with her. This time getting into the vault seemed easier. He replaced the stock certificates, returned the access card and met Helen Thatcher at a nearby restaurant.
She held his hand and said, "George, why don't I fix a nice dinner for the two of us tonight?"
And George replied, "I'm afraid that's impossible, Helen. I'm getting married."
Three days before the wedding ceremony was to take place, George arrived at the Blackwell house, his face filled with distress. "I've just had terrible news," he said. "My father suffered another heart attack."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Kate said. "Is he going to be all right?"
"I've been on the phone with the family all night. They think he'll pull through, but of course they won't be able to attend the wedding."
"We could go to Athens on our honeymoon and see them," Alexandra suggested.
George stroked her cheek. "I have other plans for our honeymoon, matia mou. No family, just us."
The marriage ceremony was held in the drawing room of the Blackwell mansion. There were fewer than a dozen guests in attendance, among them Vince Barnes, Alice Koppel and Marty Bergheimer. Alexandra had pleaded with her grandmother to let Eve attend the wedding, but Kate was adamant. "Your sister will never be welcome in this house again."
Alexandra's eyes filled with tears. "Gran, you're being cruel. I love you both. Can't you forgive her?"
For an instant, Kate was tempted to blurt out the whole story of Eve's disloyalty, but she stopped herself. "I'm doing what I think is best for everyone."
A photographer took pictures of the ceremony, and Kate heard George ask him to make up some extra prints to send to his family. What a considerate man he is, Kate thought.
After the cake-cutting ceremony, George whispered to Alexandra, "Darling, I'm going to have to disappear for an hour or so."
"Is anything wrong?"
"Of course not. But the only way I could persuade the office to let me take time off for our honeymoon was to promise to finish up some business for an important client. I won't be long. Our plane doesn't leave until five o'clock."
She smiled. "Hurry back. I don't want to go on our honeymoon without you."
When George arrived at Eve's apartment, she was waiting for him, wearing a filmy negligee. "Did you enjoy your wedding, darling?"
"Yes, thank you. It was small but elegant. It went off without a hitch."
"Do you know why, George? Because of me. Never forget that."
He looked at her and said slowly, "I won't."
"We're partners all the way."
"Of course."
Eve smiled. "Well, well. So you're married to my little sister."
George looked at his watch. "Yes. And I must get back."
"Not yet," Eve told him.
"Why not?"
"Because you're going to make love to me first, darling. I want to fuck my sister's husband."
Chapter 30
Eve had planned the honeymoon. It was expensive, but she told George, "You mustn't stint on anything."
She sold three pieces of jewelry she had acquired from an ardent admirer and gave the money to George.
"I appreciate this, Eve," he said. "I - "
"I'll get it back."
The honeymoon was perfection. George and Alexandra stayed at Round Hill on Montego Bay, in the northern part of Jamaica. The lobby of the hotel was a small, white building set in the center of approximately two dozen beautiful, privately owned bungalows that sprawled down a hill toward the clear, blue sea. The Mellises had the Noel Coward bungalow, with its own swimming pool and a maid to prepare their breakfast, which they ate in the open-air dining room. George rented a small boat and they went sailing and fishing. They swam and read and played backgammon and made love. Alexandra did everything she could think of to please George in bed, and when she heard him moaning at the climax of their lovemaking, she was thrilled that she was able to bring him such pleasure.
On the fifth day, George said, "Alex, I have to drive into Kingston on business. The firm has a branch office there and they asked me to look in on it."
"Fine," Alexandra said. "I'll go with you."
He frowned. "I'd love you to, darling, but I'm expecting an overseas call. You'll have to stay and take the message."