Chapter 5

Three days later . . .

It took a few days but Chelsea found a romantic and fun location to elope and to have a great honeymoon. New Orleans. The Poconos had been her first choice, but then she found out Pennsylvania had a three day waiting period. Louisiana only had a one day waiting period. And the best thing about applying for a license there was they could start the process online. So, when it was time to get on a plane and go, all they have to do is show up at the courthouse with proof of identity and pick up the license. The waiting period would have been met because the license would be in effect once they submitted their paper work electronically and paid the f*e for the license which could be done online as well. So, when they get to New Orleans, they could get married the same day they arrive.

She sent Derek a text telling him the details and asked him if New Orleans was acceptable. It took him two hours to respond, but the answer was yes.

Now they were sitting in Robert Rice’s office. It was located in a building on the third floor in Manhattan. It wasn’t a big office like Catherine’s. She had an entire firm.

Robert’s office had a lobby with a secretary, an office with a paralegal in it, and an office for Robert himself. The walls were pale yellow. Bookshelves covered one wall. His desk was a dark finish.

Chelsea let Derek explain the situation. He knew more about legal things and contracts than she did. She majored in music at Columbia, not pre-law.

“I’ll be happy to help you two,” Robert said without hesitation. “I can draw up what you want and there shouldn’t be a problem at all.” He was tall, about five-foot-eight, light brown hair. And he was a handsome man for someone who looked to be in his forties. He didn’t seem as shady as Catherine had described.

“Robert, we need this done fast,” Derek said seriously.

“How fast?”

“Like within two weeks.”

Chelsea literally bit her lip. Two weeks! That’s not enough time for me to get a decent wedding dress.

“Wow, that is quick, but I can get it done if you’re willing to pay overtime rates,” Robert said.

“I am. We want to get married as soon as humanly possible,” Derek said.

“I understand completely,” Robert said. “The sooner you two can get me the paper work I need to draw up a law binding agreement the better.” He wrote down a list of documents he needed to get started.

Twenty minutes later they had left Robert’s office.

They stood on the side walk as pedestrians walked around them.

“Do you think you can get a copy of your trust fund documents without raising suspicion?” Derek asked.

“I believe so. My trust was first created when Chastity and I were born by a lawyer who died five years ago. When that happened, Daddy moved all his legal business to Catherine’s firm. A trust falls under estate planning, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, all I have to do is go to that department at Catherine’s firm and ask for a copy. I should be able to do that without her knowing, I would think. She practices criminal law and her office is on the top floor of the building,”

“All right, but be cautious.”

“I will. Since we’re together, you want to go ahead and shop for wedding bands?”

Derek looked at his watch as he said, “I forgot about that. We’ll need those.”

Uh, yeah.

“We’ll go to Gabriel’s,” he said. “They are known for their discretion and Judy Budd doesn’t have a mole in there.”

That’s right. They had to tread carefully as they took care of all the details to elope.

“Dismiss your driver. I have my car,” he said.

“All right.”

She loved it when Derek took charge. It was so sexy.

                                                                                  ****

            Jasper at Gabriel’s Jewelry took care of them personally. He was an older man who was in his early sixties. He had worked at Gabriel’s for years. Chelsea had gotten some nice things in Gabriel’s in the past.

            Jasper had escorted them to a private room and had an assistant bring them several wedding bands to choose from.

            “Chelsea, what do you think of the diamond bands with the white gold?” Derek asked. “They look rather choice. Not gaudy.”

            The male diamond band had eight round one carat stones. The matching female band was slimmer with eight one carat round diamonds.

            “Yes, they look wonderful,” Chelsea agreed.

            “Try them on,” Jasper encouraged.

            They picked up the rings and put them on.   

            Jasper looked them over on their fingers. “Hmm. It appears both of them need to be resized.”

            “How long will that take?” Derek asked.

            “I have to pull out my sizer to be sure but probably just one size down for both of you. We can do that in the store,” Jasper answered. “It will take a week. Would you like to purchase them?”

            “Do you like them, Chelsea?” Derek asked as he glanced her way.

            “I do very much,” she whispered as she looked at the sparkling ring on her finger.

“The lady loves them so let’s settle up,” Derek said.

After Derek paid Jasper a down payment for the rings, they left.

“Ready to go home?” Derek asked

“Not yet. I want to . . . go to Kleinfeld’s to see if they can take me as a walk in today.”

“Where?”

“It’s a bridal boutique.”

If they were getting married in a matter of weeks, she had to start shopping for a dress right away. Alterations might be needed and that takes time no matter who the seamstress is.

“Oh, yes, your dress.”

“You don’t have to come with me.”

I prefer that you don’t because I want to surprise you with my dress.

“I can catch an Uber home.”

“Well, I feel kind of responsible to get you home since I did ask you to dismiss your driver.”

“It’s not a big deal. I take Ubers and cabs all the time. Besides, they might not be able to see me today. I don’t have an appointment.”

“I’ll drive you there, and we’ll see if they can see you. If not, I’ll take you home. If so, I’ll leave you to shop till you drop. Deal?”

“Deal.”

                                                                                  ****

Kleinfeld’s was booked all day and they were in the middle of taping episodes for ‘Yes to the Dress’. So, Chelsea had no choice but to schedule an appointment that was five days from now. She wasn’t happy about being put off that long because she knew Derek wanted to get this done as soon as possible. She didn’t want her dress to be the hold up.

Derek shifted his beautiful burgundy Aston Martin as he pulled off from a stoplight. “Just a tip. Don’t get a dress that’s full of frills, a train, and lace and what not. New Orleans is hotter than the fires of hell in the summer. Best to get something that you won’t sweat like a pig in.”

 “I’ll keep that in mind. Have you been to New Orleans before?”

“Yes. I’ve attended at least six Mardi Gras. Have you ever been there?”

“No.”

He grinned as he pulled into the right lane. “I love New Orleans. It’s so loose and carefree. I think you’ll like it very much.”

“Well, I like the sound of it. From what I’ve read online, it seems like the perfect place to really let your hair down and have a good time.”

“It is. Trust me,” he said as he began to pull onto the interstate. “But you have to be careful. With the good comes the bad. There are a lot of thieves in New Orleans. When we go, don’t bring overly expensive jewelry with huge stones, all right?”

“I got it.”

Derek merged onto the interstate. “Do you know how to drive?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Because you have a limo to take you wherever you go and you were willing to take an Uber to get home.”

“Oh. I just don’t like driving in New York during the day. It’s just too busy for me. But I do drive at night – usually after nine when things have calmed down a little when I’m club-hopping with my friends.”

Derek nodded. “And what club is the best when you club-hop with your friends?” he fished.

Chelsea laughed. “Well, yours, of course.”

He grinned. “Now that’s what I like to hear from my future bride.”

Chelsea giggled. “When I become your wife, will I get special privileges at your club?”

“Sure. That’ the least I can do for the favor you’re doing me.”

“You’re doing me a favor in return.”

“Yes, but because of me our marriage has to last longer than a few days, you know? And that’s because of my predicament. You’re more of a good sport than you realize.”

No, I’m not. I love you. That’s why I’m doing this. I’ll do anything for you and to have you.

“Okay, Derek. Special privileges for me and my friends at The Oasis after we’re married. I’m holding you to it.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

They rode in silence for a minute or two. Chelsea had just clammed up. Normally, she had the gift of gab, but being around Derek made her tongue tied at times.

Ten minutes later, they were getting off an exit and heading to the Van Dyke estate.

“How’s Cameron recovery coming along?” Derek asked.

Cameron Townsend was her sister’s fiancé. He had gotten shot several months ago saving her life. He had experienced partial but temporary paralyzes from the waist down. He had been in therapy for months.

“Great. He only needs the cane once in a while when walking long distances according to Catherine.”

Derek nodded. “And one of yours sisters that are married? I went to her wedding, I think.”

“Constance.” Constance was the eldest out of the five Van Dyke sisters.

“Yes. How is she fairing?” Derek asked.

“Good. She lives happily ever after as a house wife with twin girls.”

“Her kids are twins like you and . . .”

“Chastity. The girls are identical. Chastity and I aren’t.”

“It’s obvious twins run in your family.”

“Yes, on my father’s side,” Chelsea said. “His father was a twin.”

Derek nodded as he took the turn.

We’re going to be married, Derek you have to remember my sisters names. You don’t want to give off a bad impression to my parents.

The black iron gates were open to the estate.

Derek slowly whirled around the curvy driveway lined with flowers and flower beds. Her mother took great pride in the landscaping. When she was younger, there were times she planted flowers herself.

Derek pulled up to the large double doors of the mansion. The brick structure had been built in the 1700s. Only Van Dykes have lived in it.

Chelsea looked over at him.

God, he’s gorgeous.

“Thank you for the ride,” she said bashfully as she looked into his smoldering, dark eyes.

“It was my pleasure, my dear fiancé,” Derek said with a smirk and then he winked.

Oh my god, he’s flirting with me!

Chelsea swallowed to keep from giggling like a git. She fumbled for the door handle as she looked at him. “Um, I’ll be in touch,” she said as she finally found the handle.

“I look forward to it.”

Chelsea smiled and turned to get out of the Aston Martin. She jogged up the walk way that had only two stairs. She got to the door and turned to look back.

Derek had whined the window down. He waved.

She waved back as she grinned.

One of the large mahogany doors began to open.  It was the butler, Jerome.

“Good afternoon Jerome,” Chelsea chirped.

“Ms. Chelsea,” he said with a nod. Jerome was a tall, yet skinny than skinning black man. He had been the butler at the estate since Chelsea was eight years old.

Chelsea began to hum when she started heading for the stairs.

“What have you done?” a loud female voice said.

She knew exactly who it was. She slowly turned around to face her twin sister.

Chastity was wearing a pair of loose fitting shorts, white tennis shoes, and a shirt that really didn’t flatter her full bust. Her blonde hair was clipped back in a ponytail that laid down her back.

“I beg your pardon?” Chelsea asked with raised eyebrows.

“I was walking by a window when you were driven home . . . by Derek Dawson,” Chastity said. “After all these years, I’m supposed to believe you finally got his attention all of a sudden. What did you do? Corner him in his club and tear his clothes off?”

Chelsea rolled her eyes. “Maybe the man finally noticed me on his own.”

“Hmm,” her twin grunted with disbelief. “Either way, it’s not good for you. He’s going to hurt you, Chelsea – really bad.”

“It’s none of your business. Okay?” Chelsea turned on her heels and started up the long staircase.

“You need someone who cares to tell you the truth,” Chastity said behind her. “You’re just going to be another notch on his bed post.”

I’m going to be his wife actually, Chelsea thought with a smile.

“Chelsea, are you listening to me?”

“Nooo,” she sang in a high-pitched, chipper tone as they continued up the stairs.