Georgie came in and plonked down next to Tess with a groan. Tess poured her a coffee and placed it in front of her.
“You’re an angel.” Georgie closed her eyes and sipped the hot drink.
“Who wants bacon?” Brandon asked.
Georgie raised her hand. “And eggs, and whatever fried food you can give me.”
“Always with the appetite,” Matt teased, and Georgie scowled without responding.
Tess was content to watch as Dobby and Sam told Lara stories of Brandon’s exploits in the army. It was so far from the drama, tears, and stress of her sister’s wedding. Heath plonked himself beside her. “Feeling better, this morning?” He was at least ten years older than her, and his dark colouring spoke of a middle Eastern background.
She nodded, surprised he was talking to her.
“It’s got to be tough being dropped in the middle of all this. If you need any help, or someone to talk to at the wedding, you can hang with me.”
It was sweet of him to offer. “Thank you.”
Half an hour later, Ed still hadn’t arrived. People were taking turns in the showers, the guys were about to leave the house to get ready and still no Ed. No one seemed to have noticed.
Tess leaned over to Georgie. “Is Ed still asleep?”
Georgie frowned and glanced around the kitchen. “Anyone seen Ed this morning?”
A chorus of nos and shakes of the head.
“How much did he drink last night?” Georgie asked.
Darcy and Brandon exchanged a glance. “He wasn’t with us. I figured he stayed with you.”
Tess stiffened. Had something happened to him? Had Tan and Salvatore taken him? She stood without realising it, and everybody turned to her. Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Where was he sleeping?”
“In a swag around the back,” Darcy answered.
She hesitated. Traipsing outside by herself sounded like a bad idea. She clutched her hands together. “Should I go and wake him?”
“Good idea,” Darcy said. “I’ll show you where he is.”
She followed him out of the house and around the side to where a swag was set up on the ground.
Before she could walk over, Darcy touched her arm. “Are you OK this morning?”
Another kindness. “Yes, thank you.”
Darcy studied her for a moment and then smiled. “Good luck with Ed,” he said. “He’s not a morning person.” With that warning, he headed back inside.
Tess glanced over at the swag. Ed had set it up away from the house, and small shrubs, grasses really, surrounded him. Darcy hadn’t warned her about snakes, so perhaps it wasn’t something she needed to worry about. Ed wouldn’t set up his bed where he might be attacked. Taking a deep breath, she strode over, her eyes scanning the ground for any movement. The top of Ed’s swag was flung back and only a fly screen covered him. Inside, he slept curled on his side, hair spiked in different directions. Calm and at peace. Her guardian angel. She smiled.
“Ed,” she called. “Time to get up.”
He didn’t stir.
Louder, she repeated, “Ed, wake up. Everyone’s getting ready for the wedding.”
This time she got a grumble, and he turned away from her.
Her smile widened. Darcy had been right. Which made Ed’s sacrifice the morning before even more heroic. He’d put his sleep aside for her. Her hand hovered over the zip. Was unzipping the swag the equivalent of walking into his bedroom unannounced? Her only other option was yelling at him, and she didn’t want to wake him so abruptly. She slid the zip open, but even that noise didn’t stir him. The fly screen brushed Ed’s face, and he swatted it away. Cautiously, she placed a hand on his arm. “Ed, time to get up.”
His eyelids flickered and he turned back over, his bleary eyes meeting hers. “Tess?” He blinked, and then smiled. “Morning.”
