CHAPTER 31
TRACY
With Jasmine on her hip, Tracy boarded Jack’s private plane. She kissed her amazingly beautiful goddaughter’s cheek.
“You ready to go, Jazzybelle?”
Jasmine smiled, placed her tiny hand on Tracy’s cheek, and sang, “Yaaaaas!”
“Oh, God. You are your mother’s child,” Tracy grumbled.
She entered the plane, waving at the pilot as she walked past the cockpit. Most of the women had already boarded. Katherine, Amy, Emily, Mia, Tammy, and Natasha were seated comfortably. She didn't see Victoria. However, she did see Rulenska, the pretty Russian, and a few other ladies from Tammy’s old job. Tammy also noticed that Mary, Tammy’s stepmom, was missing. But since she was already in Europe with Tammy’s dad, she assumed that Mary would meet them in Paris.
In order to prepare for Luca’s bachelor party, the men had left the night before. Since Jack had the larger plane, and the women and children outnumbered the guys, the men took Gianni and Luca’s plane.
Victoria stepped out of the main cabin just as Tracy was about to take her seat.
“After takeoff, the kids will stay in here with Mrs. Diaz,” she announced.
Mrs. Diaz was Jasmine and Jack Jr’s nanny.
“Oh, and Ma, if you get tired, you can sleep in here,” Victoria said, pointing toward the guest cabin.
Tracy looked over at Tammy. She was busy tucking David’s shirt. She hadn't greeted anyone, and she seemed to be keeping herself occupied with “busy” work.
“You okay?” Tracy asked her.
Tammy looked up with wide eyes, apparently surprised that she was being addressed.
“Me? You talkin to me?” she asked.
“Umm…yeah, you. What’s up with you?”
“Nothing. I’m good,” she said dismissively.
“No she ain't,” Natasha chimed. “She’s feeling some type of way about not inviting her mom to the wedding.”
“I feel just fine about that, thank you,” Tammy argued.
“Well, I don't blame you,” Victoria said, siding with Tammy. “Let’s get everyone locked in so we can take off. We got nine hours to talk about this shit.”
It took forty-five minutes, but they were finally prepared for takeoff. Tracy closed her eyes and completed the same prayer that she recited every time she was about to be airborne.
After a smooth takeoff, and once they’d reached the proper altitude, Victoria and Natasha got the kids settled in the main cabin, the flight attendants emerged, and cocktails were served. Five drinks in, and ten lies told, they were having a ball. It was a slumber party in the sky. Other than teleportation, flying private was the best way to travel.
****
Twelve hours later, the family was readying to board the elevator to the Eiffel Tower. It was late afternoon in Paris, and since their flying experience had been so pleasant, they were all well rested. Their luggage was being taken directly to Gianni and Natasha’s, so the family opted to go sightseeing.
Their large party, kids and all, boarded the giant elevators that would take them to the first level of the tower. After a bit of shopping, Tammy, who was severely afraid of heights, was being dragged to the elevator that would take them to the very top of the tower. Even though Tammy cried the entire time, Tracy managed to enjoy herself.
It wasn't her first trip to Paris, but it was her first family trip to Paris. It was then that Tracy realized that everyone who was present was family in some way. Everyone except for her and, well, Tammy. Since Tammy was marrying Luca, she would be a part of the Storm and Savelli family. Tracy couldn't see herself marrying anytime soon, so she would just have to be a Savelli by injection. Then it occurred to her that her unborn child would be a part of their family, even if she technically wasn't. It didn't matter. This was her family. Even more so now that she’d been disowned by her parents. Victoria was the only sister she’d ever known, and the fact that they shared no DNA wouldn’t change that.
After enjoying their trip to the Eiffel Tower, they piled into the vehicles waiting at the curb and headed to Natasha’s. Tracy had never been to Natasha and Gianni’s home, but she was told that it could rival any palace in Versailles—well, maybe except for the Palace of Versailles. She was assured that, like the Storm Estate, Chateau de Tempête could house the entire family, and then some.
It didn't take long to arrive, but when they did, the sight of their elaborate home took Tracy’s breath away. She could see the chateau from the mile long driveway.
“You, Gio, and Gianni live in this brick city?” Tracy asked Natasha.
