Chapter Six

         The bridal boutique smelled like vanilla and fresh lilies—like someone had tried to bottle romance and spray it over every rack of tulle and satin. Monet stood in front of the gilded mirror, a vision in an ivory strapless crepe satin sheath wedding dress, its cathedral-length flare whispering against the marble floor, Swarovski crystals catching every drop of light.

       She looked divine. Radiant. And so utterly unlike herself that it startled her.

      "You look like a Disney princess," Meredith said from her spot on the cream velvet sofa, swinging her legs that didn't quite reach the ground. Her big blue eyes sparkled with wonder.

     Monet smiled, smoothing a hand over the beaded bodice. "We both look like princesses, Mer. You in your flower girl dress? You're stealing the show."

      Meredith giggled, pleased.

       Kyle had agreed to an intimate wedding. Small, elegant. Friends and family only. Mother Margaret was flying in, along with a few nurses and teachers Monet had grown close to over the years. And the Abbotts, of course.

       “It was made just for you,” The store clerk said in an awestruck voice, her small heard buried in a array of different wedding veils to go with the dress.

         “Just like princess Tiana,“ Meredith added rising to stand behind Monet at the mirror, then added as if it was more than obvious. “More prettier of course.”

      Monet smiled at the both of them not sure the attendant could see the smile but smiled all the same taking another look at the mirror, trying to see herself the way the people saw her.

         I look wonderful. She whispered to herself. “This is the one, and I think I'll take the beaded chapel veil.”

       The woman clapped her small chubby hands, her cherubic face radiant. “Wonderful choices. Reception dresses?”

  

        Monet had chosen a soft a soft gold and white tea-lenght strap hand ball dress with illusion corset as a reception gown and the accessories to go for her and Meredith—who had insisted on a decorative tiara when the boutique door chimed gently, and Kyle stepped in, dressed down in jeans and a linen shirt, holding a sleek folder in one hand and a coffee in the other.

     "Am I interrupting?" he asked, smiling.

     " Only if you're here to tell me we have to cancel the whole thing," Monet teased.

      "Not a chance," he replied, walking over to kiss her cheek. “Aww you're out of the wedding dress, I rushed over to catch you in it.”

         Monet laughed softly, guessing that had been the reason he insisted on meeting at the bridal shop. “Bad luck and all that doesn't spook you at all uh?”

       He handed her the coffee and folder. "I brought invitation samples. Figured you'd want to pick them together. And I thought I'd give Richard and the kids theirs in person."

      The folder was soft gray, the paper inside creamy and elegant. Her name beside his in looping gold letters made something flutter in her stomach. Not quite excitement. Not quite dread.

     Kyle crouched beside Meredith, who had also changed into her gingham sundress. "You liked the dress?"

         “She looked like a princess,” Meredith answered, “Just more beautiful.”

      Kyle laughed and gave her a gentle high-five.

   But Monet saw the flicker of uncertainty in both their eyes and when Meredith had leaned against Monet's side, and Monet so attunded had leaned over and kissed the waist length auburn waves softly, Kyle looked away.

      The clerk came with an array of tiara's for Meredith, distracting her. Monet leaned to Kyle, “Are you okay?”

   

      Kyle exhaled. "Of course. Just... it's  going to be really hard for you to forget Meredith and Carter, won't it.”

     It wasn't a question and Monet didn't answer just sipping her coffee. The flavor felt flat on her tongue.

      But it's going to be really easier,” He said in a low voice, leaning to her ear and gently biting her lobe. “when we start having one or two of our own.”

      Monet turned, facing him completely, a watery smile on her lips as she nodded at him, “Promise?”

      Kyle smiled softly, his face soft and familiar, his dimpled chin resting on her head as he gave her a big kiss on her temple. “You'll be a perfect mother.”

       

       Later, outside, Kyle opened the car door for her, Meredith already buckled in the backseat. Kyle lingered as she climbed in and buckled up, a frown marring his soft features, "Mother said she saw you leaving the Women's clinic in Manhattan last week, everything okay?”

      Monet stiffened. She didn't want to lie, but she wasn't ready to tell him the reason she was there. Yet.

      “It was volunteer work.” It wasn't far from the truth. She'd voluntarily gone there and requested for the test.

       He nodded, didn't push her to explain deeply, the explanation good enough for him. He kissed her temple. "Text me when you’re home. And remember, I love you.

     Oh, before I forget,” He reached into his back pocket. “Here's Richard's invite, the kids are part of the wedding party, this is for Richard and maybe his plus one”

     He wiggled his brows at her, she smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes as she took the invite.

_______________

      The Abbott house was quiet when they arrived and Meredith instantly calling her father and Carter in her loudest voice,eager to show them her flower girl garb when they didn't answer she started going into every room in the renovated manor house.

       Monet smiled softly, not having the heart to tell the girl that father and son had probably gone to a golf course or to the store together. She made a beeline to the kitchen, her absolute favorite place in the house but stopped short when the backdoor opened and a half naked Richard walked in, his swim trunks riding low, rivulets of water trailing down every sinewy, water slicked hair on his body, Carter equally soaked and dangling with giggles over one shoulder.

      

    "Hey," he said, setting Carter on the floor, who made a dash for Monet, his little wet body barrelling into her's in a hug.

    "Hey," she replied, swallowed once. And then again.

     He nodded once, “Did you guys find everything you'd need?”

       Almost beefy hand, shovelled through the thick wet curly midnight colored hair sticking to the top of his shoulders dripping water on the ground. Monet swallowed again,fixing her eyes on his face and not where those sensous droplets slid to.

       She nodded. Silence settled between them. Not cold, but not warm either. Just awkward.

      “Come on Carter let's go shower, you're getting Monet and the floor wet.” He called to Carter who Monet had absentmindedly picked up and was giving her the day's recount with his father.

      He smiled, but it didn’t last at her as he picked up Carter and they both left her alone in the kitchen. Monet blinked into the empty kitchen, her lower abdomen still fluttering as she crashed against the marble island, holding on for dear life.

       What the hell just happened?

       She closed her eyes, willing the drumming of her pulse against her ear to calm but all she could picture was wet Richard and the rivulets of water that  disappeared to waistband ......

      Arrrrghhhh!

_________

      In her bedroom that night, Monet sat  with the sample invitations spread out across her bed. She was supposed to pick one. Narrow them down. Choose a font. Decide.

     Instead, she stared at her phone.

   The clinic in Manhattan had sent an email, the OBGYN specialist was available for consultation Tuesday afternoon. For some unknown reason dread filled her, she clutched the little cross necklace around her neck. Her constant reminder to pray when she was afraid.

     She just hadn’t decided what answer she was most afraid of.

    As she climbed into bed, the invitation envelope for Richard still sat on her nightstand.She hadn't given it to him cause he left as soon as he had showered, mumbling something about project inspection. It was a lie. She didn't know how she knew it was but it was. Something had shifted in that kitchen and she tried to not let it get to her but it did.

     

      And she wasn’t ready to unpack what that meant.

    Not tonight. She heard the door of the mudroom open quietly, the not so gentle growl from Richard as he'd stubbed his toe against the uneven floorboard. Everytime.

     

________

      The next morning brought a burst of   sunshine and unexpected quiet. Monet stood in the kitchen in her robe, steeping tea when her phone buzzed. It was a message from Kyle:

     “Can you be available to visit mother with me tomorrow? She wants to finalize the total number of guests”

       Her stomach twisted. She hadn't thought of it—the optics. Kyle's mother was a New York socialite, known for her sharp tongue and even sharper sense of who belonged in their circle. An orphan raised by nuns was not at the top of that list.

She texted back:

“Of course.”

      And then she added, because it suddenly mattered:

   And I want to invite someone else too. Richard's grandmother. She's family to me, even if it's unofficial.

      There was a pause before Kyle replied:

Okay. Just give me a heads-up. You know how Mom can be.

    Yes. She did.

     She looked down at her tea, now lukewarm, and set the cup aside.

    So many roles to play. So many people to fit in a picture that didn't always feel like hers.

    But she was building something. It might not be perfect. But it would be hers.

    She just had to hold it together long enough to see if she wanted to keep it.