I watch her over the rim of my cup. Still in awe. She was wide-eyed when we arrived, the size andopulence of the house hitting her like a freight train of antique mirrors and marble floors.
But now? Now she’s settled into the afternoon tea like she was born to it.
After my mother and grandmother welcomed her warmly, she started relaxing, and—no surprise there—blending right in with the women in my life.
Lottie and Mom flank her like long-lost sisters. Nana Sybil reigns over the corner armchair, watching my wife with her sharp gaze.
Cora fits. More than fits.
Despite everything that should make her feel like an outsider, she doesn’t play the part. She listens, she teases, she holds her own.
If my heart weren’t already bruised with all the lies I’m sitting on, it might burst with how proud I am of her.
“When are Dad and Liam getting here?” I ask, partly to break my stare before someone comments, partly because I want the storm to pass already.
“Dinner.” Mom smiles at me. “Sterling’s wrapping up meetings at the firm. William’s flying in from DC this afternoon.” She checks her watch. “He should land soon.”
“I want to thank you again, Cora,” Mom adds, reaching for a cucumber sandwich. “For interruptingyour honeymoon so you could make it to the gala. It’s a cause very dear to my heart.”
“It’s nothing,” Cora says quickly, her eyes darting to me. “I mean, not nothing—of course it’s important. I just meant I’m happy to be here.”
She glares at me.
“Such a considerate girl,” Nana Sybil muses, swirling her tea. “And such nice hips. Clearly childbearing ones.”
Cora chokes on her tea.
Lottie clasps a hand over her mouth.
I set down my cup. “Nana.”
“What?” My grandmother shrugs, entirely unbothered. “It’s true. And it was only a question of time before you got one of your conquests knocked up. At least you chose well.”
“Sybil,” Mom warns, though her voice carries a barely concealed laughter. “We’re just… thrilled for you. We hope you’ll consider having a wedding reception here. Even if you want to wait until later. After the baby.”
She pats Cora’s hand. My wife goes white, blinking, probably hoping to be teleported to another dimension.
“Nope,” I cut in. “Not pregnant. We just couldn’t wait to be together, that’s all.”
Cora coughs, and I rush to take her cup from her.She looks at me with what feels like a death threat in her eyes. I put her cup on the serving table.
Lottie raises her eyebrows, clearly enjoying this.
“Well.” Nana sighs. “Plenty of time. Though I’ll need at least one great-grandchild before I die. It’s getting harder to threaten my body into staying alive.”
“I think we need to get ready before dinner,” I say, tugging Cora’s hand. “It’s been a long flight. Time zones, you know.”
Mom waves us off. “Go. There’s a fresh set of towels in your bathroom.”
Cora lets me tow her up the stairs. We reach the landing, and I guide her to the left, down the hall toward my room.
“You okay?” I ask, only once the door clicks shut behind us.
She leans back against it. “We interrupted our honeymoon?”
Fuck. “Technically, we did.”
Cora shakes her head with a weak laugh. “So… Nana Sybil… Hips? Seriously?”
