“I believe you.”
“Bravest person I know,” he followed up.
She laughed. “Okay, I get it.”
His forehead dropped to hers, their lips hovering. “And did you just call me baby?”
Her lips pressed together to fight a big, stupid grin. “Nope, you’re hearing things.”
“I don’t think?—”
“Emily!”
It was her grandmother. Rose Pinault was dressed in a embroidered gold gown. Her smile outshone it.
Emily grasped her dress’s sleeve to wipe at Nicolas’s eyes. She gave him a smile before turning around.
“Grandmother!” She met the elderly woman with a hug.
“Oh, dear, I haven’t seen you in forever!” She patted her back affectionately. “How have you been doing all this time? Your mother told us that you’ve started acting again, good for you!”
“I’m doing well. And yes, I’ve started acting again. I was wrong for thinking I could live without it for so long.”
Her tender gaze shifted. “And who is this handsome young man?”
“This is Nicolas…my husband.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh.”
“Grandmother…”
Rose waved her hands quickly. “I’m not upset. You just startled an old lady, that’s all. I’m late with my wishes but congratulations, both of you.”
As expected, her grandmother was more understanding when it came to issues like these.
“Thank you.”
She indicated for them to follow her into the backyard where the others had gathered.
“So when was the wedding?”
Both of them looked at each other until Nicolas confessed, “We’re legally wed, but we haven’t had the church ceremony yet, ma’am. We were hoping both our families could be there when that special day comes.”
To anyone else, given her distance with them, that sounded like he cared aboutherfamily being present and that’s why they never did it. She knew her grandmother was thinking the same thing from the way her mouth spread into a grin.
“That’s wonderful.” Her eyes turned to Emily. “Juliet will be thrilled to hear that. She’s always wanted to have the luxury of picking out your wedding dress. She seemed kind of sad about something. Now we know what.”
Emily snorted. “Why, by all means, she can knock herself out. You know I don’t like the hassle of shopping nor decorating. Remember when I slept the entire day before Christmas so I could excuse myself from helping to set up?”
“How could I forget? You rotten child!” Emily giggled at the insult. “Your sister grumbled the whole day about it. It didn’t help that the tree James bought was the size of a truck. Lord help that child and his lack of discernment.”
Nicolas had been awayfor too long. He’d gone to the restroom and hadn’t returned. This had been the only time he’d gotten a break, but it was a suspiciously long one.
“Emily, let me talk to you for a second…”
“Not now, Jason.”
She gasped when her obnoxious cousin tugged her anyway to the side of the staircase.
