“Morning, Missus Bravo.”
“Good Morning, Crois. Pilar is getting her makeup done.”
“So it’s okay to come in?”
She smiled and reached out, taking his hand.
Pilar’s mother was tiny.
He’d always thought of Pilar as petite and dainty in some ways, but her mother reminded him of a porcelain doll.
Still, when she took his hand and gave him a gentle tug, he moved after her without hesitation.
“We’re so glad you agreed to stand up with Pilar.”
He lifted his free hand and rubbed at the back of his neck. “I’m sure it was a little confusing since I’m not a woman.”
PIlar’s mother laughed. “It’s a first in our family and we’ve,” she leaned in slightly, “had a number of weddings.”
Crois smiled. The Bravo family was huge.
And close.
He’d met nearly twenty of them when Pilar had been shot and laid up in the hospital.
So many Bravos had come to Center City to check on her that he’d made himself a name tag so that the visitors would know who he was without anyone needing to explain.
“Pilar says you’re bringing a date to the wedding today.”
Crois turned his head and caught the sight of Pilar looking at him in the mirror as a woman leaned in and used brushes to apply her make up.
He gave his partner a slightly sour look.
When the makeup artist lifted a brush from her skin, PIlar stuck her tongue out at him.
“Yeah… I mean, ‘Yes, ma’am.”
“Mama,” Missus Bravo corrected.
“Mama.” Crois felt like a little kid when his Mama and MawMaw’s friends came over to the house after church. He’d always been a little in awe of the room full of women wearing their Sunday best dresses and hats built up with netting and decorations.
“Good,” she nodded. “Now, come…. You can talk to Pilar for a few minutes and then the photographer is coming in along with the bridesmaids for some pictures.”
She led him to the chair beside the makeup table and Crois sat down to watch what the makeup artist was doing.
Pilar snuck a glance at him and then lowered her eyelids to let the artist do her shadow. “Don’t make fun.”
He smiled at her warning. “I’m not stupid,” he chuckled. “I grew up in a family of women. I learned that the hard way.”
She smiled softly. “Sometimes, I think we’re more alike than not.”
He reached out and put his hand on hers, giving it a little squeeze. “I’m sorry.”
The makeup artist turned to get something from the vanity and Pilar turned to look at him. “I’m not. You’re a great partner, Crois. I know you have my back.”
“And I’ve got yours, Bravo.” He hesitated then. “Are you going to change your name at work?”
She smiled. “No. I’m keeping Bravo at CCPD. It’s just easier since there’s another Ashley on the force.”
