Page 68 of Exposed

Makeup.

They don’t have to ask me twice. I smile and take the makeup and blush brush. “Thank you.”

I hurry to the guest bathroom and change out of the t-shirt and shorts Matt bought for me. Slipping the dress over my body, I marvel at how perfect it fits. Madilyn seriously is a professional at this. Then, I take a few minutes to put on mascara and blush.

When I enter the bedroom again, both Madilyn and Mamie squeal excitedly.

“C’est magnifique, mon cherie,” Mamie exclaims with a smile, so whatever she said in French must be positive.

“She said you look magnificent, my darling,” Madilyn beams.

They don’t really know me. How can they be so happy that Matt is marrying me? Maybe they think I’m fragilesince they assume I lost my job. I’m strong though. I can handle their disappointment with their son marrying me.

“Thank you,” I say softly. “Are you guys sure you’re excited for me to marry Matt? If you want to be honest with me, it’s okay. I’m probably not who you expected Matthieu to marry.”

Madilyn’s face softens and she steps toward me, adjusting the spaghetti strap of my dress.

“I’m sure Matthieu has told you about Grace. After everything he’s been through, we’re happy he found you. It hasn’t been that long, but you and Simon have brought Matthieu’s spark back. We’re not disappointed he found someone as beautiful and caring as you. You treat Simon as if he’s your own son, and we couldn’t ask for better than that.”

“Well…okay, then,” I say awkwardly and nod, because I’m not used to people being genuinely kind to me.

“Your dress is something new. Here’s something borrowed and something blue. Well, I’m giving it to you, but we’ll count it for both.” Mamie cradles a beautiful blue, ornately decorated barrette in her weathered hands. White and blue crystals form a flower pattern on the meticulously cared for metal.

“It’s from the early 1900’s. My mother wore it for her wedding, Madilyn and I both wore it for our weddings, and now you can have it. Pass it down,mon cherie.”

My hair is too short to do anything fancy with, but Madilyn stands me in front of the mirror. She sweeps up a little of my hair on the right and pins it in place with the barrette.

“A family heirloom?” I ask as my voice breaks. I neverimagined I’d have a family heirloom, much less one as beautiful as this.

“It’s yours now,” Madilyn squeezes my shoulder. Her and I both have tears in our eyes, and I turn around to hug her.

“You know, Henry and I tried for years to have a child. We finally had Matthieu, and he’s our dream come true. We tried for years to have another child, but it wasn’t meant to be. I always wanted a daughter, and now, I have one in you.”

I start to cry, and Madilyn holds my hand and pats it. “Okay, this is a happy day. No more tears.”

I nod my head and sniff.

“You’re going to knock his socks off,” Mamie grins. “Later, you can knock all of his clothes off.”

“Mom,” Madilyn chides.

“Mon cherie, they are grown adults getting married,” Mamie waves a hand at her daughter, then turns to me. “Keep the home fires burning,mon cherie. Even if you fight, always kiss good night and kiss in the morning. Let Matthieu be there for you. He’s a natural protector, that one.” Mamie winks at me, then kisses each of my cheeks.

“I can do that,” I smile. This is all fake for him to keep Simon, but man, do I wish it were real.

27

PAY UP

MATT

Simon looks classic in the wedding outfit my parents bought him: a white button up bodysuit and little black pants with plaid suspenders. And it’s finished off with a black bow tie from Papi.

I lay him on his blanket while waiting for Pepper to get ready and snap a few photos of him. He squirms and kicks and stretches on his blue blanket, then smiles at me with his toothless grin.

Damn. I’ve got the cutest kid ever. On one hand, it’s hard to believe I’m a dad. But now that he’s with me, I can’t imagine not having him.

A knock on the door surprises me.

---