Page 39 of Right With You
“You what?” I asked, not sure I’d heard her correctly since we’d both spoken.
She tucked some hair behind one ear. “Your sister and her husband came to the shop today.”
Aurelie had said nothing about meeting Elise, the little snake. “And… what did you think?”
Her face split into a wide smile. “They were lovely. I mean, physically beautiful, obviously, but they were so nice and Michele is…”
I laughed. “That said it all. Michele is!” I widened my eyes. “He actually reminds me a lot of Kenny. He’s the Italian Kenny if Kenny had been raised a spoiled rich kid but found his heart when he met my sister.”
“Aw, that’s adorable. They were so sweet together. They really seem to adore each other.”
I loved that she’d seen that in what had to have been a fairly quick interaction. I had no desire for such desperate love after watching my father grieve, but I was glad Aurelie had found it. Especially since she’d wanted it. She had her head on straight and if something should happen, I wouldn’t let her lose herself like our father had. But that wouldn’t happen to her.
And it wouldn’t happen to me because I’d never put myself in the position to let it.
Because this… whatever this growing, blooming thing between me and Elise was? It was just for now. She didn’t want anything for longer, so it made us a perfect match while it lasted.
Elise’s expression turned thoughtful, but she didn’t offer anything else.
“What are you thinking? Are you concerned?” The last thing I wanted was for her to want to bow out of this tentative agreement but feel obligated.
“After meeting them, I can’t help wondering if maybe you should consider getting to know whoever your grandfather chose for you. If they’re anything like Michele, it might be worth exploring.”
“I appreciate the thought, but no.” I had nothing else to say on the matter, nor would I. I didn’t want that version of a marriage, and I couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else besides—well. I couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else.
Perhaps this was the juvenile response, but at this point, I was in it. Plus there was the matter of the trust being dangled like a carrot, the goalpost moving every time my grandfather lost his patience or disagreed with my choices.Thathad to stop, if nothing else changed.
She nodded ever so slightly, but didn’t speak again, so I pushed into what I needed to discuss.
“My grandfather believes we got engaged last week, so it’s new. He’ll likely be dismissive of you or even both of us, definitely of the fact that we’re engaged. He may even ignore you entirely. Please know that whatever happens, his behavior reflects poorly on him and means nothing about you.” I hoped with everything in me she knew this. “I have to warn you that he’s probably looked into your life to some degree. He may be quite pointed with how he speaks about your eligibility, to use an awful, outdated term.”
I hated the reality of those words, but they were true. Kenny was right—she needed to have some amount of notice this could be brutal.
She inhaled slowly as though steeling herself. “I hear your concern and I want you to know, I’m not worried about what some man I’ve never met thinks of me.” She laughed softly. “Easy to say, I know. But I’m mentally preparing knowing he’s not happy about us. Plus, I’ll never even see him again after this week, right?”
Her statement should’ve made me feel better, but it didn’t. It was an easy claim to make, as she said, but knowing how vicious my grandfather could be when he wasn’t getting his way, I worried. The niggling suspicion that something bigger was barreling toward me—toward us—sat heavy in my gut.Maybe I never should’ve asked her.Still, she was right. Why should she care what Gérard Devereaux thought?
“True enough. And we’ll have Aurelie and Michele there to draw his attention away from us.”
She stood and reached out a hand, which I took as I rose to face her.
“You seem very nervous, and I just want to say I’m nervous, too, but not to be next to you. I’m proud to do that. And I’ll do whatever I can to play the doting fiancée with hearts in her eyes.” She squeezed my hand.
“Thank you.” I inched closer, drawn to her. “I should end all of this, but I can’t. Even though it’s so stupid, thank you for being with me. Thank you for… letting me claim you as my own for a little while.”
As though the words became a spell once spoken, I felt them wrap around my heart and knot into a bow.
Claim you as my own.
I’d never said such a thing nor had I wanted such a thing, but the ache, the squeeze in my chest, hinted at a deeper truth I couldn’t look in the eye right now.
“It’s my honor,” she said, soft and so generous.
A buzz on my watch alerted me to the time and broke the spell. “Time to go. Ready?”
She smiled and reached for a small clutch and the keys sitting atop it.
“Allons-y.”
