by Flite, Nora
“Huh.”
“What?” Bishop asked.
Grabbing another tiny pie off the table, I finished it in one bite. Making him wait while I chewed was satisfying. “I was just thinking that maybe this could work out.”
Looping a piece of my hair around his finger, he tugged. “Oh,” he whispered in my ear. “You only just realized that?”
Kissing him quickly on the cheek, I dodged away as fast as I could. My pregnancy didn't slow me down a ton, but I was aware of it. “I'm going to get some air, this many people plus my hugeness is making me too warm. Be right back.”
****
I dropped onto the ledge that surrounded the mudroom where people could leave their coats. It was quiet; cool, thanks to an open window, and empty because everyone was partying. “Damn heels,” I groaned, taking one off so I could massage my foot.
“Oh, you poor thing,” a voice said behind me. I turned in time to see Iris. She was dressed in a gold sequin dress, straps coiling from her shoes up to her knees. Sinking down beside me, she flashed me a pitying look. “Pregnancy is hard on you, huh?”
Looking side to side, amazed she was speaking so sweetly to me, I balked. “Um... I guess so.”
“Here, do you need a tissue? A mint?” She was digging into her expensive looking purse. “Tell me how you're doing.”
Okay, now I was super lost. This girl was not my friend. “Why are you trying to be nice?”
Her false eyelashes flapped like wings. “Oh my gosh! How can I not be nice to you? You're bursting with that baby. Things can't be easy for you right now. But at least you're brave. It takes guts to stand in front of all those people, parading your illegitimate baby-belly around.”
There it was. How could someone so pretty say something so ugly? “Bishop is going to marry me.” I hadn't said it out loud until now. When I did, a flutter spun through my body, flipping like a fish in a pond. We're going to get married. Would that make me a princess, a queen? I didn't care; just being his wife would be enough.
Covering her mouth, she laughed in rapid short bursts. It reminded me of someone with the hiccups. “You're so stupid. What did you do, trick him? Tell him you were on birth control when you weren't? Girls like you, using men to get yourself out of shitty situations, piss me off.”
Igniting with rage, I waved my shoe around in the air as I spoke. “I didn't trick anyone!”
Her shoulders shifted up lazily; she wasn't scared of me. “That's how it will look, especially when you marry him. People will think he had no choice. I mean, they've seen you, they know you're pregnant. What's the term, shotgun wedding?”
Heat spread over my face. “You don't know anything about us.”
“I know this.” Leaning closer in the tight space, she dropped her voice. “He's royalty. You're no one. The best thing you can do for both of you is to get rid of that baby. If it's too late to do it the quick way, put it up for adoption. Just make it go away. This isn't your world, dog walker.”
“My world is wherever Bishop is.”
“God, you're naive. I—” she didn't finish her thought. Both of us heard the rustling, creaky noise nearby. Twisting, she looked over and spotted Jaws chewing on the strap of her purse. “What the hell?” she gasped, jumping to her feet. “That bag is worth two thousand dollars!”
It was hard to hide my smile, so I didn't try. “Too bad.”
Abruptly, Iris shot her foot out, kicking the Pomeranian. “Dumb dog!”
He yelped; I jumped up, made light and fast by my need to protect the small animal. “Hey! What the heck is wrong with you?” Pushing Iris aside, I scooped the dog up into my arms.
She turned just enough to give me a side-eye. “That dog is nothing, just like you're nothing. You don't deserve this family's money any more than Bishop does.”
My cheek was pressed to Jaws, but he seemed fine, just shaken up. Registering her comment, I blinked. “Wait, what?”
I'd never seen Iris flush before. “Nothing, forget it.”
Still holding the dog, I blocked Iris up against the wall of coats. “No. What do you mean Bishop doesn't deserve the money? If he doesn't, who does?”
She had her chin held high. “It doesn't matter.”
“I think it does.” In my arms, Jaws growled. He wasn't exactly terrifying, but the sight of his tiny teeth pushed Iris from silent pride to frantic nerves.
Her eyes darted around, and when Jaws growled again, she fixated on him. “Alright, fine! It's not like it matters anyway. You and your dumb baby-mama stuff messed everything up. Bishop was never supposed to have a kid with anyone.”
Startled, I tried to fit the puzzle together. “Not even you?”
“Of course not.” Wide-eyed, she stared down at me. “His half-brother hired me. I was supposed to marry Bishop, but never give him an heir. That way...”
“His brother would get everything.” I inhaled sharply. “Why would you help him?”
“Because money, duh.” Iris rolled her eyes. “Even you can understand that.”
“I don't want his money!” She winced at my outburst. “I never did. I told him that multiple times, I'm not looking for some sugar daddy!” My laughter sounded manic. I felt it, too, like parts of me were sliding apart. Had money really led to such a huge scheme between Iris and Bishop's brother? Could people be so desperate? Of course they can. Why had I been so naive?
She shook her head in disbelief. “But the baby... if you didn't do it to trap him, then why?”
“Because I love him, Iris. I love him with everything I am.”
There was shock in her eyes. Then I noticed she was looking just over my shoulder. Hugging Jaws, I turned, spotting Miss Callehurst watching us from the hall. Her arms were wrapped around her chest, mouth so tight it was almost invisible.
“Cathleen,” Iris whispered.
“It's Miss Callehurst,” she said flatly. “Get out of my house. Never set foot here again.”
Without a single argument, Iris grabbed her chewed-on purse and dodged around us both, vanishing into the house. I didn't see where she went, but I believed she was leaving like she'd been told. I'd have—Bishop's mom was terrifying.
Her attention shot to me and I went cold. “How much did you hear?” I asked.
“Enough.” She took two steps forward, her poise grand...comfortable. But when she got close to me, I saw her pebble-hard glare looked wet on the edges. “I see why the dogs like you so much. Not everyone can champion for such small things when they cause expensive damage.”
“It was just a purse.” Setting Jaws down, I watched as he ran up to his owner, bouncing at her ankles.
“Just a purse,” she said, bending low to pet the dog. Her hair hid her face, I was surprised to see her smiling when she stood again. This wasn't like her pretend pleasantries, this was a real smile, and in it, I saw how similar she was to her son. “Just a baby. Just a marriage. Any of these things can be tossed aside by the wrong people.”
I went red. Very red. “Okay, you did hear a lot. Listen... about Bishop.”
“You love him.”
I bit my tongue, trying to decide how to answer. “Yes.”
“And he loves you. Clearly.” Shaking her head, she came closer. I saw how tired she was behind all of her makeup. “I told you it was his idea to get the dogs. I didn't tell you his reason.” Glancing behind her, she considered the air, then me again. “My husband has been very absent. I loathe the word 'lonely' but maybe I was. Or am. Bishop thought as much, so he got Jaws and Cujo for me.”
My heart skipped. “He can be very thoughtful.” Moving forward, my toe bumped something—my shoe. I quickly slid it back on. “Miss Callehurst, I want you to know that I get why you wanted Iris over me.”
Amusement turned her lips into a pucker. “Do you?”
“You thought she would be a fit for your son. I don't think that was wrong, I mean, before it turned out she was out to backstab him. If I was you, and I had a kid, I would do my best to look out for them.”
She watched me curiously. “There's a silent 'but' on your tongue.”
I bit my lip. “But—you don't always know who is best for you. Or anyone, really. Bishop isn't who I'd have guessed. Now? I can't imagine being with anyone else.”
Quicker than I expected, she crossed the last distance, embracing me. It was a short hug, but it meant the world to me. Holding me at arm’s length, she sighed. “Call me Cathleen. A daughter-in-law should be on a first name basis.”
“You don't even let me call you that,” Bishop said. He was standing down the hall, half-leaning on the wall with one ankle crossed over the other. He looked astoundingly comfortable; like a suit of armor that belonged there. If I looked closer, I could see that he was watching not just me—but his mother, too—with fascination.
Moving towards him, I held out my hands. He took them up, then he went further, sweeping me into his arms. Fingers coiled in my hair, making it so I couldn't escape. He heard everything, I thought in a daze. He knows his mother is happy for us.
I wanted to behave, but even so, I let my nails scrape over the back of his shirt, untucking it from his belt. I dipped under to brush his skin; he stiffened at my contact. Beneath my hands, each of his muscles tightened, reminding me how strong he was.
We gasped when he pulled us apart—just an inch, enough to speak. “Dammit, you make it very hard to behave,” he grumbled.
“It's not my fault. It's the pregnancy.”
“Sure it is,” he said, his eyes lighting up with mirth.
“It is! Really!”
“You're protesting like I care what the reason is,” he said, chuckling under his breath. Taking me by the hand, he faced us towards his mother. She'd stayed quiet, patiently toying with the end of her shawl as she hovered nearby. “Mom, you're really okay with this?”
Her thin eyebrows arched high enough to pull her fine wrinkles smooth. “Would it matter if I wasn't? You've always done what you wanted, Bishop. I'd be foolish to expect that to change with love involved.”
His hold on me tightened. “I do love her. And you're right, even if you hated Nell, or if Dad decided he wasn't going to give us what he promised, I wouldn't have been able to walk away from her. In fact... the only walking I want to do is down the aisle.”
Instantly my heart wedged in my throat. The background noise of the party was soft, but it faded more as I focused on Bishop's determined expression. With ease, he dropped to one knee. I'd begun trembling. I was shaking so much that, when he took my hand up in his, he hesitated. “I'm fine,” I squeaked out. “Keep going. What's that about an aisle?”
He grinned sharply. “Is this how you're going to be? You'll never walk anywhere if you're shaking this much.”
“Shut up, shut up,” I said, gulping for air. “Ask me what you want to ask!”
Miss Callehurst had put her shawl over the bottom of her face. She scrunched it there, as if it could hide how overwhelmed she was.
Clearing his throat, Bishop flipped his shirt out of the way—I'd pulled it out of his pants when I'd clawed at his back. Smooth as a spoon over fresh cream, he flourished a small, navy blue box from his pocket. I'd known he was about to... deep down, it had been obvious... and still, I let out a rush of air. “Nellie Pinewood, you're the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful woman I've ever had the pleasure of sharing a shower with.”
“Bishop!” Fuck, I was beyond red.
Laughing low in his chest, he showed me the ring in the box. It was white gold, the metal wrapping around a princess cut diamond bigger than a chocolate chip. “It would mean the world to me if you'd pledge the rest of your life to me. I want to be by your side from now until we're old and gray and still kissing like we'd just met. I want to see how amazing our children will be with you as their mother. Will you marry me?”
At first I thought, Children? As in more than one? But then a comet-sized explosion of joy crashed into me. I was flaring with heat inside and out, a being of pure bliss, and speaking became impossible. Tasting tears as they rolled down my cheeks and caught in the corners of my nervous laugh, I nodded over and over.
“That's a yes?” he asked, no longer joking. I'd never seen him so serious.
“It's a yes!” I cried, wiggling my finger as he slid the ring on. It was gorgeous, and other girls might have studied it longingly. All I wanted to do was kiss this man.
So I did.
And then I didn't stop.
- Epilogue -
Bishop
T he pair of Pomeranians trotted down the aisle together. On their collars they each wore a small pillow, my wedding ring and Nell's, respectively. The sight of them made my grin stretch wide. My mother, perched in a front seat nearby, was clasping her lilac-gloved hands with a proud smile.
Cujo panted, wagging his tail as he reached me. I bent down to take the ring. Opposite me, Gigi took the other from Jaws. The priest who was officiating smiled politely, but I wondered if he thought we were very strange for making the dogs our ring bearers.
Honestly? I didn't care what anyone thought.
This was our wedding.
No one else's.
People were still laughing politely behind their hands when the music changed. Pachelbel's Canon filtered through the air. And then I saw her.
Nellie came forth like from some sultry dream. There were peach and yellow flowers in her high-coiffed hair. Instead of a veil, a long, silvery cape drifted along behind her up the aisle. Our guests gasped appropriately. I knew she was beautiful. I knew she felt beautiful, and how could she not?
The snow-cream dress clung to her rounded belly. There was a slim belt under her swollen breasts, the same design dancing at the hem of her massively ruffled skirts. No one dead or alive could match her. My beautiful bride—just seeing her had my heart thrumming.
Deeper than the love, more primal, was my urge for her. This woman was about to become my wife. Everyone in this room could see she carried my child in her womb. I'd never been so possessive, so wild and unhinged, for anyone like I was for Nell. I guess that's how you know it's love.
Watching her approach me brought pricks of heat to the backs of my eyes. I was overwhelmed by this woman. By her scent, her presence, by the very idea of her and what waited for us down the road.
Nell paused in front of me. “Hi,” she whispered.
I worked the dry knot down my throat. “You're the most beautiful woman in the world. Did you know?” My hands clasped around hers. The priest cleared his throat, but I didn't let go. I never would.
Distantly, I knew things were being said. My distracted cells worked to connect with Nell's as we hovered so close. We were merging on paper but I wanted us to bind together on a level even deeper.
“Do you, Bishop Callehurst, take this woman to be your wife? To have and to hold until death do you part?”
“Death couldn't separate us,” I murmured, lifting her hands, kissing her knuckles. A tear boiled over in the corner of her eye and fell quickly down the slope of her cheek. “I'll love you into the next life, Nellie Pinewood.” Glancing at the priest, I nodded. “I do.”
“And do you, Nellie Pinewood, take this man to be your husband?”
“Of course I do!” Nell blurted, jumping into my arms, kissing me violently before the rings were even on our fingers. Cameras flashed and people laughed, a few cheering. Someone whistled; when Nell pulled back I saw it was Corriane, who had his fist balled with his fiancee's and held above their heads. The sight of his joy made me smile.
The empty seat beside my mother made my heart hurt.
Dad hadn't come. He'd managed the honor of Skyping with me to hear the news about the baby on its way. The severe man had nodded in approval, almost coldly commenting on how of course my mother and I would get access to his money. Like we were fools to worry that my half-brother would rob it out from under us.
Part of me hated that, too; knowing people would suffer because of my father's fickle wishes. But ultimately, all I cared about was provid
ing a future for my mother. For my new wife.
For our children.
****
“I can't stop staring at it,” she whispered, turning her hand over and over. “It's simpler than the engagement ring, but I love that. It's just perfect.”
“You're perfect,” I said, carrying her into the hotel room suit. She'd been in my arms since the limo had pulled up outside. I knew our friends and family had wanted to talk to us, but I'd excused ourselves, insisting Nell needed to be off her feet.
Now, I kissed her forehead and set her on the massive bed. The waves of tulle and lace settled around her like a gigantic lily flower. There was color high on her cheekbones, the centers of her eyes dilated. “I feel intoxicated,” she whispered, chuckling nervously. “Do you?”
My hands came down heavily on either side of her hips on the blanket. “Yes.”
“What is it from?” she asked, her lashes dipping heavily to touch her smooth cheeks.
“Love.” My nose rubbed hers. “And lust. Definitely lust. You look fucking incredible in this dress, Wife.”
Nell's lips parted, glistening with surprise and her rising hunger. “Say that again.”
“Wife,” I teased.
Shutting her eyes, she drifted back on the pillows and groaned. “That's the sexiest thing I've ever heard.”
Hovering over her, I started to undo my bow tie. The silk slid through the quiet, both of us tasting the energy as it began to boil around the room. Our body's were magnetic; even as I crouched on her, she arched her hips, pushing to feel my firm inner thighs. “Fuck,” I hissed.
“Take this off,” she said eagerly, her polished nails going for the buttons of my charcoal vest.
My eyes twinkled—I saw my need mirrored in her face. “You do it.”
Sitting up on her elbows, grunting with her belly in the way, she flicked the hard plastic discs one by one until my vest and shirt both hung open, displaying my naked skin. I was breathing heavily; the ink on my body writhed.