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EPILOGUE
AUTUMN
When we left Paris,the Sun Orphanage was an aging grand dame on the edge of dilapidation.
What a difference a few months can make. Work is still progressing, but what started as a one-night event has turned into a godsend of opportunities for the residents, the staff, and especially the building itself.
The brickwork has all been cleaned, the trim repainted, and best of all, brand-new play areas have been built for the kids. And that’s just on the outside. The inside is even better, with fresh bedding for every child, new computers for schoolwork, and updated work spaces for the staff.
Considering how important this place is to Simon and me, of course we wanted to have our wedding here. The only question was when. The business of getting Autumn Fisher Designs going meant Simon and I have had very little time for wedding planning. Long-distance discussions with a wedding planner in Paris made it manageable, thankfully.
And today is going to be perfect. I have faith that it will be because all I really need are Simon and the officiant. Everything else is a bonus.
“How do I look?” I ask Mom, glancing down at my dress.
“Gorgeous,” she says, on the verge of tears again. “Are you sure you’re not going to be cold, though?” Hopefully, she holds up the lacy shawl she found online for me.
Once upon a time, I would’ve heard that as a way to say she doesn’t like my dress or as a critique of the timing of the wedding, or even a question about whether I should be getting married in the first place. Now, I take it for what it is. “I’m not cold, Mom. But I love the shawl. I can wear it for a few of the outdoor pictures if you want?”
“Oh, that would be pretty with the snow. Good idea. I’ll let the photographer know.” Mom places a quick kiss on my cheek and disappears with the shawl in hand.
“Is she gone?” Molly whispers, peeking in from the bathroom.
When I nod, Molly comes in, followed by the rest of the Fab Five. We’ve gotten closer over the last few months, even with being spread all over the globe.
“I thought she’d never leave. No offense, babe, but your mom is a bit of a Momzilla,” Molly informs me.
I laugh. “She’s not that bad.”
Molly tilts her head, glaring at me. “She asked Brittanie, the director of the orphanage, if she could pop into the chapel to see if the stained-glass windows would be a good backdrop for the ceremony.”
“Are they?” I ask, not seeing the issue.
“It was Sunday morning!” Molly shouts and then shrinks, looking at the door like Mom might come back in, find her, and put her to work.
“Oh.”
Molly waves her hand. “Okay, that aside, I have something for you.” She holds up a small bag with tissue paper sticking out the top.
“Should I be worried? It doesn’t buzz, does it?” I ask as I hold it out at arm’s length.
Molly’s laugh does nothing to reassure me. “Open it and find out.”
I dig into the tissue and find a beautiful, delicate circle of blue lace. “Oh, it’s gorgeous. Thank you, Molly.” I sit down, slipping my heel off to pull the garter up my thigh.
“Ooh, la-la,” Beatrice coos. She’s quieter than she used to be, at least around me. But I think the whole competition thing changed her, making her see her own weaknesses. She’s working hard at House Corbin, though, making the most of the opportunity she’s been given and learning from Jacqueline. I’m truly happy for her.
The thick band of blue lace is stark on my pale thigh, and as I slip my heel back on and drop my skirt once more, I feel a bit like I have a sexy secret.
“I want that to stay on through round one, you hear me?” Molly demands.
I feel my cheeks flush, the heat rising even though I’m not exactly embarrassed. I mean, everyone knows what wedding night activities are.
“On that note, here,” Yori says, taking the heat off me. Literally.
I open the small box she hands me to find a pair of combs, the kind you use to style your hair, not manage it. “Oh, Yori, they’re... wow.”
She smiles softly. “They are your something borrowed. I wore them for my wedding too. They were my grandmother’s. They will bring you and Simon many years of wedded bliss.”
