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I take the box, my heart beating faster. “Crap. I’m supposed to be the one sending gifts today. At least for Jameson.”
“I’m sure he’ll forgive you.”
Persephone hovers, obviously wanting to see what August gave me, and that brings the other women to our huddle. We all agreed that an enormous wedding party would make a statement, so I have seven bridesmaids and Jameson has, like, eight groomsmen, something like that.
It’s great. I would never have imposed on all these people on my own, but I’m thrilled to go along with their plan, because it means I’ve spent most of today so far with hilarious, determined women, three of whom do not seem to care at all that they’re meeting me for the first time today. It already feels like I’ve known them longer. One of the first things Persephone said when she and Brigit and Ashley came into the apartment bearing gifts of pastries and the most incredible matching jewelry for my dress wasthey thought they were going to leave us at home! Can you believe that?
So now Persephone—Hades’s wife—and Brigit—Zeus’s wife—and Ashley—Poseidon’s wife—are all going to be in the wedding. And both of Elise’s sisters.
I open the box from August.
A note rests on the folded black cloth covering whatever it is he’s given me.
Lily—
I thought you might like to see this pre-ceremony, so here it is. The rest of the shoot is in your inbox. Just click the link, and it will download. These are two of my favorite moments from the session, and I think you’ll see why.
Sincere congratulations,
August
P.S. My full name is Augustine. I’m telling you so that when Jameson inevitably betrays me and reveals this secret to you, you can tell him you already know.
“Ooh,” Charlotte says softly. She’s cradling Robin to her chest in his impossibly tiny tux. She made her own dress to have easy access for nursing, so she’s only had to displace one of the shoulders. “Is this from August? I totally want to see the photos if you don’t mind showing them to us.”
“Oh my God,yes, show us!” Brigit’s eyes sparkle. “He’s so good.”
I tuck the note into the bottom of the box, since it contains information that might actually be a secret. “Okay. Here we go.”
The cloth is soft and slightly slippery between my fingers and folds back like a dream to reveal two framed photos separated by a thin layer of tissue paper.
Everyone leans in.
Elise gasps. “Wow.”
The photo on top is one of the family photos, with all of us arranged in an open space in a way that’s both natural and sort of artful, but it’s not one of the ones where we’re all smiling at the camera.
Almost nobody is looking at the camera.
I’m looking over my shoulder at Charlotte, a giant, happy grin on my face. At my side, Jameson is looking down at me.
And the expression on his face is like…
Like I’m not a terrifying angel at all. Like I’m a soft, wonderful thing. Like he can’t believe he’s touching me.
And hisbrothers,arranged on either side of him, have been caught in mid-glance. Mason has a not-quite smile on his face, and it looks like there might be tears in his eyes. He’s so obviously relieved that my heart squeezes. Gabriel’s looking back at him with one hand on his chest, and everything in him sayswe made it.
Even Remy’s looking across at Jameson, her smile so bright that her nose is crinkled, and Nate and Lydia have both noticed Remy’s smile, and Elise is looking up at Gabriel and noticinghissmile, and there I am in the middle of it.
I’m right there in the center.
I always knew I was lucky to have what I had growing up. I always knew that I should be grateful to my grandfather for raising me, and that lots of people grow up without any parents at all.
But of course I had my fantasies. Of course I daydreamed about what it would be like to be part of a big family. Of course I wondered and wished about get-togethers and family pictures and everybody in each other’s way and bickering and getting over it and being happy.
Not one person in this photo is looking at me like they’re wary of me, or like I don’t belong with them, or like they wish I was somewhere else.
I’m just part of it.
