Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 134133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 671(@200wpm)___ 537(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134133 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 671(@200wpm)___ 537(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
I do not expect to see a tree in here since I’m quite certain Silvan’s dad couldn’t be less interested in Christmas trees if he tried to be, but Melanie must have wanted to dust her Christmas spirit in every room, even his, because there’s a tall skinny tree in the corner decked out in red and gold.
The last time I saw them, I didn’t even really want to be with Silvan, but there’s no reflection of that brief reality on Melanie’s face when she rushes over to hug me like I’m her daughter already. She tells me how pretty I look as she looks over my dress, and before I can even think to move it, her gaze lands on my left hand.
She gasps and brings a hand to her chest. Wide-eyed, she looks from me to Silvan.
“Surprise,” he says.
“Oh, Richard, they’re engaged.” She grabs her husband’s arm, then turns back to us, bursting with more joy than I’ve ever seen in a human being. “Oh, that’s such wonderful news.”
Is it?
I’m floored and expecting the more grounded half of this duo to have more reservations, but when I look to Silvan’s father, he merely smiles blandly and says, “I suppose congratulations are in order.”
“Let me have a look at that ring,” Melanie says, grabbing my hand.
My gaze is locked on her husband and my heart sinks when his polite if mildly disinterested smile disappears completely.
At the same time he realizes it, Melanie says, “Isn’t this your mother’s ring?”
“I know you didn’t want it,” Silvan says.
“Interesting choice,” his father says, already recovered from his surprise. “I’d have bought something new.”
“It’s a lovely ring,” Melanie says. “So unique. I’ve always thought so.”
“Sophie likes it.”
His father lifts his drink and takes a slow sip, holding my gaze over the rim. “Well, I hope you have better luck with it than she did.”
“Have you set a date yet?” Melanie asks.
I open my mouth to say not yet, but Silvan speaks before I can. “Soon. I’d like to be married before the year’s end.”
My eyes widen and my gaze snaps to his. “This year?”
He smirks. “Yes.”
His mother clasps her hands together. “A December wedding, then. Oh, it will be beautiful. I’ll make some calls tomorrow to see what will need to be moved around to ensure you get the venue you’d like. Do you know where you’d like to be married?”
I shake my head. I didn’t even know I was getting married so soon. Since the engagement happened so quickly, I figured we would take our time walking down the aisle. “I don’t know what we’ll be able to get on such short notice. My bridal knowledge consists of only what I’ve seen in rom-coms, but aren’t places usually booked like a year out?”
Melanie waves me off. “Richard will make sure that’s not a problem, won’t you, dear?”
“I’ll handle it,” he confirms.
My gaze flits to him. I can’t help being suspicious. “You’re just going to convince people who have spent a whole year planning their wedding to move it?”
He smirks at me. “I’m pretty persuasive.”
That’s true.
Melanie goes on. “We host a big Christmas party every year, so I’m already working with a great team of vendors and event planners. We can use them for the wedding, too. They do excellent work so I know everything will run smoothly for you. Richard and I got married at a beautiful historic church downtown, the same one his parents were married at. Would you like to see pictures?”
“Oh. Sure.” I nod and smile, trying to keep up with her enthusiasm. She heads toward the bookshelves and opens a bottom cabinet to pull out a leatherbound book.
“Would you like to see a picture of Katherine? It’s her ring Silvan gave you.”
“Oh, yes. Please. I’m heavily invested in their story.”
Richard cocks an eyebrow like that’s an odd thing to say.
“Not that… your parents’ marriage is a story,” I add awkwardly. “But Silvan told me a little bit about them, and…”
“She’s a big Beauty and the Beast fan,” Silvan says by way of explanation.
My face heats. I look over at him. “Thanks, babe. Big help.”
“He was a beast, all right,” Richard murmurs, glancing back at his wife as she comes at us with an armful of family photo albums.
“And she was a beauty,” she says, carefully dropping the treasured books on her husband’s desk and flipping the first one open. I walk over as she turns the pages until she finds the one she’s looking for. “There she is.”
I lean in and peer at a portrait of a beautiful brunette with thick dark eyebrows and piercing eyes. She’s alone in the photograph wearing an ivory satin wedding gown with a matching stole draped around her slender shoulders. She’s the picture of luxury, no doubt the envy of her friends, but there’s something lonely and fearful in her eyes, something that echoes the thought I had earlier about her regretting the life she got pulled into.