Chapter 43 – Maura
MAURA
“Are you sure you feel comfortable?” Cat says, fidgeting with her hands as she circles me.
“She feels fine,” Brinley and Pippa say in unison. The boutique assistant kneeling at my feet with a pincushion doesn’t say anything, but I’m pretty sure she mouths it. She spent the entire bridesmaids dress fitting hovering anxiously, trying to make sure everyone's happy.
“You don't have to worry, Cat,” I reassure her. “The dress feels great. There's even still room in case my bump gets any bigger.”
She sighs. “I just want all my bridesmaids to like their dresses.”
I gesture down at my blush-colored chiffon gown. Its empire waist sends the fabric flowing beautifully over my body, while the delicate shirring at the top gives the illusion of sheerness while fully covering my scar. “I love it. I feel like I’m walking right out of a Sargent painting.”
“I have no idea who Sargent is, but I love my dress, too,” Pippa adds. Cat let us all pick different dresses in the same color, so Pippa’s is much more bodycon than mine, giving total Jessica Rabbit vibes.
“My dress is nice, but it’s not too late to change the color from pink,” Brinley adds.
Cat and I exchange amused glances. Brinley might joke around, snarking about tulle and chiffon, but we all saw her twirling in front of the mirror in her dress when she thought no one was looking.
She loves her dress just as much as we do.
“If you’re comfortable, I'm done pinning your dress,” the boutique assistant says. “I need to speak with the head seamstress about when it will be ready for pick up. You're all welcome to enjoy some tea and champagne in the lounge while you wait.”
Cat’s face brightens immediately, all worry gone. “Ooo, yes please.”
After I slip off my bridesmaid dress, I head over to the lounge where Brinley has a cup of tea waiting for me.
“They have green tea and cinnamon spice, but I thought you’d like the ginger peach best,” she says, handing me the steaming cup.
“Perfect.” I sigh. “Just what I needed.”
“So, what happens if Maura’s belly finally decides to pop before the wedding?” Pippa asks. “I’ve heard that can happen, you know. Like you can go from barely showing at all to a whole ass baby bump overnight.”
“The wedding’s in two weeks. I think it’ll be fine.”
“It’s a good thing Nate and Cat decided on the July date instead of the Christmas one or you might’ve given birth at the wedding,” Brinley jokes. “You would’ve stolen all the attention away from the bride. But, then you wouldn’t have had to get them a gift. I read that in Miss Manners.”
“We would’ve brought the reception party to your hospital room,” Cat says loyally.
I shudder. “Well thanks for choosing the July date because as much as I appreciate the gesture, I think I can live without four hundred guests staring at my lady bits.”
“I don’t have four hundred guests coming,” Cat sniffs. “I have three hundred fifty.”
“The insane part is that they’re all your guests,” Pippa laughs. “Grumpy Nate invited four people, and they’re all his groomsmen.”
“Not true! Nate invited plenty of people.”
“Name one.”
Cat bites her lower lip, thinking. “Umm…Hold on. I’ll pull up the guest list.” She checks her phone, and her eyes go wide. “Oh, no. Maura, there’s a new Toronto Tea article about you and James.”
My heart plunges. It’s been months since the Tea wrote anything about us. By now, I’d practically forgotten about how Peppermint almost ruined my wedding day. If she wrote something else nasty about my husband, I'm not sure I want to hear it. I have enough to worry about until the baby comes.
“Can you just give me a summary?” I mumble.
Her eyes scan quickly over the text, widening with each sentence. “Actually…I think you should read this, Maura.”
She passes me her phone. I take it reluctantly, and only because I trust Cat’s judgment.
Villain of Sequel Rewrites Marriage Contract
James and Maura Keller have been busy slaying a dragon, and this time, they’re fighting side by side.
Months after signing a contract that legally required Maura to give birth, the now-happily married couple have changed their original terms to give Maura the freedom she deserves.
It turns out, all the Villain needed was a strong wife to put him in his place.
That’s right, James Keller is now whipped (complimentary.) The CEO has directed his ruthlessness toward protecting his wife and future child’s wellbeing.
He’s insured they both have legal protection from the real Big Bad—Victor Matthews, who’s been fighting tooth and nail to get legal custody of his grandchild.
Apparently, years of controlling his daughter’s personal and professional life wasn’t enough.
The selfish idiot wanted to steal her baby, too.
Good luck to him, getting past James Keller’s lawyers.
Meanwhile, shielded from her father’s controlling tendency, Maura’s career has blossomed. Her initial solo show at the Whitmer Gallery sold out, and we hear she’s preparing one mother of a follow-up. Maura, if you’re reading this, the Toronto Tea would love a painting for our (nonexistent) offices.
While we’re not ready to call the Villain of Sequel completely reformed, we are putting down our pitchforks. Best of luck to Maura, her man, and her baby.
I want to throw my phone and hug it at the same time.
I hate that once again, the inner details of my life have been exposed to the world.
At least this time, the article makes it sound like I’ve got some backbone.
Best of all, it exonerates James, telling the world the truth—he has my best interests at heart.
“Well? What does it say?” Pippa asks.
I wordlessly pass her the phone. She reads it while Brinley looks over her shoulder.
“This is—” Pippa says.
“Actually nice?” Cat finishes, astonishment in her voice.
I shrug. “I can't say I love seeing my name in the blogosphere again, but at this least this time, they're writing something close to the truth.”
“I don’t get it. Peppermint has had it out for James for ages,” Cat says. “I wonder what made her change her mind?”
“Exactly what she said in the article,” Brinley says. “He fought Victor and earned himself some redemption points.”
“Wait, she? When did we decide Peppermint was a woman?” Pippa asks.
“I thought she might be,” says Cat. “Her writing just has that vibe.”
“Don't overthink it,” Brinley says. “You remember, I wasn't the biggest fan of this marriage contract at the beginning, either. I changed my mind when I got to know James.”
“Yeah, but you're actually friends with Maura. You're entitled to have an opinion, unlike Peppermint, who’s never even met her,” Pippa grumbles. Clearly, she still hasn't forgiven Peppermint for writing about her and Ryan.
Brinley shrugs. “I'm just saying, even villains have a chance to earn redemption. Anyway, my friend Eden is coming to town right after Cat’s wedding. Maura, any chance you can get her tickets to the opening night party for your show?”
“Of course! I'm excited to meet her.”
“Good. I wasn't sure if it had already sold out or anything.” Brinley laughs.
“I'm the artist. I think I can pull a few strings.”
For the past few weeks, I've been putting together the pieces for a new show, inspired by my trip to Paros, using the stones I got there and the raw diamonds James bought me a while back.
It's more alive than my first show, more hopeful.
It features green instead of black, swelling oceans instead of gathering storms. It's still me, but infused with an optimism I never thought I'd feel.
There’s the barest hint of a flutter inside of me, and I press my hand to my stomach so she can feel my presence.
We still haven't confirmed the gender, but part of me is still convinced she’ll be a girl—if for no other reason than to piss my father off.
It seems fitting that the deal he made to get a male heir would end with me getting everything I want, and him getting nothing.
I'll still love you, no matter who you are, girl or boy, healthy or sick, artist or CEO, chaos demon or baby grump, I promise.
The boutique attendant reappears, letting us know that the dresses will be ready within the next two days. The four of us finish our drinks and walk out into the sunshine, into a future that feels terrifying, bright, and full.