Chapter 11 So, this is Christmas
So, this is Christmas
Odette
Two days before Christmas, Wyatt and I attended the historic groundbreaking of a cross-city tram. That evening, we were due at a Historical Museum fundraising gala themed after one of my favourite musicals, Meet me in St. Louis.
I spared no expense recreating Judy Garland’s beautiful gown—a red velvet number with a sweetheart neckline and puff cap sleeves in the most beautiful, rich shade of red imaginable.
My sister’s dressmaker threw in a cape to match the dress for my time out in the cold.
I felt every bit as beautiful as I’d hoped.
“You look stunning,” Wyatt gave me a long kiss. “I love you in red. I love you in anything—and nothing—but very much in red.”
I blushed as he pulled me by my hips.
“Does it bother you when I wear heels like this?” I asked.
In high heels like these, I was nearly his height. Compared to my sisters’ beaus, Wyatt was more compact. I didn’t care but knew some men did.
“Should it?” Wyatt laughed. “No. I am not bothered by something so ridiculous.”
I kissed him. “Good. Because I think we make a rather handsome couple.”
“I will try to match up,” He agreed, pulling on his tuxedo jacket.
Wyatt always looked so handsome in a suit.
“What?” He chuckled.
“Part of me wants to stay home,” I said. “But the other part knows we will go and have fun.”
“When we get home, I will do only awful things,” Wyatt whispered. “But so many people want to meet you and see this dress that it seems selfish to pull you out of it.”
He smacked my ass playfully, “So, let’s go.”
I stood in a room feeling more like a decoration than a participant.
Sometimes, noise could be overwhelming, but rarely did I want to cut and run like I did tonight.
I had my medication. I was feeling better and more myself, but I wasn’t completely back to normal.
Between being an outsider and the jet lag, I wasn’t up to the challenge of being bubbly and sweet like I knew I should.
Calming, I stepped away and enjoyed the museum. I wandered the museum atrium floor. A historic airplane hung above. To my right was an exhibit about Native American history. To the left, I saw an interesting model of St. Louis’s most notable bit of architecture.
“Do you want to go up in it?”
I turned as Wyatt approached with a glass of champagne.
“What? In this?” I laughed, confused.
“You can. You can ride the cars all the way up and back down.”
My face must have said it all because he gave me a boyish grin, “Well, the offer still stands. I didn’t figure that was your thing.”
“I’d like to go up and see it in person,” I said. “I am sure—”
“We’ll go walk and take Theo,” Wyatt offered. “It’s fun. I’d be glad to.”
I nodded, surveying the party to the side.
“You want to do more family things, don’t you?”
I shrugged. “We came all this way and it’s Christmas. He’s a child. You don’t really understand. We never had Christmas at Theo’s age. I am dying to see his reaction to Christmas presents. I am living for it, in fact. I always love celebrating with Alexandra and Rick and the kids.”
Wyatt squeezed my hand. “Well, we will have to do more with Theo. Maybe tomorrow we can go to the City Museum and explore?”
“Another museum?” I asked. “Will that be fun for Theo?”
“Ah, it’s only sort of a museum. You’ll have to see it to believe it. Now, come on, there are some people you gotta meet.”
I followed, buoyed by the fact he had read me. I was homesick and the whole reason I came was to be with him and Theo and share in their joy.
Wyatt brought me around to a well-dressed couple in what I assumed were their early forties. I soon learned their names were Isaiah and Sloane. Everything about them seemed chic and coordinated in a way only Ingrid and Keir could probably match.
“I love your dress,” Sloane brimmed. “My God. Do I have to bow or—”
“No,” I laughed. “Absolutely not! Please don’t. How do you all know each other?”
“I used to serve on a board with Wyatt,” Sloane began.
Isaiah finished her sentence, “And Wyatt introduced us at a party. He knew what he was doing.”
The way they looked at one another said it all. They were so in love and brimming with excitement.
“And, ridiculous as it may be,” Sloane said. “Because we’re starting at this now, but… we’re getting married.”
“Oh my God! Congratulations!” Wyatt’s face erupted in a great big smile.
I gazed longingly at Sloane’s beautiful ring—a round cut diamond with a beautiful halo of smaller stones. I faked a smile because I knew anything else was impolite, but inside I was dying as Wyatt continued on about how happy he was. When he turned to me, I knew what to say.
“I’m really happy for you. You make a lovely couple,” I said.
I could mean it all while inside I felt adrift.
Months ago, I thought we’d be headed down the aisle next year, but now?
Now we floated in a sea of uncertainty. A pang of jealous coursed through me, so I excused myself to the toilets.
I was about to break down and there was no way I’d be doing it in public.
Princess Odette did not have meltdowns. If she did, she was again unstable and unreliable.
I couldn’t let the mask fall—not here and not before these strangers.