Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Valentine’s Day arrived clear and bright, and Yvonne leaned at the windowsill in the bedroom.
It had been cold and dreary for weeks, and she basked in the sunrays stroking her face even through the glass.
She hoped the sunny weather was a predictor of the day.
Her future in-laws had arrived the day before, and they had all had dinner together.
Although there had been less tension than Thanksgiving, she still wasn’t sure about them.
They had kept looking from her to Kate and back again as if something about them would change if they only looked hard enough.
Or maybe they were afraid they would tear off their clothes and start an orgy. Yvonne giggled.
She stepped away from the view and stroked her belly, pleased her morning sickness seemed over. She’d had a solid breakfast every day for the past week without any nausea. Her belly grumbled; breakfast sounded good.
Lazily, Yvonne left the bedroom. She wasn’t in a hurry.
The wedding would be at two in the afternoon, with a small reception at The Sweet and Savory Table afterward.
She hadn’t wanted to take advantage of her friends, but Suzie and Sonja had insisted.
Yvonne looked forward to the wedding, but even more so to their evening plans.
They were going to Club Indigo, and Kate had been mysterious about it.
She hadn’t shared her intentions with either Yvonne or Chris.
Out in the kitchen, Tante Wilma had a typical Dutch breakfast for her last day at the house.
She had already moved her things to Kate’s, but everyone had insisted she had to spend the night before the wedding with her aunt and uncle.
Apparently, there was some American superstition about the groom not seeing the bride before the wedding.
She kissed her aunt on the cheek and thanked her for the gesture.
There were even chocolate sprinkles for her bread.
“Hagelslag?” Yvonne exclaimed in surprise at the typical Dutch spread.
“Of course, Yvonne. It’s your wedding day.
I wanted you to have all your favorites.
I keep a small supply for special occasions.
Cameron ate already. Have as much as you like, dear.
” Like usual, when alone, they spoke Dutch.
“I want you to know how much we appreciate your coming to help out these last months. It’s made a real difference in Cameron’s recovery and taken a huge load off my mind when I had to be elsewhere.
And now you’re leaving, but you’ll be close, and I love that, too.
I hope your American marriage will work out as well as mine has. ”
Yvonne hugged her aunt, who now seemed more like a mother to her. When she pulled back, they both had tears in their eyes.
Yvonne accepted a tissue. “I hope so, too. Your support has meant so much to me since I’ve been here and with my complicated relationship.”
She sat at the table and buttered two slices of bread. Aunt Wilma placed a steaming mug beside her plate, and Yvonne inhaled the bergamot of Earl Grey tea.
“Now eat,” Wilma urged. “Can’t have you fainting at your own wedding.”
Yvonne chuckled and added the chocolate sprinkles to her breakfast. While Yvonne ate, they continued discussing the past few months and her aunt’s hopes for her future.