Be a Doll(16)
“Lila, it’s not because we have money and that my son made a name of himself that we are exempt of pain and tragedy.’’ She sighed and released my hands as she sat back in her chair. Her eyes, so bright like emeralds minutes ago were now dark. “Mathis had a twin brother.’’ Her voice shook and that emotion betrayed in her voice conveyed perfectly what happened. My heart squeezed painfully in my chest. “He was very close to Maxime. Those two were never without each other.’’ She laughed at a memory, I was sure, but it was tainted and bittersweet in the way her smile seemed to fall in her next breath and her eyes stayed dark. “Mathis and Maxime had a bond I don’t think I ever really understood and when we lost Maxime, Mathis changed completely. He was… he was such a sweet and loving kid who was always laughing and smiling. He would light up a room whenever he walked in. Maxime was quieter, but still enjoyed to be a jokester when Mathis would pull him into it.’’
“I’m sorry this happened to your family. I can’t imagine what it was like for you to lose a child,’’ I said quietly, suddenly taken aback at seeing another side to this family I had thought untouchable, and a man I had envisioned like a simple cold-hearted asshole. I had a simplistic view of my future husband because of my distaste of the man, when in reality things were never that easy to decipher and people always held more complexity than what met the eye. I should know this.
“It’s the worst nightmare. A piece of my very soul left with mon ange. I’m only glad I didn’t lose both of my boys that day.’’ She patted my arm and stood up. “Remember that even if you find my son difficult to read, he’s not a bad man. He erected walls around himself for his protection and they’re still there twenty years later. It’s a wonder he’s going through with this wedding, so believe me, ma belle, he’ll surprise you in time.’’
Instead of sharing my doubts regarding her last statement, I offered her a tight-lipped smile. “We’ll have ample time to get to know each other.’’
A brisk knock at the door caught our attention as it opened to Mrs. Stein and her strict yet brighter than usual skirt suit made of a blue-grey fabric. Her smile stretched into a fake smile upon seeing that I wasn’t alone in the room. Mrs. Stein walked in, her kitten heels making a staccato sound on the floor as she extended her hand to my soon-to-be mother in law.
“You must be Mrs. Grimes. I’m pleased to meet you. I’m Mrs. Stein and I’m escorting Miss Hodge here.’’ Her voice grated on my nerves and only raised my temper at her simpering tone and the plastic smile still on her thin lips painted for the occasion in a deep red. A vicious part of me hoped her lipstick would run in one of her wrinkles around her lips.
“Mrs. Stein, yes.’’ Sylvie shook her hand but I saw her demeanor changing as she straightened and stood in front of the other woman. Where Mrs. Stein was rather short, Sylvie was all tall limbs and natural grace. The contrast between the two women was quite striking. “I suppose I should go and find my place.’’ She turned back to me and offered me a sincere and warm smile that pushed away some of my dark thoughts, as if coaxing hope to make an appearance for my sake. “Lila, you make a beautiful bride and I’m sure my son will be very taken. I look forward to spending some time with you.’’ She leaned down and kissed both of my cheeks as it’s customary in France. Before leaving, she nodded to Mrs. Stein and left without another word.
“It’s a wonder this is going through,’’ Mrs. Stein said as she jutted out her chin as soon as we were alone in the room. Her presence alone made the air stifling and the need to find an escape more pronounced even though my ass was firmly planted on the chair and I wouldn’t go through the urge mounting inside of me. The prospect of having no roof over my head and being alone in the streets with all that entailed was enough to keep me in this nightmare. “I hope you put to good use what we taught you at the Manor because from now on what you do and say will not only reflect on you, but on your husband and his family.’’
“I’m well aware you’d rather see another of your girls here, but let’s be honest, Mrs. Stein. You’re annoyed I’m about to marry Mr. Grimes, exactly the kind of client you cherish, but you’re thrilled I won’t be at the Manor anymore. There’s no lost love between us so let’s go through with this day and bid our goodbyes.’’
I stood up and turned around to check that my dress wasn’t wrinkled and nodded at my reflection, before Mrs. Stein’s glare caught my attention in the mirror. Her glasses couldn’t hide the contempt she felt upon looking at me.
She came closer to me and while she was shorter than me and more so with my heels on, I couldn’t ignore the threat in the mean spark in her eyes and the twist of her lips more sinister than anything else. “You think you’re so bright, Lila, but listen closely.’’ She leaned into me and we locked eyes in the mirror. I made a concentrated effort to not sidestep her because I didn’t want to show her that she was getting to me today. “The best you can hope for is ending up with a few million dollars on your account and a nice house your husband let you have to placate you for the divorce, but I don’t think that is what is going to happen. In a year, maybe less, your husband won’t be able to take your attitude and defiance and he will ask for a divorce. Since you’ve signed the prenup you will have nothing to your name and you’ll be back to square one. I look forward to the day when you’ll be down a peg or two.’’