Chapter Two

The white tulle skirt fell to the ground before dragging along the ground in a long train. The top was simple a tank top set in lace, but the straps were too long and they kept sliding down half way off the shoulders no matter how many times I pushed them back up.

My long auburn hair was swept off my neck and into an elegant upsweep and a veil settled over my hair and cascading down to just past my shoulders. I touched it and Remy's sister in law, swatted away my hand. "Don' touch it, petite."

I let my hand fall back down to my side and let Mercy fuss. "Dere, ya look perfect!"

I looked at myself in the mirror. Mascara, blush, eye shadow, eyeliner, lip liner, and other make up products that I'd never even heard of slathered onto my face made me look like something out of a fashion magazine. I barely recognized myself.

Remy was all right. We'd spoken the day before when I had arrived. He'd been the perfect gentleman: taking my bags and helping me get situated in the old mansion.

"Thank ya, Mercy," I told the blond.

She smiled at me brilliantly. "Don' t'ink about it, Petite." She gave me a loose hug about the shoulders. "Good t'have anot'er woman in de house."

I gave her a weak smile and a knock at the door. Mercy called something out in French and continued to adjust my veil. Jean-Luc stuck his head inside the room and smiled at us both. "Perfect," he proclaimed before letting himself fully into the room.

Mercy stepped back. "Time already?" She said before slipping out the door. Jean-Luc held out his arm for me. Numbly, I placed my fingers on his arm and we stepped out into the small room that held half a dozen young women who I'd been introduced to and had then promptly forgotten all their names.

They were all chattering happily but all gradually fell silent when they noticed the bride had entered.

"Oh, Anna-Marie, y'look spectacular," breathed one of them.

Before I could so much as begin to open my mouth to thank her. Someone else dove in, "You're the luckiest girl in the world. I mean you get to marry Remy LeBeau. He has to be the most gorgeous guy in the world." She gave a dreamy sigh and fanned herself with her flowers. The others giggled at her dramatics. Even it broke through my fright and allowed me to break a quick smile. Remy wasn't bad to look at, even I could admit that.

Music swelled through the thick oak door and two ushers opened them and everyone straightened up and began the slow procession down the aisle slowly the organ music slipped into the Wedding march and Jean-Luc tugged gently on my shoulder and the two of us started down the aisle. All leapt to their feet to get a glimpse of the bride.

Taking a deep breath, I raised my head high and swept imperiously down the aisle. Scared stiff, but at least I wouldn't show it. I let go of Jean-Luc's arm and took Remy's arm.

"We re gathered here today to witness the holy union of man and woman in the sacred sacrament that is marriage." The pastor began.

After about fifteen minutes I tuned him out. It may be my wedding, but the ceremony was just for show all you needed was two witnesses, a couple, and someone qualified to write out a marriage certificate.

"You may now kiss the bride," the pastor announced and I turned to Remy. He leaned over and gently planted a kiss on my lips.

Everyone cheered like it as the final kiss in a romantic movie instead of the brief peck that it was.

Which almost had been disappointed.

Almost.

I came out of the bathroom a puff of steam following my exit. The bedroom was refreshingly cool compared to the sauna of the bathroom. Cleaned of makeup and in pajamas, I almost felt as peace with the whole day.

Remy sat on the window seat, the window open and a stream of cigarette smoke trailed out into the night. I perched myself on the bed drawing my knees up to my chest and gazed at the wall. "Done, Remy."

Remy sighed and turned to face me. "All right, chere."

My eyes went to him. He flicked a cigarette butt out the window. And we continued to gaze at one another. Green and white, red and black.

"We're married," Remy commented.

"Yeah."

"Guess we'll have t'make da best of dis," Remy went on, half to me, half thinking.

"Guess we will. It would have happened sooner or later," I told him.