Chapter 15
Julian turned one.
Small party.
No giant ballroom.
No Bellamy politics.
Amabel chose the cake.
I chose nothing because apparently my taste was “funeral masculine.”
Insulting.
Accurate.
Celestine was not invited.
Not yet.
Arthur sent a gift.
Amabel allowed it.
No name on public card.
Just grandfather.
Interesting.
She had decided Julian could know him eventually.
Not automatically.
Gradually.
Her choice as mother mattered.
I supported it.
During cake, Julian grabbed frosting with both hands and smeared it across my cuff.
Everyone laughed.
I looked at Amabel.
She raised an eyebrow.
“Smile.”
For one second, the word hit strangely.
The engagement night.
Champagne soaking her uniform.
Celestine saying:
Smile. Or you never see him again.
Amabel noticed too.
Our expressions changed.
Then she laughed.
“Bad choice of word.”
I smiled.
Julian slapped frosting onto my signet ring.
May you like
Moment reclaimed.
Good.
