Mine to Promise (Southern Wedding #6)(63)

“Avery,” I call her name and she sticks her head in the room. “Grand-mère sent you a couple of things.” My eyes look at Avery, who jumps up. “I think it’s in one of the closets.” She turns to run out of the room.

“You left your mother in charge of buying us clothes?” she grumbles between clenched teeth.

“I did,” I say softly, “but in my defense, I don’t think I gave it enough thought.”

“Really?” she retorts, making me chuckle, but the chuckle leaves when I see how pissed she is.

“Listen, you were in the shower,” I start to tell her, “and then I wanted to surprise you, so I called Sofia. Then I didn’t know how much time I had, so I called my father.” I hold up my hands.

“Obviously, I didn’t know he would go to the extreme.”

“Extreme?” she screeches. “A three-bedroom penthouse suite with a library.” I roll my lips to stop laughing. “With a baby grand piano.” She points over to the piano. “I’ve stayed in my share of suites before”—she looks around—“but even this is a little bit out of my comfort zone.”

“Momma, Momma!” Avery yells from somewhere in this place, her voice echoing. “Look at this,”

she says, coming into the room dragging something blue and sparkly behind her. “Look, it’s Cinderella’s gown.”

“Oh my,” she says as she picks up the dress that is bigger than her. “Oh my,” she repeats as she grabs the dress from Avery. “This is…” She holds out the dress that literally looks like a replica of what Cinderella wore.

“Can I put it on?” Avery asks, jumping in the same spot, her hand flopping up and down. “I want to wear it today.”

“This is,” Addison says as she looks at the dress. “This has to have cost—” She doesn’t get anything out because there is a knock on the door.

“You should answer that, it might be Princess Kate to have tea with us,” Addison deadpans and all I can do is kiss her lips. “We are having a conversation.” I kiss her again. “This is over the line.”

It’s at that moment we both look down and see Avery looking at us. “Um,” I start to say, “I like your mom.” I close my eyes, thinking how dumb I sound right now.

“Aunt Sofia and Uncle Matty kiss all the time,” she says. “Do you like her like that?”

“I do,” I confirm, looking at Addison, who is staring at me and not saying a word.

“We are having many conversations tonight,” she grumbles between clenched teeth.

“Noted,” I tell her as the person knocks again. “But in my defense, have you met my mother?”

“Stefano,” she seethes as I walk away from her, going to the front door, pulling it open, and seeing my father and mother standing there.

My mother just smiles big at me. “Bonjour.” Hello, she says, coming in and hugging me.

“I tried to stop her,” my father says, “but well.”

“Grand-mère!” Avery shouts with glee, running over to us. My mother quickly lets me go to scoot down, opening her arms for Avery. She runs in them, and my mother just kisses her head.

“Ma puce.” Beauty, she says. “I missed you.” She covers her in kisses. “Tu as grandi.” You grew, she says to Avery, who just looks at me.

“You got bigger,” I translate for her.

“Where is Addison?” my father asks me as we walk into the living room. Addison is still looking at the dress.

“Momma, look,” Avery says to her and she looks up at my parents. “Momma and Daddy kiss,” she tells them, and when I look over at Addison, it looks like she wants the room to swallow her.

“Is that so?” my father says, trying to hide his smile. My mother’s eyebrows just shoot up.

“Yeah, on the lips like Uncle Matty and Aunt Sofia,” Avery elaborates, and Addison just closes her eyes.

“This is fun,” I say sarcastically.

“Why is this room so small?” my mother complains, walking into the room. “Markos, did you not book them a suite?”

“It’s the biggest one they had, Vivienne,” my father relays, walking over to Addison. “Hello, dear,” he says. “Sorry for intruding on the family vacation, but—”

“Oh, please,” Addison replies, “the more the merrier.” I can tell she’s one second from freaking out and trying to hide it. “Thank you for booking everything,” she says while my mother goes to her and gives her a big hug, “and this.” She holds up the dress. “We need to perhaps talk about dresses.”

“Oh no,” my mother says, putting her hand to her mouth, “did it not fit?” She looks outraged. “I gave them the measurements we took the last time. I had the whole line made.”

“I’m sorry,” Addison says, “the whole line?”

“Well, the last time Avery said she loved all the princesses, so I called my seamstress, and she made me them all.” She looks at my father. “We have to redo them.”

“No,” Addison says quickly, “I meant they are—” She tries to think of the words and then looks at me.