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I laughed. "What? How did you get spy out of that?"
"That's the thing that makes sense. Aren't spies supposed to be normal looking though? I mean 007 is clearly an over-exaggeration, but the whole point of spies is to blend. Ben does not blend."
"No, he's not a spy.” I considered what to say for a few seconds. “Think more along the movie The Skulls."
Her brow furrowed and then lifted slowly, her eyes going wider and bigger as she whispered loudly, "A secret society?" I gave her a sharp nod and she said, "Wow. You do know some crazy people."
"Who said they're crazy?"
"Well, not me. I don’t want to get carted off to some dungeon to have my blood drained for a ritual that makes them richer. Though I’m no virgin so the joke would be on them. I’m just saying you have an interesting group of friends."
Virgin? Rituals? Dungeon? Despite myself, a bark of laughter tumbled out. “Your imagination has run away with you, Gwen.”
She shook her head. "I’m telling you, I’ve seen Eyes Wide Shut!”
“I’m pretty sure it’s not a sex cult.” I kept searching the crowd, looking for the one person I actually wanted to talk to. I was relieved to see Micah and Pierce hadn't left her side. When she saw us, she grinned. And wow… For the first time in ages, my mother looked like herself again.
Obviously, with everything being under wraps, we hadn't told her a thing. Nor had we let her see me before the ceremony. But she looked good. Clear. And the smile she gave me was warm. No hesitation. No fear.
She pushed to her feet, and Pierce immediately stepped in front of her, but she batted him away with her hands. "My son is right there, and my new daughter. Let me go."
Pierce looked beleaguered and tired. "She's already tried to ditch me twice."
My mother grinned. "I was going to the restroom."
"Right. With the keys you lifted off me?" he said sarcastically.
"I just don't understand why I'm being kept prisoner."
I laughed. "It's okay, Pierce. Hi, Mom."
"It's about time you two acknowledged me. How long have you been in the Winston Isles and you didn't even call?"
I laughed. "We've been here less than forty-eight hours."
"And in forty-eight hours you planned a whole wedding?"
Gwen stepped forward. "I'm sorry. I apologize. That was my fault. I just couldn't wait any longer to marry him. You look really good, Jessica."
"Thank you, darling. You look beautiful too." She frowned slightly. "I'm sorry dear. I know I have met you before. I just… It was foggy when we met, and I was having a hard time."
Gwen gave her a soft smile. "It was a few months ago. I came out to the estate and it was just a brief visit." Gwen didn't even look at me. She didn't need me to reassure her about what to say and how. She was so intuitive, and she was gentle with her response.
"Oh, that’s right. I do apologize if I was out of sorts. I think my medications have changed. I'm a lot clearer now, and I wanted to say you make a beautiful bride."
"Thank you so much, Mrs. Price."
She shook her head. "No, please, call me Jessica."
"Okay, Jessica,” Gwen said with a smile. “I'm glad you were able to be here for the wedding."
"Me too. I wish I had known I was coming to a wedding though. I would have brought a gift."
Gwen took her hands. "Your presence is the gift."
My mother slid her gaze to me. "Where did you find her, Atticus? She's perfect."
"I know." I scanned her face. "Mom, are you sure you’re, okay? You seem different."
