Page 27 of Complete Me

"Six?" she repeated. He had really meant it when he said he wanted to keep it in the family.

"Well, I suppose Elizabeth counts as seven." Edward counted out loud on his fingers. "And then there's Mrs. Watson, so that’s eight with you and Alexander, and Smith and Belle."

Clara forced a smile onto her lips, hoping he couldn’t see the hint of the pain hearing her husband's name caused her. Thankfully, Edward was too wrapped up in the promise of marital bliss to notice.

Alexander had promised he'd find a way to her. She hadn't wanted to be the one to tell him that Edward was finally going to tie the knot. If Alexander had promised to be there on Christmas, she would plan on it. It would devastate her if he didn't show, but she would step in before she allowed him to miss his brother's wedding. But she wouldn’t call him until the absolute last minute. Part of her wanted him to feel as alone as he'd made her feel. Another part of her felt ashamed for that thought. Alexander had opened up to her, and when he had revealed the truth – that he had a brother neither of them knew about — she'd understood some of his hesitance to share. But this was about more than keeping one secret. It was about what was important to her. If their marriage was going to say strong, he needed to learn to compromise, especially when it came to what he chose to share with her.

"Earth to Clara," Edward called, waving his hand in the air until he got her attention. "You're sitting next to me but it seems like you're miles away."

"I just realized that I didn't get you a wedding present," she lied. This was why she couldn't continue to put up with Alexander's secrets. It meant constantly forcing her to keep secrets from the rest of the people in her life. Where did it end?

With her, she decided, and that was final.

"Don't worry about it." Edward dismissed her concern. "It's not as if we need anything, and I didn't exactly give you time to shop."

"You'll have to settle for the pleasure my company," she told him.

He dazzled her with a boyish grin. In that moment, the difference between him and his brother was clear. It was easy to see their age difference or Edward's curly hair compared to Alexander's black locks, but it was the quickness of his smile that set him apart from his older brother. Edward pushed up his horn rim spectacles. "That's all I ever want."

"Ever?" Belle cried out in mock sadness, interrupting the duo. Edward shot off the couch and ran to hug her. Clara felt a slight pang of jealousy in her chest as she watched the two of them. She had been the one to introduce them, and while she counted them both as her best friends, there was a little part of her that felt left out when she saw them together. Although she had to admit she had given them plenty of crises to bond over through the last couple of years. She shook the irrational reaction away. Between the Christmas season and her fight with Alexander, she was being silly. When the two broke apart, Belle grabbed Edward’s hands. "Tell me about the wedding."

He cast a mischievous glance over at Clara. "That seems to be everyone's favorite topic."

They spent the afternoon plotting and planning. They also took turns picking Elizabeth up off the floor after numerous tumbles.

"You've yet to get your sea legs," Edward told his niece, hugging her closely.

"Don't encourage her," Clara warned. "Once she really starts walking it's all over. We'll have to baby-proof everything, and I'll never be able to catch up with her."

"Don't you have a nanny?" He asked her pointedly, looking around the room as if one might suddenly appear. Apparently, Edward presumed the royal family had their very own Mary Poppins.

"We do," Clara said, "but I want to do most of it. I'm her mother, after all."

"She's making up for her own mother," Belle interjected, casting a knowing glance at Edward.

"I think it's nice," Edward said. "I wish I had known my mother."

The girls paused awkwardly and looked to one another.

"Don't be like that," Edward commanded. "You two aren't the only ones who get to be sentimental this time of year."

"Anything is better than my mother," Belle said.

"Mine?" Clara teased.

"I will trade Madeline Bishop for Mary Stuart any day of the week," Belle promised her.

"How is your mother?" Edward asked.

Over the last year, Belle’s relationship with her mother had gone from tense to unbearable almost overnight. That largely had to do with Belle’s decision to sell her interest in the family estate. The move left Mary without a home. It was merely a technicality, though. Belle had sold her interest to her half-brother, and despite the way his stepmother had treated him over the years, John Stuart had displayed an incredible benevolence by allowing Mary to stay in his home.

"She's spending Christmas with John," Belle informs them.

"Is that safe?" Clara asked. Having known Bill for years, she was well aware of the danger Mary Stuart posed to anyone in isolation.

"She mentioned going to the neighbor’s for Christmas morning." Belle shrugged. Whatever suited her mother was fine by her. "He's some politician, and my mother just loves him."

"And you don't?" Edward said.