“How about ivory, dear?” Elizabeth put in, as she joined them in her red floor-length gown. “Ivory is Ryan’s favorite color.”
“But beige suits you so well, sweetheart.” The chilly tone in Rebecca’s voice was enough to give everyone in the room frostbite.
Kennedy didn’t want Ryan to think she had been trying to please him. But this was his night, and she’d just caught sight of an ivory gown with gold embellishments that made her skin itch with want. She turned to the stylist and said, “I’ll wear the ivory one. I’d like my hair up to showcase the choker at the neckline.”
Kennedy turned away from her mother’s frown and sat in front of the mirror. She was going to be Ryan’s eye candy, but just for tonight. The stylist, with a much more relaxed smile, brought forward a pair of gold slippers for her to approve. Once her hair was done up, Kennedy moved to the bed. She took in the beautiful dress and, lying beside it, a gold clutch bag studded with gems that shone brilliantly. Matt had told her the importance of appearance, but he seemed to have gone all out providing these. She had the wild suspicion that the jewels were real diamonds.
“When do I return this?” Kennedy asked the stylist.
“Never. Mr. Carville asked for everything to be delivered to your house once you chose what you wanted to wear tonight.”
“What!?” Kennedy’s gaze shifted to the rack of clothes. “These gowns will not fit in a month. Did Mr. Carville tell you I’m pregnant?”
“Yes. He’s very excited about it.”
“Yeah, but he won’t be the one staring at gowns he can’t wear just because he looks like a whale,” she mumbled.
Kennedy couldn’t believe that it was her when she finally took inventory in front of the mirror. She looked beautiful. She never thought of herself that way, but today she did.
“Hurry up dear,” Elizabeth called out from the foyer. “The boys are here.”
“Speaking of, ask Ryan what we are going to do with Riley,” Kennedy yelled back over her shoulder.
“He’s coming with us, I’ll keep an eye on—Oh my God, Kennedy,” Elizabeth gasped, stepping into the room behind her.
“What?” Kennedy whipped around half expecting to see something gruesome that had Elizabeth stunned.
“You look—”
“You look like a princess, Mommy!” Riley shouted when he ran into the room in his tiny suit. He was about to leap into her arms when his grandmother caught him.
“None of that, young man. At least give your daddy and the world a chance to see her before you ruin her look.”
“You look very handsome, Riley.” Kennedy took in how Riley looked in his black tuxedo with a tiny white bow tie. She bet Ryan had one hell of a time trying to get him to hold still long enough to get him dressed.
“RJ,” Riley announced.
“What?” Kennedy asked, her smile faltering.
“You see,” Riley gulped and Kennedy braced herself, “I asked daddy if I could be Ryan just like him and grandpa. He said I have to ask you, but it was okay with him.” Riley started fiddling with his thumbs, a trademark tic whenever he was nervous and a bit frightened.
“Is this what you were whispering into Daddy’s ear this morning.”
Riley nodded.
“You really want Ryan to be your first name?”
Riley nodded, his eyes glued to his shiny dress shoes the whole time. How could she deny him that? The little boy just wanted to be like his daddy. Kennedy used her finger to raise his eyes to hers. With a smile, she said, “Of course, RJ.”
Riley looked up at her and bestowed her an enormous smile, the kind she hadn’t seen for weeks. Somehow those two letters had made his day. Riley grabbed her hand and started pulling her to the door. Kennedy barely had a chance to grab her purse. She ran as much as her four-inch heels allowed. Her heart thumped in her chest. Ryan had never seen her this decked out. She wondered what he would think too.
“Riley, don’t pull your mother around like that,” Rebecca chastised.
“It’s RJ now! Ryan Junior,” Riley announced, his chest puffed out and his tone filled with pride.
“RJ? What’s the meaning of that?”
“Not now, Mother. Shall we go?” Kennedy turned and stepped into the foyer, her eyes already searching the room for Ryan. He was over next to Matt. Both men were gaping, but Ryan was watching her with awe in his eyes. He never said a word as people started to shuffle out of the room and into the hallway of the hotel. When it was just them left behind, she took a nervous step towards him. His porcelain skin stood out from the all-black suit he was wearing. His muscular form filled out his jacket, the seams looking ready to burst.