Chapter Twenty

Grace could tell instantly that something must have happened while she and Beverly had been gone. The positive energy Grace had been filled with over Beverly's acceptance of her and her daughter was suddenly dashed when she saw the troubled look in Vince's green eyes when they fell on her.

"What's wrong?" Grace asked him, as Cadence became focused on Widget.

"Patricia isn't coming alone," Vince replied quietly. "She's bringing someone."

"A date?" Grace's brow furrowed. Why would Patricia bringing a date bother Vince?

"No, not a date," Vince warned. "A guest. A very loud, bothersome, slightly disturbed guest."

Grace swallowed hard. "Why do I think this is going to be worse than when your parents arrived?"

"It won't be worse," Vince assured her. "Just promise me something."

"What?" Grace asked cautiously.

Vince sighed. "Promise me you won't believe a word she says and you won't be threatened."

"Threatened? Why would I feel threatened." Grace asked. "You said you hadn't been serious with anyone for a long time before you met me."

"And I hadn't. But this woman seems to think we share something special, her and I, and..."

"Did you share something special?" Grace demanded, feeling her defenses raise. Why would Patricia bring a woman whom Vince had had a relationship with to their wedding?

Vince opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Beverly's horrified voice. "What in the world is that..." she covered Cadence's ears. "...whore of a woman doing her?!"

Vince groaned and Grace turned just before her jaw nearly dropped to the ground. Patricia had arrived and standing beside her was a woman barely five feet tall. She had an hourglass figure to rival that of Marilyn Monroe but that was where the similarities ended. This woman had flaming red hair with golden highlight, her skin was like porcelain and her eyes were wide and green beneath her thick lashes.

She was a very beautiful woman, until you got to her mouth. What once might have been a pretty bow shape had been altered and changed by collagen and botox. Her lips pursed unnaturally and just seemed to hang there off her face.

"Vincey!" the woman exclaimed as she rushed toward Vince, swaying her voluptuous hips.

Grace gave Patricia a dumbfounded look. 'Vincey?' she mouthed and Patricia simply shrugged before hanging her head like a whipped puppy when Vince sent her an icy glare.

Then Vince was muttering, stuttering and holding his hands in the air when the mystery woman threw herself against him and held him tightly, burying her face against his chest.

"Brittany, why don't we allow Vince to breathe?" Patricia offered, grabbing the woman's arm and peeling her off of Vince. Vince took several giant steps back and threw a worried glance at Grace. Truthfully, Grace felt more amused than anything but she did her best to keep a straight face.

"Oh, Vincey, I've missed you so much!" Brittany whimpered, her lips flapping as she spoke. "You never did call me back, sweetheart."

"Patricia," Beverly snipped. "Why did you bring this woman with you?"

"Because I am a horrid woman, your highness," Patricia replied dryly. "Come along, Brittany, let's get somewhere where we can freshen up."

"Oh dear, yes!" Brittany exclaimed, smoothing out her itty bitty green dress. "I'm sure I must look just terrible." She smiled up at Vince expectantly but he was looking determinately away from her.

"You look beautiful," Grace assured the woman.

"Oh, thank you!" Brittany exclaimed brightly. "I'm Brittany," she added, shaking Grace's offered hand.

"I'm Grace. It was so nice of you to come all this way for our wedding," Grace replied, her voice dripping with false sweetness.

"Your wedding?" Brittany hissed, dropping Grace's hand as if it had burned her. "This is your fiancée?" Brittany demanded of Vince.

Vince put his arm around Grace's shoulders and pulled her closer. "That's right."

Brittany put her manicured hands on her shapely hips and tilted her head to the side, emphasizing the unnatural shape of her lips. "We'll just have to see about that!" she spat before storming away, her body bouncing in all the right places.

"Patricia, I am going to kill you," Vince stated and Patricia squeaked when Vince started for her with his hands aimed at her throat.

"Vince!" Grace exclaimed, coming between them.

"I really am sorry, Grace," Patricia vowed. "I didn't invite her, she invited herself, and I figured it was better that she come with me than alone and on the loose. She doesn't necessarily mean harm, she's just a little crazy."

"She means harm," Beverly snapped. "She's been after my son for years."

"I had better go after her or she'll end up getting herself into trouble." Patricia sighed and followed after Brittany.

"Who in the world was that red-head?" Meg asked as she and Ben joined them in the booth.

Grace fought back a smile. "Apparently, that's my competition for Vince's heart."

Meg tilted her head before bursting out in laughter. "That's your competition? Oh, that's a good one! She looks like one of those.. What are they called? A duck-billed platypus!"

Grace could no longer hold back her laughter and even Vincent and Beverly laughed quietly. Grace put her fingers around her mouth and pulled her lips out, causing Cadence to giggle. She turned to Vince, hoping to get him laughing along only to have him turn away from her.

"I'm going for a walk," he mumbled before walking away with his shoulders slumped.

"I'm sorry," Meg quickly apologized.

Grace shook her head. "You didn't do anything. I'll go after him."

"I'll watch the booth," Meg replied. "It's my turn."

"And we'll take Cadence to the rides," Beverly offered.

"Ben, will you go get Ester and bring her to the booth? She's by the stage. Mavis has been keeping an eye on her." Ben nodded and headed that way. Grace looked at Cadence. "You be good for Beverly and Vincent." Cadence nodded as she lifted Widget into her arms.

Grace sighed and hurried down the street in the direction that Vince had taken. She left the low din of the festival behind her and saw Vince turn into the park. Grace cursed how short her legs were compared to his as she jogged to catch up.

"Vince?" she called as she rounded the corner and found him standing on the iron bridge with his forearms propped up on the cool metal railing. "Can I ask why you walked off like that?" Grace demanded gently as she came to stand beside him and mirrored his stance.

Vince looked down at the trickling stream and was silent for a long time. "It's okay if you want to change your mind about me," he finally whispered.

"What?" Grace shook her head. "What are you talking about?"

"You called me perfect, Grace, and now you know that's not true. I have snobbish parents and an insane stalker."

"You're perfect for me, Vince," Grace assured him. "That's all that matters. We don't get to pick our family and as far as stalkers go, have you forgotten about Grant?"

"You don't understand," Vince argued. "She really is crazy."

"Be honest with me," Grace insisted. "Do I have anything to worry about? Do you and Brittany have a history?"

Vince turned and put his hands on Grace's shoulder's to turn her to face him. He rested his palms against her cheeks and stroked his thumb across her jaw. "You never have to worry about any woman taking me away from you and no, Brittany and I do not have a history, unless you count several restraining orders and break-in attempts."

Grace didn't want to laugh and so she tried to hold it back which only served to make it sound as if she were strangling. Vince shook his head and dropped his hands. "You're laughing at me."

"I'm laughing at the situation!" she assured him, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "It just seems like every time we turn around there is someone who doesn't want us together and this time it's a crazy red-haired platypus."

"I'm glad you find her entertaining," Vince mumbled, pinching his nose between his fingers. Grace sighed and moved behind him so she could rub his temples. His shoulders immediately relaxed.

"Are you mad at Patricia?" Grace asked.

"Mad? No, I'm not mad. I'm furious. She should have never said a word about Clifton, or me, or you, or any of it anywhere near Brittany. She knows how that woman is."

"How does Patricia know Brittany?"

"Step-cousin or something like that," Vince replied, his voice sounded much more relaxed with Grace messaging his temples.

"We just have to make it until Sunday. After Sunday we'll be married and there's nothing anyone will be able to do about it," Grace reminded him. "And I do have friends in law enforcement." She winked. "Say the word and I can have her locked up until then."

"I don't think we need to do that," Vince replied. "Just promise me that..."

"I've got your back, Vince. I'm not going anywhere," Grace cut him off before he could finish.

"We better head back," Vince sighed and pulled her back around him. "Did you leave Cadence with my parents?"

"Yes."

"Oh no.. my parents have never taken care of a child. I'm not even certain they're responsible enough..."

Grace laughed. "Widget seems happy enough."

Vince smiled and kissed her forehead. "Just the same, I think we should head back. And also, I'm not sleeping at the inn anymore. I'll sleep on the couch at your house if you insist but I'll not be sleeping in the same building as..."

"The platypus?" Grace inquired.

Vince laughed and gave her a real smile that brightened the afternoon. "Exactly."

***

"Grace, you look beautiful!" Meg exclaimed as Grace stepped in front of the full length mirror in Mavis's living room later that evening. Mavis had taken her measurements that morning and already had the dress complete. The woman was a saint in Grace's opinion.

"Very classic," Patricia approved.

Grace smiled at the swooping neckline, lace sleeves and bell skirt. She had opted out of wearing the heavy veil and Mavis had removed the panel of lace from the chest that would have come up to Grace's neck.

"Mommy, you look like a princess," Cadence whispered with awe as she circled Grace. "You look just like Cinderella."

"I feel like Cinderella," Grace admitted, swinging her hips to send the skirt swishing around her legs.

"I don't see what's so great about it," Brittney huffed from her chair in the corner. "And I don't think Vincey will like it either. It would look better on someone who had the body to fill it out."

"What are you even doing here?" Meg demanded.

Brittany stuck up her nose and wriggled all her impressive parts, her lips drooping considerably. "I was invited by my cousin," she replied, crossing her arms under her well developed, (or well installed), breasts.

"Step cousin, twice removed," Patricia countered quickly. "And I didn't invite you. I didn't see you hiding behind the fichus in the corner and you eavesdropped like the little snoop that you are."

"I was not hiding," Brittany snipped. "I happen to be petite."

"I'm not worried about what she thinks," Grace assured the room with a wave of her hand. "I look beautiful in my grandmother's dress and jealousy doesn't look good on anyone."

Brittany huffed and stood up, smoothing out her tiny green dress. "I believe I'll step outside for a bit." She strode out with her dress riding up on her thighs.

Grace didn't spare her a glance but Meg glared after her. "Finally," Ester grumbled. "I didn't think the duck would ever leave." She rose to her thin legs and came to stand beside Grace, studying their reflections in the mirror. "You look beautiful, dear."

Grace felt tears filling her eyes at the sight of her and her grandmother standing together. For a moment it was easy to forget that she lost more of that strong woman every single day.

"My son picked well," Beverly agreed softly. "You are very lovely, Grace."

"She is Grace Kelly reborn in my opinion," Patricia stated.

"I have no idea how to do my hair," Grace admitted, laying her hand over the auburn strands

"Don't you worry about your hair and make-up. Between all of us women, we've got you covered," Meg promised.

"Do a spin, mommy!" Cadence requested eagerly. Grace smiled and spun in a quick circle causing Cadence to giggle happily.

"Who are you marrying?" Ester asked with a frown.

"Vince, Grandma."

Ester shook her head. "I don't know him."

Grace sighed and smiled at the old woman. "George."

Ester's eyes widened and she nodded. "Why didn't you just say so? He'll make you a fine husband."

"Of course he will," Meg agreed. "He's head over heels in love with our Grace."

"I have something to go with your dress," Ester announced. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a velvet jewelry box. Her arthritis ridden hands shook as she opened it and revealed the gold and diamond cross lying on the cream satin inside.

Grace covered her heart with her hand and gasped. "Grandma, it's beautiful."

"I wore it when I married your grandfather and now you can wear it when you marry George."

"Thank you, Grandma."

Ester smiled and closed the jewelry box before placing it in Grace's hand. "I love you, dear."

Grace couldn't speak as emotions clogged her throat and several tears slipped down her cheeks. Ester simply patted her on the back and returned to her chair. "So who was that duck woman and what in the world happened to her lips? Does she have a disease?"

Grace moaned and covered her face with her hand as the room burst into laughter.