April Fool Bride by Joan Reeves

seem. May I offer my
felicitations?"
    "Thank you. Did my stepmother inform you
about my marriage?"
    "No, madam. It's almost impossible to open a
web browser without seeing the news accompanied by a
slideshow."
    Maddie's smile turned to a grimace. "Ah, yes.
All those wonderful old photographs. After all, what I do is so
much more important than silly things like economic summits,
earthquakes, and nuclear posturing by other countries."
    Jake chuckled softly and squeezed the hand
that clasped his arm. "How nice to know I married a mover and a
shaker."
    "This way please." Strack crossed the marble
floor with long regal strides.
    Jake and Maddie followed. He whispered where
only she could hear."Don't worry. Some reality star will do
something outrageous and take the limelight. The paparazzi will
grow bored and move on. And I'll make sure old Connie keeps her
claws sheathed."
    Her fingers were like ice, but the heat of
his hand over hers helped. His touch comforted her, and his concern
surprised her. She could have told him that she'd learned to hold
her own with Constance. The woman no longer ran over her like a
bulldozer crushing everything beneath its treads. But she kept
silent.
    Strains of music floated through the house.
Sinatra. Constance had retained the five musicians who usually
provided music for her parties. Since Constance was stuck in the
sixties, most of the music was oldies with a sprinkling of the Rat
Pack which her father had loved.
    At the formal living room, the butler
announced them as if he were presenting them to the queen. The
small gathering gave them a quiet round of applause. Constance
Quinn stepped forward to greet them. The expression on her face
confused Jake. He'd expected to see outrage. Indignation and
resentment at the very least. Instead, the woman looked…Well, he
guessed forlorn was the best adjective he could come up with. She
was thinner than he remembered and as pale as the white roses that
filled the many Chinese blue porcelain vases in the room. She
inclined her head toward him. "Welcome, Jake. Please accept my
congratulations on your marriage."
    Before he could overcome his surprise,
Graciella Becker rushed toward them, her arms opened wide to
embrace both of them. "My children, you've made me so very
happy."
    Her warmth made Jake feel like a jerk. In the
end, he'd been honest with his mother about his reasons for
marrying Maddie--well, except for the sex part. Graciella had
dismissed what he said with the assertion that God moved in
mysterious ways.
    Jake knew his mother well enough to know she
wanted to believe that he and Maddie would make a go over it. He
guessed it was understandable. She'd raised him and Maddie too.
Maybe he should have done more to convince her it was just a
business arrangement, but he'd been sidetracked by her telling him
that she would be at Constance's dinner party too. Since he'd never
known Constance to treat his mother with graciousness, he was on
guard.
    "I'm proud to have such a beautiful
daughter-in-law," Graciella said.
    Jake saw Maddie blink rapidly and look away.
He knew his mom's words had touched her. Or maybe they'd just made
her feel guilty, he thought cynically.
    Maddie glanced up at him. He didn't know she
was such a good actress. Even to him she looked as if she were
deeply in love with him.
    "Thank you, Graciella," Maddie said. "But
Jake is the beautiful one."
    Jake raised a hand to cup her cheek. He could
act too. He took advantage of the moment and kissed her gently,
feeling a strange emotion sweep through him. "Are you fishing for
compliments, sweetheart?"
    "What kind of husband are you?" Graciella
chided. "She shouldn't have to fish for compliments. Haven't you
told your bride how beautiful she is tonight?"
    He hadn't, other than the offhand remark he'd
offered in the car. He figured Maddie was so used to being
flattered and praised that his words would mean nothing. She wore
an off the shoulder dress of pale green satin that hugged her