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and we roll out into traffic.
    “We'll stop at my house before we go back to the club. I have something for you,” Jean explains, as we start to head in the opposite direction than what I was expecting.
    Vince and Jean's house is fairly large, especially for two people. I spent a lot of time here when I was younger, with Jean babysitting Tiny and me. When Jay and I first got together, before he bought his house, we were here a lot. The spacious entryway opens into other rooms but Charlie hangs back as Jean and I disappear into one of them.
    “Charlie girl...” Jean calls out when we realize we are one man down. “Get your little ass in here. There's an open door policy for family.”
    Charlie finally joins us in the back of the house as we near Jean's bedroom, looking white as a ghost.
    “What's wrong, Charlie?” I hold out to her and help her to sit on the edge of the settee in the corner of the room. Her eyes dart around the room, taking in the surroundings.
    She clears her throat. “Uh... nothing... nothing’s wrong,” she says unconvincingly. “I... I'm just a little flushed from the heat outside is all.”
    Jean and I share a glance. She nods to both of us and disappears, on a mission. I turn back to Charlie, and rest my hand on her knee. It's ice cold. Funny... for someone overheating, her skin is frigid. And her lip is trembling a little.
    “I know what's really bothering you,” I let out. Her eyes widen and she stares at me. “The whole 'family' thing.”
    I swear she stops breathing. Man, this girl must have some deep-seated commitment issues. “Relax... it's not like he asked you to be his ol' lady or anything, yet.”
    Her eyes furrow, confused.
    “It's just...” I bite my cheek. It's not as easy as you'd think it would be to explain our ways to someone new. “See... as long as your with Clink... you're family. I mean you're obviously more than a piece of ass to him. So... Jean... and everybody else thinks of you as part of us.”
    As if on cue, Jean strides in with a tray of iced tea and some glasses. She pours Charlie a glass and hands it to her. Charlie downs the whole thing while Jean and I watch dumbfounded.
    “Better?” Jean asks as she refills the iced tea for Charlie.
    Charlie nods and attempts a smile as Ma moves on to my glass before filling her own.
    The cold liquid instantly cools my burning insides, and before I can help, it I belch and hiccup at the same time.
    In unison, Jean and Charlie break out in laughter at my expense. Whatever. Anything to lighten the mood. I mean, I'm pregnant. I have very little control over more bodily functions than I'd care to admit to, at this stage.
    Jean sets her glass down. “Now.” She claps her hands together and rubs furiously. “The main event.”
    She practically hops into her massive walk-in closet and we hear crashing and crumpling noises. Less than a minute later she emerges carrying a monstrous cardboard box so delicately, you'd swear it was the royal tea service. Charlie and I stand and meet Jean as she places the box on the foot of the bed.
    “This...” Ma begins to explain as she opens the package and pushes aside the papered wrapping inside. She grabs hold of something within, and pulls it free, shaking it out. “This... is your wedding dress.”
    I gasp. It's so beautiful... that it's actually breathtaking. The simplicity of the lines and sheerness to the fabric are so simple that they are intricately ornate at the same time.
    I look up at Jean, beaming from behind the full-length dress.
    “Are you sure? I couldn't. I couldn't possibly...”
    Jean rolls her eyes and shakes the playful frustration away before she thrusts the dress into my arms and pushes me in the direction of the bathroom.
    “You can and you will. You are the closest thing to a daughter I could ever ask for. My son is going to make you his wife and you are going to wear this dress while he does it. No arguments.”
    She shuts the door behind me as I enter the