#outofhatboxes

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"Oh!"

Hot, joyous tears sprouted from Susannah's eyes as soon as the question left Philippe's lips, a shaky smile crossing her lips as she put a hand to her mouth: Again, despite knowing exactly what he was about to ask of her, she still couldn't help but be surprised.

"Oh, Philippe..." she murmured, eyes glistening still as she lowered her hand to rest on her pounding heart, wondering if it was as deafening for him to hear as it was for her, hearing it thrumming and drumming in her ears. "Before I met you, I...I never thought about the future. I felt like...I had no future, other than working at Mickey's. That my life would always be so...boring, so empty.

But you...you changed that! You came into my life, and brought so much light and energy back into it, and you've...you've made me the happiest woman in all of New Orleans! And to be your wife...that would make the happiest woman in all the world."

She punctuated this declaration by throwing her arms around his shoulder and embracing him in an excited kiss, pale cheeks red as roses as she concluded, "Y-Yes, I-I'll marry you!"

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"Mickey's the hardest headed man I've ever met," Susannah snorted as she took a bite of sausage link. "No matter how many mistakes he makes, he never learns-I've seen that for myself."

Mickey often insisted he knew best, and seldom if ever was willing to hear otherwise...even when he'd been proven wrong time and time again. It was almost sort of impressive, really, his dedication to his stubbornness: It would be a quality Susannah and her father would've admired (after all, to be a Pace was to be stubborn), if Mickey wasn't such an ass.

"Pa used to think that was why he's never split up from his wife, who makes him miserable," she continued. "Doesn't matter how much he complains about her to anyone who'll listen, doesn't matter how much they argue and spat and yell, he won't divorce her, even though that marriage bed has long since grown cold."

Her father had met both his daughter's employer and said employer's wife, and didn't care much for either. He used to say, "Your mother wasn't perfect. She had her vices, and I won't lie and say it didn't put a strain on our marriage. But she loved me, and she loved you, and she wasn't at all a bad person just because of her addiction. But those two...they deserve each other, honestly."

"The day he learns from my leaving is the day he'll leave Min," she huffed, as she took another bite: She wished she could say that, one day, she'd buck up the courage to make a big show of her departure before they left to California, and that Mickey would get on his knees, apologizing profusely, begging her to stay, to make some sort of amends with all he'd done, but the chances of that were what they'd call "slim to none". He was just too stubborn, too proud, too foolish for that...

(A shame...she'd have liked to hear that apology.)

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"Oh...!"

Susannah supposed that made the most sense...it was the easiest, most believable fib he could give to his parents, especially considering how enamored they were with the idea of their boy finally settling down. She was sure they'd have all sorts of questions about her "family" and the time he spent with them when he returned, but she had faith he'd be able to come up with a good cover story for the both of them.

"I...I do wish you were meeting my family," she found herself saying aloud before she could stop herself, as she continued to gaze out the window: She didn't have much of it, granted, but she still wished he could've met them nonetheless, particularly her father's side of the family.

"I...I wish you could've met my father," she lamented quietly, as the familiar New Orleans surroundings began to fade away as the sun continued its ascent into the sky. "He...he would've loved you, I think...he'd have admired your...compassion, your good heart, your grace...I think you two would've gotten along very well.

I'm sure my ma would've liked you too...I-I don't remember her much, but...I imagine she woulda liked you a lot. She probably woulda welcomed you into the family with open arms."

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

I am?

These two words, this simple little question, very nearly came out of Susannah's mouth before she stopped herself, reminding herself of Philippe's sincere nature. This was a man who would never lie to her, least of all about her appearance, and so she allowed herself to be flattered in that moment, cheeks turning a soft pink as she replied, "Th-Thank you, Philippe. You..y-you look v-very handsome!"

Not about to let him linger out on her front porch all night, she was quick to sweep him inside and into her little kitchen, where she had everything laid out, ready and waiting for them. She was also pleasantly surprised by the strawberry-creme bonbons he'd procured for them; they would make a wonderful dessert to cap off tonight's dinner.

"I-I...I have something for you too!"

Before they sat down to their meal (she would've liked to have just dug in, but perhaps giving him this gift would mitigate some of the butterflies in her stomach and let her actually enjoy dinner), Susannah hustled out of the room, only to then return with a small box-not ornately wrapped or even particularly eye-catching...unlike what was inside.

It was a hand-knitted sweater, made in a beautiful sky-blue yarn, laced with delicate honeycomb and blackberry patterns, very similar to the one Wilhelmina Pace knitted for her future husband many years ago (the only difference being was that the one she made was a soft buttercup yellow; Susannah had it tucked away in the cedar chest upstairs, along with many other heirlooms). It would be plenty warm to wear, once the cold snap eventually settled in.

"I-It's an Aran sweater," she explained shyly, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched him open it, on pins and needles, waiting for his reaction, wondering nervously all the while: Will he like it?

[theheadlessgroom]

Upon hearing this small voice, Randall spun around, his eyes landing on the spirit hovering around the corner, a spirit he almost didn’t recognize-after all, it had been so long since he’d seen her; the last time he laid eyes on her, goodness, she must’ve only come up to his knee...

“Erika.”

Still, a sense of joy filled him when he saw her, and he almost tripped over himself crossing the attic to embrace her without a moment’s hesitation, knowing this to be his little girl. The thought of that alone was enough to make his eyes well up with tears (tears he was sure were about to come spilling out and flood the whole attic), but still did he hug her close, struggling to find the right words to say. He felt he should say something...

…but perhaps it was better to let his actions do all the talking for him.

{Starter for @theheadlessgroom }

Starter Call: https://www.tumblr.com/eviesheart/725057276097036288

Exhausted, mentally and emotionally that was one way to describe the current state of one Erika De Claire Pace. It simply seemed that the ghostly teenager could not get a break…

The disappearance of her father was one thing, but the equally mysterious disappearance of her mother accompanied by an entirely different Ghost Bride in the attic- primarily one that especially didn’t like her- Erika had found herself in quite the unique dynamic. Missing both of her parents, and stuck with a Black Widow Bride who truly saw her as nothing more than an inconvenience. The attic was an entirely new place at this point on, and all Erika could do was endure.

It was an evening like any other in the attic of Gracey Manor. Constance was out socializing with other haunts which gave Erika a moment of peace from the ghastly woman- though seeing her face on the various portraits didn’t do much for comfort. The sound of a single heartbeat resounded through the attic as Erika sat in one of the attic’s chairs, a small huff escaping her lips. One unfortunate thing about living in an attic meant you occasionally had run ins with moths- moths that liked to eat away at your lacy dresses. But it was nothing a lovely embroidered flower or two couldn’t fix.

Yes, this was what life had become in the attic, and for Erika she was not anticipating anything to change. But oh, was she gonna be amazed by what was waiting in store for her on this seemingly regular old evening in Gracey Manor.

Perhaps a day she had been waiting for for years….

@theheadlessgroom

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"Who, me? Moi?" Doreen asked faux-innocently, pressing a hand to her chest as she dropped her jaw in mock surprise, as though she were shocked, absolutely shocked that Philippe would accuse her of such a thing, before flashing them a playful grin. "What would ever give you that idea?"

"Oh, no reason," Susannah smiled, to which Doreen giggled (oh, her friends knew her so well!), but while she continued to elaborate on her scheming to Philippe, Susannah herself found herself staring out the window, lost in thought. The wheels in her mind were already beginning to turn, her heart was beginning to race, and a little smile was dancing on her lips all the while.

How wonderful it all sounded...to return to Gracey Manor for one of Doreen's lavish, wonderful parties, and in the company of her dear friends, no less! It'd be wonderful to see Edward and Belle again, to see the mansion again, all under the cover of a mask...for once, she wouldn't have to be Susannah Pace, lowly seamstress, but could instead be a beautiful, anonymous maiden...

And that maiden would need a dress.

Trembling wore three different dresses to church, Susannah would only need one...she made a note to herself to go back to her mother's book of fables, and look to those very dresses for inspiration. This would be her magnum opus thus far, her most impressive piece of work to date: A gown fit for a fairy tale maiden.

And if she could dance with her prince in such a gown, oh...her heart ached at the thought, and she wondered to herself if, between now and when the ball actually happened, if she and Philippe would be like Edward and Doreen, secretly courting under the noses of everyone. She dared dream they would be...

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"We are," Doreen replied with a smile, as she began to cut into her catfish. "We briefly considered Florida, I toyed with the notion of us moving into my family's summer home there, but...I just don't think it would work out, us moving there. I'll miss it, and I'll miss my home here in New Orleans, but I think it'll be a fresh start for both of us, we're looking forward to it."

"Have you told anyone else about your engagement?" Susannah asked, as Edward nodded, "My father knows, and Belle knows. Of course we would want both of them at the wedding, but I get the feeling they'd like to do more than that..."

"We're thinking they both may try to follow us out to California," Doreen elaborated. "We don't object to the idea, of course, it's just...surprising, I suppose!

I quite love the idea...Mr. Henshaw has always been so kind to me, and Belle, well...she's more of a mother to me than my own, and so to have them both by our side as we start this new chapter in our lives...it means the world to us."

A softness had crossed Doreen's face upon saying this, and Susannah couldn't help but smile softly, her eyes beginning to glisten a little as she wrung the skirts of her dress, saying, "W-Well...I think it's going to be a-a very packed carriage then, because, w-well..."

At this, Edward's eyes widened, the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he looked from Susannah to Philippe, asking, "Are you...thinking of moving to California too?"

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

At this moment of reminiscense, Dorian and Elizabeth's eyes met, and their smiles mirrored one another as Elizabeth commented off-handedly:

"I think I'm beginning to understand that feeling."

Walking behind the two younger couples, unable to resist cooing over her sleeping granddaughter just as her mother was, June caught little snatches of the conversation, with certain remarks just happening to make her ears prick up a little more, though she never let her face show what she was thinking and feeling, to say nothing of refusing to give voice to these thoughts. As she had told Lon earlier in the month, she had her theories, but at the end of the day, whatever was on Dorian and Elizabeth Gracey's mind was theirs to announce, and she certainly wasn't going to impede upon that.

At the very least, when the party had made it back to the attic, and Randall and Emily quietly took the twins to their room for a nap, she took Elizabeth aside for a moment, venturing to say, choosing her words carefully, "Well, if you do ever feel sick again, if any nausea or soreness pops up again...please, don't hesitate to come to me. I'd like to help in any way I can."

Elizabeth studied June's face for a moment, remaining calm upon this suggestion being put to her-the matriarch's face was just as calm as her own, and there was a gentle sincerity in the way she smiled at her, to say nothing of something of a mischievous twinkle to her eye, a sort of subtle, knowing look that reminded Elizabeth of her own mother, and the looks she would give her one and only daughter when she knew something was afoot.

But even with that look, the mistress of Gracey Manor knew Mrs. June Pace was a woman she could trust, and so she flashed her an appreciative smile, saying, "If anything comes up, I'll be sure to look to you first. Thank you, June."

"Think nothing of it, Elizabeth."

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

With books in arms and sweets in hands, the couple soon departed from the bookstore, the elderly proprietor cheerfully bidding them goodbye as they stepped back out onto the street, which had proceeded to come a little more alive, more couples walking to and fro, in and out of shops, the streets alive with the chatter of friends, the laughter of children, and the jubilant music from the nearby restaurants.

Truthfully, Susannah seldom gave much thought to any future in which she'd be a wife and mother. Until meeting Philippe, that sort of notion felt far more like a pipe dream than anything else, unable to envision anyone being eager to make her their bride, let alone mother of their children, but ever since falling love, she'd found that had changed quite a lot, and thus, she found herself daydreaming more about what was to come.

Would they have nights like this in California? Walking the streets together after dinner, their children running ahead of them, giggling up a storm as they enjoyed everything the world had to offer? Would the little ones play in the grass, gathering flowers and begging their parents for sweets from the nearby vendors? Would she and Philippe put them on their shoulders, and let them see the world from a whole new vantage point, and make them feel like they could touch the stars, the way her father did? She liked to think so.

A gentle smile crossed Susannah's face, and she couldn't help but lay her head against Philippe's shoulder, the way so many other ladies did with their gentlemen, feeling more content than she had felt in a very, very long time.

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"Doreen and I have been discussing that ourselves," Edward nodded understandingly as he took another sip of his drink. "We're tentatively leaning towards marrying once we make it to California, unless we can find someone to do it before we leave..."

At this, Susannah idly chewed her lower lip in thought, pondering this before murmuring thoughtfully, "I wonder..."

"Wonder what?" "Well...there was a very nice old priest my Pa told me about growing up: Unlike most everyone else, he wasn't bothered by Ma being Irish, and was very happy to marry the two of them at his little church outside of town. I-I don't know if he's still around, though..."

"It's worth looking into, I think!" Doreen smiled, visibly brightening at this suggestion: It was something of a gamble, sure, but if he was willing to marry a man to an Irishwoman, she liked to believe he would be understanding and accepting of her, wanting nothing more than to marry a black man. It was a comforting thought, really, that there were compassionate souls out there, who didn't want anything to stop God's flock from being happy.

"Do you remember where the church was?" Edward asked, and Susannah nodded; her father told her enough times about it that it stuck out in her hand. At this confirmation, Doreen replied with a nod, "I'll see about looking into it tomorrow, I'll pay the church a visit and see if he's still active: It might be a long shot, as I said, but I think it's one well worth taking."

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"It didn't put me off sweets for good," Susannah agreed with a grin-though she shied away from the barrels of saltwater taffy, saying sheepishly, "But, uh...maybe next time."

Beyond the taffy, there was plenty to see, however: It seemed like every possible sweet in the world was on display somewhere in the store, everything ranging from chocolates (there's more than one kind of chocolate? she thought to herself as she eyed the dark and white chocolates confusedly) to fruity chews to caramel to even peanut brittle. The sweet scent hanging in the air was intoxicating, and between that and the colorful displays, it was hard to settle on just one thing to look at.

"Oh! Strawberry licorice!" she grinned, lighting up a little as she hurried over to the little display, seized by a childish excitement as she observed the ropes standing in their little cups, as well as the big cup of licorice all-sorts beside it.

"My ma loved black licorice-Pa hated it, though," she recalled with a chuckle. "He thought it was terrible, though funnily enough, he wasn't much of a fan of strawberry licorice either. Cherry was okay, but generally, he didn't reach for this sorta thing when he had a hankering for something sweet."

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"That would be such an honor."

As they left the theater arm in arm, Susannah elaborated a little further on her feelings regarding the idea, saying, "I don't see people wearing my work very often, but when I do, when I see them wearing my hats and bonnets out in town...there's nothing like it. It gives me a-a sorta...a feeling of pride, I guess you'd say. A job well done."

Of course, no one knew the name of the maker of the hat; all who made them were anonymous. Those who shopped and bought from the haberdashery usually just cheerfully told their friends, "Oh, I got it from Mickey's!" giving no thought to the people who really made them. But even so, when Susannah saw her work out in the park, people donning her top hats and sunhats and the like, and to see others compliment her handiwork without knowing it was hers...it put a little smile on her face.

"I know they don't know it's mine, but...it still feels good, knowing they're so happy with it," she smiled softly, cheeks pink as exited back out onto the street. "So to think about people seeing my work on a stage night after night and loving it, admiring it, actually knowing that it's mine? It...it would be nothing short of an honor to me."

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"Yes, he did," Susannah nodded-a bit of a blessing and a curse in her eyes, admittedly, considering the mixed feelings she had regarding her heritage...

"My mother was...very proud of who she was," she began, as she sipped her coffee pensively. "She took a great deal of pride in being Irish, and she wore it on her sleeve...even when other people didn't appreciate that pride. She told my Pa a lot of stories about her life in Ireland, about her family, and what it means to be a Pace. We're stubborn and passionate about...everything, really, but we also value family greatly; we'd move heaven and Earth for our loved ones. Pa was really taken by it all, by Ma's pride in being who she was, and so when it came time to get married...he chose to take her name instead of her taking his."

It was a great shock to many of August's neighbors, knowing that instead of becoming Mr. and Mrs. Burke, they had become Mr. and Mrs. Pace: He often speculated that, had it been the other way around, their neighbors would've been a little less frosty to the couple, perhaps approving of this "uncivilized" Irishwoman taking a step in becoming more Americanized, but because August had taken her name, it was seen as a slap in the face to those around them-that he was taking the side of "a Paddy" over his American kin.

"Ma was really touched by it," she finished, as she set her coffee mug down. "And Pa was proud to be a part of a family like hers. Even if other people didn't approve, he didn't give a damn-he was proud to be a Pace."

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

Susannah smiled softly at the kiss before assuring him, "O-Oh no, not at all! I actually slept in this morning, which was a wonderful change of pace!"

It was unfortunately the conundrum that came with being a night owl: She could easily be up long into the night without issue, which gave her an opportunity to work on a project (sometimes for work, sometimes just something personal on the side), but it also meant she was exhausted come the wee hours of the morning, when she'd reluctantly rise from her bed to take a quick bath, get dressed, tame her hair, and fix herself a quick breakfast before she had to be out the door. Even on her days off, she couldn't bring herself to sleep in: It just felt like there was too much to do, that she couldn't afford to waste the day by sleeping in.

But today...she just didn't have that nagging worry she had on her weekends. She didn't have that little voice poking her in the back of her head, prodding her into getting out of bed that morning. She felt no great rush to jump out of the sheets and bathe and fetch herself some food to keep her fueled for a little while. Instead, she felt...leisurely. Months ago, she would've been scandalized at the notion of walking down a hotel hallway in just her nightdress and robe, but this morning, she had no issue with taking it easy: Sleeping in, and indulging in a rich, flavorful breakfast with the man she loved.

"I...I hope we have more mornings like this in the future," she admitted, leaning her head on Philippe's shoulder as she dug into her pancakes. "More quiet, easy mornings, where we can just...take our time."

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"Oh, I think you would be!" Susannah encouraged sweetly, reaching out to take his hands in hers as she continued, "You're already a wonderful dancer, Philippe, and I'd love to see you...follow your passion too, once we get to California! I think you would amaze anyone who saw you dancing...you certainly amaze me."

Was Philippe self-taught when it came to dancing? Certainly. Was that a ding against him? Not in her eyes: He was a marvelously elegant dancer, that she could attest to over and over again, and she imagined anyone who saw him in action would agree. In fact, they might be deeply impressed to know he was self-taught, and not taught formally-he certainly looked as if he had taken lessons for years when he was on the dance floor.

"Who knows?" she ventured to suggest with a chuckle, as their waiter came along with a small bowl of bread and butter as an appetizer. "If you do...maybe someday I'll be costuming you too!"

She couldn't help but get excited at the prospect of making her beloved a costume: Although she'd technically already made him something (that hat that had, she realized, brought them together in the first place), it made her grin, made her heart flutter as she imagined making him an elegant, lavish suit to wear on the stage-something romantic and regal, like the noble prince of Fair, Brown, and Trembling...

[theheadlessgroom]

@beatingheart-bride

"Doreen's told me the costumes are beautiful," Susannah grinned, her excitement only growing the more they discussed it: Seeing as she didn't exactly get out to the theater very much, she by and large only had others' word to go off, letting her best friend's excitable descriptions fuel her imagination, painting herself a picture of lavish gowns and suits, glittering in full color and rich details under the stage lights, lending a touch of magic to the visuals, accompanying the wonder that was the music.

"She told me she auditioned to play the little girl in The Nutcracker, and even started to learning to dance for the part," she recalled, as she put in her order with the waiter, declining his offer of a glass of wine to accompany her meal: It had taken a lot of convincing on Doreen's part, getting her parents to let her try out for the theater, but eventually, she wore them down, getting them to give in at last. Her plans for stardom were spoiled, however, by a twisted ankle during dance practice, much to her deep disappointment-and, as Susannah saw it, her parents' deep relief.

"I don't think they wanted her to be an actress," she shrugged-a shame, honestly, considering Doreen's skill as one, it was a shame she never pursued it beyond that.

"I could never do that-I think I'd get stage fright, honestly!"