Chapter 13 #2
Mrs. Fisher turns behind her to Mrs. Grant. “Redevelopment is happening in that town.” She clears her throat, sitting taller. “And there’s more confidence in the town’s renewal since my husband took on several projects.”
“Give me a break,” Mrs. Grant mutters over her martini.
The room hums with mutterings and mumbles, growing in volume. Ladies shuffle in their seats with mini debates breaking out.
My mother’s voice echoes within my head. “Control the room.”
I lift my hands as I speak. “We all know the Logan’s Point economy won’t decline because of my father’s manufacturing plants.
” The room quietens as if they’ve remembered an Ashworth stands before them.
“The only reason that town functions is because of the industry my family established there. I really believe there’s no cause for concern.
The staff will come, and eventually, Logan’s Point will thrive. ”
The meeting moves along, and I open the floor for others to discuss their tasks leading up to the gala. I take a seat at the front, leaving a seat spare between me and Mrs. Fisher. I know I should be paying attention, but I just can’t help opening my purse and checking my phone.
There’s a text from Dax. “Did I leave fast enough for you?”
“I’m so sorry about my friends. I just didn’t want them ruining what a fun day I had with you.”
“Did they ask you a million questions?”
“More like they had a million assumptions. Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.”
“You’re already craving more time with me?”
“Yes, badly.”
When the meeting concludes, I’m quick to make my way to Sylvie. “You drove, right?”
Sylvie nods and throws a thumb back in the direction of her martini-swigging mother. “Yes, thank goodness. I don’t want to have to wait around for her to finish with her drinks.”
“Feel like taking a detour to Ashworth Estate?”
“No driver tonight?”
“I gave him the day off.”
Sylvie wiggles her eyebrows. “So you could spend the day on the back of Mr. Leather-jacket’s motorcycle?”
I stifle a giggle. “Can you drive me home or not?”
“Sure. Let’s go to the valet.”
As we leave, someone catches my eye. I turn to spot the bright red hair and infectious smile of Hope’s younger sister, Meghan. I tell Sylvie I’ll catch up to her, and pivot my direction.
I smile and wave. “Hey Meghan.”
“Are you leaving?” she asks.
“Yeah. I have an early start tomorrow.”
“Well, I’m so glad to have seen you again.”
“I was surprised to see you. Is your mom letting you help with the gala prep?”
Meghan giggles and shakes her head. “No. I just complained so much about being bored and home alone, she caved and let me tag along.”
“This was better than being home and watching a rom-com?”
Meghan throws her palms upward and jokes, “That’s how boring my life is.”
For a moment, the weight of sadness drags me down. “Are you doing okay? How’s the new medication?”
Her eyes stay as bright as ever, and a rosy glow highlights her freckled cheeks. “I’m doing amazingly. The new research and treatment seem to be on the right track.”
“That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you.” Something Dax said pops into my mind, and I can’t help asking someone who might know the right answer. “Were you happy that we threw a benefit to raise money for your treatment?”
Confusion creases Meghan’s chipper exterior. “Yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I was just wondering, would it’ve been better if we had donated all the money to the cause instead of spending a big chunk on the event?”
Meghan pouts. “Oh, I never thought of it like that. Are you mad about how much money the committee spent on my benefit?”
“No, it’s not that,” I rush.
Her bottom lip quivers. “Because I really enjoyed that party. I’m stuck at home all the time, and it was the first time I saw all my friends and felt normal again.”
I clutch her hands and look her square in the eye.
“It’s okay, Meg. I just wanted to know if you were happy it happened.
Clearly you were, and that’s amazing. I mean it.
” I let her hands go, scared I’m squeezing the feeling out of them.
“It’s just that someone asked me why we don’t donate all the money instead of hosting an event. ”
Meghan scrunches her nose. “Eww. Does this person not like parties?”
I giggle. “I don’t know, actually.”
She shakes her head. “Doesn’t sound like our type of person.”
I shrug. “He’s okay.”
Her eyes sparkle with excitement. “He?”
I cup a hand over my smile. “Don’t look at me like that.”
She grabs hold of my upper arms. “Oh, come on, Ness. You know I’m a diehard romantic. Let me live vicariously through you.”
She releases me, and I can’t help smiling. “The next time I see you, if there’s something to tell, I’ll spill my guts.”
Meghan holds out her pinky. “You swear?”
I hook my pinky around hers. “I swear.”
Once Sylvie and I are in her car and on our way to Ashworth Estate, it doesn’t take long for our conversation to circle back to our arrival at the country club.
“Don’t worry about Hope,” Sylvie says, turning the car around a corner. “She’s just jealous.”
“It would make sense if she wanted LJ,” I reply. “But she’s angry that I don’t want to be with him.”
“It’s probably because LJ’s parents want him to be with you, and Hope’s parents haven’t been able to gain their attention.”
“Can’t she just be happy she has a boyfriend and leave my love life alone?”
“Oh my gosh, I know. Hello. I don’t have a boyfriend, and I’m not as crazy as she is.”
I turn to her with a sigh. “Thank you for not taking it out on me too.”
She shrugs with a happy smile. “It’s no problem. I’ve never had trouble finding a date I wanted. The only problem is that my goal is to piss off my parents.”
When she winks at me, I recoil. “That’s not what I’m doing.”
She gives me a doubtful look. “Who are you talking to?”
I flick my thumb against my bracelet and stare out the window. “Just drive me home.”
“Hey, I’m not Roger. You can’t just bark orders at me.”
I glance back at her with a small smile. “It was worth a shot.”