Chapter 22 #2
“You’re back in town, and need to be seen everywhere. It now makes sense why you want to take over the flower arrangements and seating charts.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being seen, Vanessa. You should know that.”
“It feels like you’re purposefully making me stay away from the manor.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Well, you come home, and make instant plans, which include me.”
“Maybe it feels that way because it’s been so long since we were together in Victoria Falls,” Mom says, pinching the material of my dress. “But it’s always been like this. Maybe you got accustomed to running the show on your own. If that’s the case, I couldn’t be prouder.”
I grit my teeth before asking, “But what about Dax?”
She continues to fidget with my dress. “That’s the boyfriend’s name, correct?”
“Yes. I just don’t get it. You know about him, and haven’t kicked him out of the pool house. And if you’re not planning on telling Dad about him…” I pause, flicking my thumb against my bracelet. “Then why aren’t you letting me spend time with him?”
Mom sighs. “Is it really such a strain on you to spend quality time with your mother?”
I bite my tongue. There’s always another angle.
“You know, I could ask Roger to collect him,” Mom suggests. “It could be quite cute, having a coffee date with my daughter and her rugged boyfriend.”
My nose scrunches as I recoil. “I don’t think so.”
“We could take a trip into the city,” Mom says, pulling out the skirt of my dress. “I’m sure Dad would like to meet him. Does he know you plan on taking Dax as your gala date?”
My mind flashes to the moment Dad laid eyes on Dax, telling him to stay away from me. I don’t want Mom to know Dad already can’t stand the sight of my boyfriend.
I smooth my hands down the bodice of my dress. “There won’t really be time if we want to get this fitting done today.”
Mom grins at me. “That’s what I thought.”
I blow out a shaky breath. “Have you seen Dad yet?”
“His suite is so far away from mine. There was hardly time when he dragged himself in at some ungodly hour. I may as well still be on a video screen, waiting until midnight to connect with him.”
“I wouldn’t have minded missing this fitting. Then you could’ve met with him in the city.”
“No, this fitting is a priority because there’s a deadline for the gala.”
“Yeah, but you’re home, and Dad…”
“Would you stop fretting about your father? What’s gotten into you? I thought your brother was the only one I had to worry about.”
“What does that mean? What are you doing about Ash?”
Mom steps back to view me in the dress, smoothing an errant hair off her brow. “Nothing. Honestly, Vanessa, you need to stop stressing over every little detail. Mommy’s here to do that for you.”
She makes me try on four more dresses, only proving my point she’s purposefully dragging out this experience. The dusty pink is still my favorite, but Mom can’t stop raving about a similar cut in forest green.
I let her discuss the final decision with Ramona, because adding my opinion is exhausting.
Once I’m finally back in my regular clothes, Mom walks me into Fratelli’s, the best Italian restaurant in town. Somehow, it slipped her mind to tell me about the reservation earlier.
“You keep working in these surprises,” I murmur after we’re seated.
“I told you, darling, I want to spend more mother-daughter time with you.”
I lift the menu to cover my face. “Mm-hmm.”
Mom orders our drinks with a server, and then clears her throat before telling me, “We’re having dinner with the Prescott family this evening.”
I lower my menu. “Will LJ be there?”
Mom smirks. “He’s part of their family, isn’t he?”
I use all my might to hide my discontent, but my mask is cracking.
“He’s quite fond of you, isn’t he?” Mom says, a hint of glee in her tone.
“He’s practically been raised to chase me.”
“And it’s harder to deal with him now you’ve found someone you actually want to be with?”
Unable to deny it, I nod.
Mom flexes her fingers as if ready to hatch a plan. “I could make things easier for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve already shown no interest in dining with your family,” Mom says. “I could get you out of dinner with his family.”
“Why would you do that? Aren’t appearances everything?”
“This is just a minor event. It won’t cause a problem,” she replies coyly.
“This doesn’t make sense. Why would you let me spend time with Dax instead of making nice with LJ?”
“Darling.” She leans in. “I care about you. I want to make things easier for you.”
I swallow distastefully. This isn’t my mother. My mother doesn’t put my feelings first. Knots clamp and bind my back. She’s not letting me off the hook. This is a new form of control, and I’m not falling for it.
I lift the menu. “No, it’s fine. I want to spend time with LJ. I miss him.”
Mom’s arrogance shatters, shocked by my response. She composes herself quickly, but I can’t help smiling, knowing I ruined her plans.
Whatever they might be.
Maybe she wants me to skip dinner so she can spin her own narrative? She could tell LJ’s parents about how I’m dying for him to escort me to the gala. They’d eat it up. The Prescotts can’t wait for the day their son puts a ring on my finger.
Ugh. As if.