Chapter 23
Twenty-Three
It was the longest lunch ever. How my mother drew out the ordering process, I’ll never understand.
She gabbed endlessly with ma?tre d' and sous-chef about everything and nothing. Thank goodness the sommelier was hosting a function, and the head chef was out for the day, or we never would’ve gotten out of there.
After a tiresome traipse through the flower market and scrutinizing too many bouquets, she finally allowed Roger to take us home. The drive was bittersweet, knowing she’ll pull me away tomorrow to go over the dreaded seating chart with Mrs. Fisher.
“Hi,” I call out, entering the pool house. “I can’t stay long.”
Dax walks out of the kitchen with a glass of water. He sets it down, looking at me curiously. “What’s happening? How was today?”
“Tortuous.” I move into his arms, flopping my head on his chest. “I have to go inside for dinner. It’s with LJ and his family.”
Dax’s body constricts. “LJ?”
I pull out of the hug and meet his eyes. “I don’t want to go, but my mother’s up to something.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, she said I could get out of it, and it was so unlike her it made me suspicious.”
Dax smirks. “She said you didn’t have to go? Why didn’t you call her bluff, and then we could be together?”
“It’ll only be an hour, two at the very max.” I swing his hand, smiling. “Then it’ll just be you and me.”
“Well, if your family will be there, I guess LJ can’t be a total creep.”
“I’m just there to make sure my mother doesn’t lead him on. I want to make it clear, LJ and I are not going to the gala together.”
Dax squeezes my hand and pecks my cheek. “Okay. You do what you’ve got to do.”
Leaving him again is like wading through quick-sand. When I freshen up for dinner, I can’t help yawning through the entire process. My mother’s yammering makes me sleepy during the day, and too stressed to sleep at night.
Am I the luckiest daughter in the world, or what?
Forcing myself awake, I make it downstairs for dinner.
Before I get to the dining room, Ash pulls me aside. “What’s Mom playing at?”
My gut squirms. “What?”
He lowers his voice. “It’s like she’s trying to win me over. Or, it’s an alien in her skin.”
“Agreed. She said something at lunch that didn’t sound like herself.”
“She told me she’d get me out of business meetings with Dad,” he whispers, throwing his hands up in disbelief. “Since when am I allowed to miss that stuff? She always pushed me into it because it benefited the family.”
“Dad wouldn’t go for that.”
“That’s what I said. She said she’d take care of it.”
I fold my arms, watching everyone move about the dining room. “She told me I could get out of dinner tonight because she knows I don’t want to be with LJ.”
Ash’s brow furrows. “No way. She wants you to be with LJ.”
I jab a thumb toward the hallway. “Is it because Dad will be here? Is she trying to upset him by letting me miss an occasion with Prince LJ?”
Ash twists his lips in concentration. “Maybe? But I don’t buy it. Our parents are usually a united front when it comes to advancing the family’s interests. Even when Mom was away.”
I press a hand into my churning stomach. “I know. I usually know our mother’s angles, but this one has me stumped.”
Ash puts a hand on my upper arm. “You look wrecked. You could just take the out and leave.”
I shake my head. “No way. I’m not letting her win.”
“It’s never one battle with her. You know that.”
“It’s easy for you to say. You’re the golden child.”
Ash lets out a loud laugh, grabbing the attention of everyone around the table. He waves at them with a goofy smile. “Sorry.”
Christie looks back at him adoringly.
“I’m expected to be Dad and Grandpa’s clone,” Ash says harshly. “Don’t tell me I have it easy.”
“Well, I have to agree with everything just to be included at the table. You get told everything because you’re male.”
Ash groans, rolling his eyes. “Whatever. I can’t talk to you when you’re like this. Besides, Mom and Dad will be at the same table for the first time in months. Can we just be happy for two seconds?”
“You think this will be a happy occasion?”
Ash shrugs, moving away. “It’s what I’ve been waiting for.”
I tug on my bracelet and force myself into the dining room. My brother moves to the opposite side, sitting by his girlfriend and her family. My faux smile glides into place as LJ stands by my seat, holding it out for me. His parents grin zealously at me.
I nod at LJ and thank him as I sit down.
My mother raises her wine glass. “It feels so good to have you all here.”
Mrs. Prescott squeezes her husband’s shoulder. “I can’t believe this one pried himself away from the office in time to escort us here.”
Mr. Klein chuckles. “We knew we needed to be home in time.”
“I see Tom is still fashionably late,” Mr. Prescott says, referring to my dad.
Mom smirks. “It’s his trademark.”
As if on cue, my father strides into the dining room.
“Hilda.” Dad’s tone sounds like he’s meeting an executive he’s about to fire. “So nice of you to have invited company for our reunion.”
Mrs. Prescott chokes on a sip of sparkling water. She sets the glass down and dabs her chin with a linen napkin. “You two haven’t seen each other yet?”
“You know my husband,” Mom says, rising from her seat. “As we were just discussing, he never can break himself away from the office.”
Dad pulls out Mom’s chair, and the two embrace with a kiss on the cheek.
From across the table, Ash watches the two, and a vein pops in his neck. I don’t know why he expects something more endearing to happen between our parents.
Dad pushes Mom’s chair in and moves to his own seat. “I trust you had a good flight. You appear well rested.”
Ash sinks in his seat. Whenever Dad speaks to Mom like she’s a prospective new client, we know hostility isn’t far behind.
“It’s always wonderful to be home. Plus, I’ve had the most wonderful time catching up with Mary.” Mom gestures at Christie’s mom. “It feels like I’ve known you for so long, but I can’t believe this is the first time we’ve spoken face to face.”
Mrs. Klein nods eagerly. “It’s been an absolute pleasure.”
Dad flicks his linen napkin like he’s ready for a charging bull and drops it to his lap. “I’m so glad you’ve taken the opportunity to spend time with your new friend.”
“And the children, of course,” Mom boasts. “I can’t believe I’ve lost so much time with my babies. Vanessa and I caught up for lost time today. Didn’t we, darling?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And, of course, I need more time with Ash,” Mom continues. She reaches across, placing her hand on Dad’s wrist. “You’ve taken up enough of his time. I think you should pull back from involving him in the company.”
Dad’s expression twists with perplexity. “What do you mean? He’s the heir.”
“He’s a high schooler.”
“Since when don’t you agree he should be shadowing me?”
Mom’s hand retreats. “I’m just saying there needs to be balance.”
When dinner is served, steam billows from my brother’s nostrils. Every time our parents use him as a reason to argue, it tears him up inside.
Seeing him hurt and disappointed crushes my heart. But I did warn him this would happen.
As everyone settles into eating, Mr. Prescott takes it upon himself to resume the conversation.
“You know, LJ could spend more time at the company,” he says over his wine glass. “He’ll be graduating soon, and if Ash doesn’t have any interest.”
Dad sighs. “Ash has plenty of interest.”
My brother flops back in his chair, his eyes rolling. Christie places a hand on his arm, and his body reflexes ten percent.
“All we discuss is work, work, work,” Mrs. Prescott cuts in. “I’ve been hearing such wonderful things about the gala. We trust our table will be in a prime location?”
Mom grins. “Of course, Jane. Since when are the Prescotts not on the VIP list?”
Mrs. Prescott chuckles and moves her gaze toward me and LJ. “And are you two coordinating outfits?”
I choke. “Oh… Umm…”
“I’m having a killer tux made,” LJ boasts. “But if Ness wants me to change it, I will. Anything for her.”
“Oh, no… Umm, I…” Somehow I’m tongue-tied under everyone’s expectations.
Mom sets her wine glass down and hums a mocking laugh. “I think Vanessa has other plans.”
Mr. Prescott snorts, shaking his head. “Nonsense. These two are cute as a button together.”
LJ sighs, slinging an arm over the back of my chair. “It’s true. Vanessa hasn’t said yes to going to the gala with me.”
“Yet,” Mrs. Prescott adds with urgency.
Condescension curls Mom’s lips. “Are you a betting woman, Jane?”
Dad glares at Mom. “Hilda, what are you getting at?”
“I share a special bond with my daughter,” Mom says, fixing the diamond-encrusted rings on her bony fingers. “Let’s just say, I know what she’s thinking.”
With every line creasing my forehead, the ache in my head expands. Why is she doing this? She’s a sentence away from exposing Dax in the pool house. I thought it was in her best interest to keep my secret, so I didn’t blab hers.
Or…
Does she think I won’t reveal what I know? It has been months, and I haven’t said anything. But that was because I didn’t want to hurt Dad with the news. It should come from her.
But does she really want to lord control over me by broadcasting my relationship—not only in front of our family—but the Kleins and Prescotts too?
Dad straightens in his chair, tilting his head in my direction. “Vanessa, are you planning on taking a date to the gala?”
“Oh, I should mention,” LJ says, slipping his arm off my chair. “I told your father about that person I met at the tailor’s. I just couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t warn him.”
“Oh, I’m aware of what you did,” I say, clutching my water glass for a much-needed sip.
“That boy is in the past now,” my father interjects. “Right?”
I set the glass down and keep my eyes fixed on the stem. If I tell the truth, my dad will blow his top. If I lie, LJ’s arm will be around me instead of the chair.
I steal a look at my mother. She expects me to lie, but will she call me out on it? She’s practically salivating to reveal all she knows.
Maybe I should’ve rented a hotel room for Dax, and then she wouldn’t be able to keep walking in on us. The more she sees us together, the more dirt she claims to have.
With barely a thought, I place my hand on LJ’s arm. “Do you want to get out of here?”
His eyes light up, and his tongue may as well be hanging out of his mouth. “Now?”
I look across the table at Ash and Christie. “Do you want to go somewhere with us?”
Ash’s eyebrow raises. “Us?”
I motion to LJ. “The four of us.” I glance at my mother to ensure she’s listening. “You know, like a double date.”
Christie beams with excitement. “A double date? Aww, that’d be so cute.”
I smile. “So, we’re on?”
LJ straightens his tie, turning toward my father. “Only if there isn’t anything important we need to discuss.”
When Dad looks over at us, I make sure to cuddle closer to LJ.
Dad’s eyes soften, and he smiles at me warmly. “No, you kids have fun. We’d only be sitting back with a brandy, anyhow.”
I place a hand on LJ’s wrist. “Shall we go then?”
Mom sits tall, pivoting between me and my father. “I don’t think this is such a good idea. I’m loving this time with all our families joined together.”
Mrs. Klein grasps Christie’s shoulder. “And it is a school night. Honey, you don’t get enough sleep as it is.”
Christie blushes, looking down at her lap.
“We won’t stay out long,” I insist, giving my father puppy eyes.
He melts, obviously grateful I won’t be meeting up with the boy on the motorcycle if I have LJ on my arm.
“LJ will keep the girls safe,” Mr. Prescott says. “Won’t you, son?”
“Of course,” LJ replies, placing a hand on the space over his heart. “Like my life depended on it.”
I steady my eyes, begging them not to roll, and catch Ash staring at me.
He’s not amused.
I give him a weak smile. “Coming, bro?”
Ash curls an arm around Christie’s shoulders. “If you’re serious about leaving the estate, then yes, I’m coming with.”
I scoot my chair back. “Then let’s go.”
LJ chuckles, following my lead. “It’s good to see you more bubbly. Where do you want to go, sweetheart?”
The pet name hits my gag reflex, but I hold steady. Ash and Christie move from the other side of the dining table, and I suggest the ice-creamery.
Christie stops by her parents, waiting for their seal of approval. They smile at her with wholehearted trust and tell her to have a good time. They also show the same love to my brother. It must be nice to date someone whose parents aren’t a complete trainwreck.
LJ puts his hand on the small of my back, leading me out of the dining room. I glance at my mother, sensing the whir of calculations spinning behind her eyes. I don’t flinch at LJ’s touch, instead indulging it under my mother’s scrutiny.
Now, if my mother says anything about Dax, none of the parents will buy it. Why would Vanessa Ashworth choose to leave the estate with LJ Prescott if she had another boy staying in the pool house? It’d be laughed off as lunacy, and Dad would have Murphy bring Mom a double brandy.
Ash calls his driver, obviously wanting some control over the situation. I tell LJ I want to freshen my makeup before we leave, and he moves onto the foyer without me.
Ash sidles up to me and whispers, “What happened to your boyfriend?”
I swallow hard. “Nothing.”
“Then what are we doing? Since when do you want extended time with LJ?”
“Ugh. I just needed to get out of there. Did you not feel the toxicity in that room?”
Ash grunts. “I wanted to conk Mom and Dad’s heads together. How hard would it’ve been for them to be civil? I never expected tonight to be worse than those video chat dinners we used to have.”
“I just hated everyone staring at me, waiting for me to say yes to LJ, or admit who I really want to be with. I can’t risk Dad finding out I’m still seeing Dax. He’s just getting better, and I don’t want any setbacks.”
Worry softens Ash’s expression. “What’s wrong with him?”
“I don’t really know. The doctor wanted to do further tests. But he’s had such a turnaround, and I won’t let anything ruin it. If a silly ice-cream date with LJ gets everyone off my back, I’m happy to do it.”
“Well, you certainly took everyone off guard,” Ash replies. “Especially LJ.”
“Once we’re off the estate, I’ll push more distance between us. I just had to sell it back there.”