Chapter 24
VICTORIA
The yacht club parking lot was full of cars that belonged in luxury car shows.
I looked for a spot far from the six-figure cars.
I didn’t want to risk dinging one of those damn things.
But the place was busy. I inched my way into a spot between a white Bentley and a silver Mercedes.
I searched the parking lot for Callum’s car but didn’t see it.
I checked my reflection in the rearview mirror one last time and immediately wished I hadn’t. The drive had done nothing for my hair. Several curls were going in the wrong direction. I tucked a few behind my ears, decided that was the best I was going to get, and climbed out of the car.
The yacht club was exactly the kind of place I’d walked away from. I smoothed my blazer and checked my phone. Once again, I scanned the parking lot looking for my boyfriend. And yes, I was calling him my boyfriend. Only in my head. I was too old to be saying it out loud, but I’d claimed him.
And then I felt my phone vibrate. I pulled it out, expecting him to tell me he was waving at me, but that wasn’t the message I got.
Running about 20 behind. Go in without me. They don’t bite.
Easy for him to say.
The hostess at the entrance was young and polished and wearing a white uniform that looked she’d pulled it straight from the assembly line.
No wrinkles. No stains. Not even a hint of yellowing.
She smiled at me but I could tell she was wondering if I was in the wrong place.
I felt like I was, but unfortunately, I was right where I was supposed to be.
“I’m meeting the Blackwell party,” I said.
“Of course. Right this way.”
I followed her through the interior. It was all light wood and bronze fixtures with soft lighting that made everyone look like we were in a magazine spread.
The club life. I’d grown up coming to places like this.
Women in linen and silk drinking mimosas.
Men looking very casual in polo shirts and khakis.
I was wearing a good blazer. It was my best blazer but anyone would be able to tell it was cheap and worn. I fussed with the hem of it as I walked. I told myself to stop. My hands dropped to my sides and I put my shoulders back.
The hostess led me through a set of glass doors and out onto the patio. The place where only the top clientele would dare to grace. There was a hierarchy in these places. And the Blackwells would definitely be at the top.
The view was extraordinary. The marina stretched out below.
Boats rocked gently on bright water. The sky was the particular shade of blue that only appeared on perfect California days.
A warm breeze moved across the patio. It was like even the ocean knew better than to ruin the aesthetic with the salty, fishy smell that was part of the usual ocean-view experience.
“Victoria!”
Mimi was already on her feet, one hand raised in a small wave. She was seated at a table near the railing, positioned to take full advantage of the view. She was the kind of woman who made a simple silk blouse look like she was ready to pose for a magazine spread.
The woman beside her was even more glamorous.
I hadn’t met Tiana before but I’d seen enough photographs to recognize her.
She was beautiful and I could see where Callum got his looks from.
Between his father’s masculine features and Tiana’s stunning beauty, he’d hit the gene pool lottery.
She was dressed casually in white trousers and a blue top that was clearly designer, but despite the woman’s glossy polish, she smiled warmly at me.
“It’s so good to see you,” Mimi said, reaching for my hand when I got close enough. I was starting to understand it was just how she was. A sweet, welcoming woman. “This is Tiana, Callum’s mother.”
“Victoria.” Tiana extended her hand and shook it firmly. “I’ve heard so much about you. Sit down, please. Thanks for coming out.”
I sat and tried to look relaxed, keeping my fidgeting hand in my lap under the table. Be a normal human being.
“Callum is running late,” I offered.
“He’s always running late these days,” Tiana said with a smile. “He’s taken on so much these days. But he’ll get here when he gets here. We don’t need him.”
A server appeared and filled my water glass. I picked it up immediately and took a grateful sip.
“Tell me about the work you’ve been doing,” Mimi said. “Callum mentioned a few things, but I’d rather hear it from you.”
So I told her. About the family Betty had talked about at the event that started everything for me. I told her about what the organization actually did on a daily basis, the calls I fielded, the families I worked with, and how much it helped. Even a hundred bucks could make a difference.
They both gave me their full attention.
The menus arrived and we spent a few minutes looking through them. The food was exactly what I expected. I ordered the grilled fish. Mimi ordered a salad. I wondered if I should order something for Callum. No, that would be too much.
“I want to talk about the foundation,” Tiana said. “Mimi’s been telling me about what you’re planning for the launch and her pet project back in New York.”
“Tiana has been looking for something similar,” Mimi said. “She just hasn’t found the right fit yet.”
“I’ve written checks,” Tiana said. “I’ve attended galas.
I’ve had my name on plaques in lobbies.” She picked up her water glass.
“And it’s all fine. It all does some good somewhere.
But it’s not the same as being actually involved.
My life has been very fortunate. I don’t say that lightly and I don’t take it for granted.
But when you’re sitting in a beautiful house and your children are healthy and your husband is good and the work is going well, it starts to feel like you’re in a bubble.
” She smiled at me. “You know what I mean.”
“I do,” I said.
“I want to do something real,” she said. “Mimi thinks expanding her charity to the west coast might be the right fit.”
I looked at Mimi, who was beaming. An LA arm of Mimi’s food insecurity program would help a lot of people. “I think that’s a great idea.”
The conversation was easier than I expected.
They were nice women. The mothers I never had.
I was enjoying my time with them, but I couldn’t stop wondering where Callum was.
I snuck a look at my phone under the table.
Still nothing from Callum. The food arrived.
I cut into my fish and told myself he was fine, just delayed.
I was a grown woman. I could handle a lunch without my emotional support boyfriend.
I checked it again two minutes later.
“He must not have been able to get away,” Tiana said, and I looked up to find her watching me with a small smile. “We all keep telling him to ask for help. Drew has stepped up to help, but I’m afraid Callum has taken on too many responsibilities. But my boys are stubborn.
“I’m not worried,” I said.
“Of course not,” she agreed.
We talked about the logistics of an LA expansion.
I ate and listened to the two women talk.
I loved their relationship with each other.
You’d think they were actual sisters. I wanted that.
I thought of Cleo and couldn’t help but let myself jump into a fantasy future.
Me and her just like this talking to one of our sons’ future wife. Old and wise but still kicking ass.
My phone buzzed in my lap. I glanced down.
Still working. I’m so sorry. This is turning into a thing. Tell me you’re okay.
I excused myself quietly, stepping away from the table and moving to a more private area and called him.
“Hey,” he answered. “I’m sorry. I really am.”
“It’s fine,” I said. “What happened?”
“The shelving guys were supposed to be here at nine. They showed up late, brought the wrong ones, and it’s just been a fucking mess.”
“Are you good?”
“I’m fine. It’s going to be okay. I just can’t leave right now.”
“Go handle it. We’ll talk later.”
“How’s my mother?”
“She’s wonderful,” I said. “You have nothing to worry about.”
A beat of silence. “She hasn’t interrogated you?”
“Not yet.”
“Give it ten minutes.”
I laughed. “Go fix your shelves, Callum.”
“Thank you for being cool about this.”
“I’m extremely cool,” I said. “Everyone says so.”
He laughed. “I’ll call you later.”
I went back to the table and sat down.
“He’s not coming,” I said. “Store emergency. He sends his apologies.”
Mimi waved her hand. “More fun without him. Girl lunch!”
Tiana looked at me directly. My stomach dropped. Oh shit. This was the interrogation he warned me about. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course,” I answered, hating that my voice had gone up a couple of octaves.
“Are you seeing my son?”
No warm-up. No beating around the bush. Just the question.
She didn’t look angry or judgy, just curious.
I considered deflecting. Go with the non-answer, the laugh-and-change-the-subject maneuver I had deployed many times in my old life when I didn’t want to show my hand.
But this was his mother and I liked her.
More importantly, I respected her too much to lie.
“We’ve been spending time together,” I said. “It’s still new. But yes.” I held her gaze. “I like him very much.”
Tiana nodded slowly, like I’d confirmed something she’d already known.
“He’s not easy,” she said. “I say that because I love him. He carries a lot and he doesn’t put it down easily. He’s been that way since he was small.” She took a drink from her water glass. “He’s a very serious man.”
“Agreed.”
She smiled. “He doesn’t let people in. He thinks he does, but he doesn’t. Not really.” She paused. “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it. Because I’ve noticed the change. So have his siblings. It’s like he’s breathing and living for the first time ever.”
I felt like my heart was going to implode. “Thank you.”
“You have my stamp of approval,” she said and returned to her meal.
Mimi caught my eye across the table and gave me a satisfied smile like I had just passed a test. Was that what this was?
I wondered if Callum purposely got hung up.
He wanted his mother to interrogate me. No.
I knew he would have been here if he could.
Tiana had just said he worked a lot. Took on tons of responsibility.
But I passed the test whether that’s what it was or not. I wanted to jump up and do a happy dance.
We finished lunch. The conversation moved back to the foundation, to Los Angeles, to the practical question of where to start and how quickly Tiana could realistically get something off the ground. By the time the check arrived, which Tiana claimed, we had the beginning of an actual plan.
I walked to my car feeling good.
Tiana Blackwell liked me. Approved of me. And Mimi was going to have a west coast partner who could actually make things happen. Two things I hadn’t even dared to hope for when I pulled into the parking lot ninety minutes ago.
I was going to make Callum dinner tonight.
A real one. He’d cooked for me and I’d been quietly embarrassed that I hadn’t returned the favor.
I knew my way around a kitchen better than I let on.
My parents’ chef had taken pity on me when I was about fourteen and decided that a girl who spent that much time in the kitchen watching should probably learn something useful.
I could make a very good alfredo sauce from scratch.
I pulled out my phone and started a grocery list, only to have it start ringing in my hand. Betty.
“Hey,” I said, answering it.
“Hi, sweetheart. Quick question about the proposal for the next gala. I need to present the preliminary framework to the board on Thursday. Do you have it ready?”
My stomach dropped.
“It’s almost there,” I said, praying she couldn’t hear the lie.
“Almost there meaning I’ll have it tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow,” I confirmed. “Absolutely.”
“Perfect. I knew I could count on you.”
I sat with my phone in my lap.
The proposal was not almost there. The proposal wasn’t started.
“Shit, shit, shit.”
I started the car, abandoned my grocery list, and headed home. There would be no dinner tonight. I had to work. I could not leave Betty hanging.