Chapter 24
TWENTY-FOUR
“We’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”
—The Cheshire Cat, Alice in Wonderland
Whimsical.
Fantastical.
Never let it be said that Katherine Wentworth lacks flair. As a host, she’s not one to be outdone. Tonight’s soiree is nothing short of spectacular.
Every year, she transforms the ballroom into a magical fairyland for her annual end-of-summer gala, but this evening, she outdid herself.
Thousands of delicate, shimmering lights cascade from the ceiling to resemble a starry sky.
They cast a warm glow over the elegantly costumed guests.
The expansive glass doors at the back of the room stand open, inviting attendees to glide out onto the sprawling back patio.
There, the surface of the Olympic-sized pool is adorned with lily pads and water lilies that float with the breeze.
There’s a second bar strategically positioned near the firepit, where flickering flames provide a cozy spot for anyone needing a moment of quiet away from the whirlwind inside the ballroom.
But the crème de la crème was the look on my mother’s face when Maddox and I arrived together. That alone was well worth the aggravation of spending a few hours mingling with Grimm County’s aristocracy.
Not that I’m doing much socializing.
Nestled in a secluded alcove of the opulent ballroom, Ivory and I remain protected from my mother’s meticulously curated guests.
Maddox stands out as a striking figure across the room, amidst the sea of ornate masks and elaborate attire.
His captivating presence has nothing to do with his bold decision to forgo a mask and everything to do with his imposing authority to command attention.
Dressed in a high-collared white shirt, he complemented tonight’s outfit with a gold-embroidered onyx vest layered beneath a lavish deep blue frock coat that billows with his every movement.
A golden leather belt cinches his trim waist, the wide buckle adorned with a menacing skull.
His auburn-highlighted brown hair catches the light like flickering flames, the vibrant strands spilling out rebelliously from beneath his top hat. The interplay of light and shadow dances across his chiseled features, rendering him nothing short of breathtaking.
He is a god among mortals.
When his brows furrow at whatever Roman is saying, I wish I were a tiny fly, flying around them to eavesdrop on their conversation. And when Maddox pulls out his watch to note the time, I sympathize with his need to escape this silly party, even though we’ve only been here for less than an hour.
At least the entertainment is excellent—with my mother making an ass out of herself as usual.
She’s not alone, though, because Scarlett’s no better.
That ginormous red organza gown looks like it weighs a friggin’ ton, and the way she’s fluttering around Maddox…
Good Lord, it’s giving so much second-hand embarrassment.
I bite back a smile at how obnoxiously he’s ignoring her.
She could perform naked jumping jacks, and he wouldn’t even glance her way.
Normally, her desperate attempt to attract his attention would straight-up piss me off—especially after the bullshit she pulled by replicating that awful painting.
But tonight, I see her for what she is—a sad, sad little girl trapped in a woman’s body who is starving for someone to pay attention to her.
Wish I could have even a drop of pity, but her being pathetic doesn’t lessen the fact that she’s a bitch.
I nudge Ivory and point to Scarlett. “If your sister gets any closer to him, she’ll be in his pocket.”
Ivory looks to where I’m pointing and cringes. “She really needs to stop.”
“Oh, God, no!” I insist. “This shit’s hilarious.”
Scarlett flirting with Maddox is nothing new. I got mad when I absurdly thought he’d given in to her advances. Even now, I still feel like an idiot for my rash reaction after I saw the photo of them together. She has always disgusted him. Even now, after all these years, that hasn’t changed.
In sharp contrast to Scarlett’s gigantic frou-frou gown, Ivory is a statuesque specimen of perfection.
Ivory’s sleek, silvery gown perfectly complements her lean physique.
Every time she moves, it’s like moonlight shimmering across her body.
“Okay, but everyone saw you and Maddox come together. It’s time to move on.
You’re a couple now, officially. She needs to back off. ”
Yep, there’s that.
Thought my mother was going to stroke out when Maddox and I came strolling in together as a couple. Officially, she did wobble a bit in those towering black heels, but Harrison caught her before she fell on her ass.
With a shrug, I say, “Scar has always been a dog with a bone with Maddox.” At Ivory’s wince, I add, “Sorry to be blunt about it, but it’s true.”
Ivory holds up her hands, her bejeweled nails sparkling. “No apology needed. You’re being honest. It’s not your fault she’s been chasing after him since we were kids. It was cute when we were little. Now…? I almost feel sorry for her.”
“She’s whatever. Let’s have a good time, yes?” And make the best of a situation none of us wants to be in. “Ignore her—like Maddox is doing.”
Her burst of laughter draws the attention of a stately couple twirling past us as they swirl across the dance floor. “I don’t know how we shared a womb.”
“I’m sure it was torture.”
Ivory rolls her eyes when Scarlett shoves herself into the sliver of space between Maddox and March. “Okay, but look at her. How can I ignore that?”
“Easy. Pretend she’s not there, and let’s talk about this gown.” I grab her hands, lifting her arms out wide. “Majestic. Stunning. You are the moment, Ivory.”
My best friend snorts out a very un-moment-like laugh. “I have a wedgie, and my feet are killing me.”
As will happen when one wears a specific type of panty that won’t leave lines. And as feet shall do when crammed into uncomfortable heels.
“Girl, same. Not the wedgie part, thank God, but holy shit, my feet have their own heartbeat.”
“The price we pay for looking good,” Ivory replies wistfully.
“I wanted to wear my Docs, but I figured my mother would beat me to death with them if I did.”
Again, Ivory’s laughter draws unwanted attention, but we ignore everyone and remain in our little private bubble. “I’d have given up a kidney to see you stroll in wearing those shoes.”
“No, I mean, watching her head spin around like in The Exorcist would have been priceless, but I’m here for my own reasons, not for hers.” With a shrug, I do a twirl to flare the floaty skirt of my baby-blue gown. “I missed wearing girly clothes. Color. You know?”
“I know,” she says softly, meaningfully, because she remembers me before The Accident, when I didn’t even own a single article of black clothing.
“Also, I wanted to prove to these assholes”—I nod at the crowd gathered in the ballroom—“that I’m not the weak, grieving girl who limped out of this town three years ago.”
“Good for you,” Ivory says with a resolute nod. “Because that’s not who you are, and you look absolutely amazing, so… You definitely made your statement.”
“Well, you helped pick out this gown,” I remind her.
The pale blue bodice snugly fits my torso, while the blue-and-white organza skirt provides a subtle yet dramatic flare. Even the silver and blue mask is a perfect fit.
“Yes, but you’re wearing the hell out of it,” Ivory declares. Then, with a wistful sigh, she adds, “I envy you, Alice, I do. You’re getting your happily ever after.”
“Fairy tales are overrated,” I quip. “I like reality better. It may be messy, but that’s what makes it fun.” As Ivory watches March, I encourage her not to follow in my footsteps and make the mistakes I made by setting up walls. “Trust me, you’ll regret it more if you don’t.”
I wasted three long years fighting against myself, only to be right back where I started. Better and stronger, sure, but I never had to leave to find this strength. Being home built me back up, not running away or denying what had always been right in front of my face.
“I wish it were simple,” Ivory whispers so softly I barely hear her above the orchestra and the din of conversation swirling around us. “He’ll never approve of March.”
“Roman doesn’t have to,” I tell her, knowing exactly who the ‘he’ in that sentence is.
She’s still watching March when she says, “You make it sound so easy.”
“Because it is. If you love each other, and your father’s blessing is important to you, make Roman approve.”
“You know my father.”
“Yes, and…? He’d do anything for you, your mother, and Scarlett.” With a sad smile, I stroke her cheek. “Don’t be like me, Ivory. I was stubborn, stupidly so. I wasted too much time for no reason. The time that Maddox and I lost will never be regained.”
But that doesn’t mean we can’t try to catch up on the years we lost.
“No, I know,” Ivory says.
I give her a little shove forward. “Go talk to him.”
“Alice, no!” Ivory gasps. “Stop. My God. Do you want to see me humiliated in front of everyone?”
“How, exactly, will you be humiliated?” I cross my arms over my chest and shoot her an exasperated expression. “Anyone with working eyes can see that man adores you.”
“He does not,” she insists.
March slides a sly glance at Ivory as if on cue, but she’s too busy glaring at me to see it. “No, of course not,” I mutter.
“Wiseass,” she snaps.
“No, I’m stating facts,” I counter with a shrug.
“How does the quote go? Nothing worthwhile comes easy. Perhaps that’s how it has to be so that we never forget how quickly something or someone can be taken from us.
” With my gaze on Maddox, I add, “Time is precious, Ivory, and once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. ”
“What if you’re wrong? What if March doesn’t feel the same way I do?”
“But what if he does?” I give her another gentle shove. “I took a leap of faith. Now it’s your turn. Go ask him to dance. The worst he’ll say is no.”