Chapter Six
LAYLA
Spencer opens the door and waits for me to enter. I hesitate. In this situation, the lady should not go first.
Layla, you got yourself here. Don’t show weakness now.
Barely breathing, I step inside with my shoulders back and a small smile on my lips.
No one notices my entrance, which feels anticlimactic.
It’s a large room, blinding in its whiteness. White walls. White couches. White rugs and lampshades. The wood floor and the mantle over the large gas fireplace are the only splashes of color.
Spencer enters and the four adults sitting on the couches in front of the fireplace notice him. They’re all drinking amber liquid from short glasses.
Two men stand. One has thinning hair and frown lines around his mouth. There is a resemblance to Spencer in the eyes and nose, and they have a similar build with the same narrow shoulders. This must be his dad, Dorian.
The other man must be Spencer’s uncle Gerald. It’s obvious his full, black hair is a toupee. With his thick arms, barrel chest, and skinny legs, he looks like the cartoon character Popeye. Uncle Gerald needs a more balanced workout regime.
The two women stay where they are, but both of them study me just like Tori did in the entry. I make sure I stand confidently, my limbs loose, and smile back at them.
Gerald heads to the drink cart. Spencer’s dad walks in our direction.
“Father,” Spencer says.
Dorian and Spencer hug. It lasts for a second at most, but even then I’m surprised. When Spencer talks about his dad, it sounds like a business relationship more than a personal one. He spent much of his childhood being raised by his grandparents.
My smile dies when Spencer’s dad looks me over with a wolfish grin. My skin crawls.
“This is the girl?” he asks in a low voice. Spencer’s dad must know about our arrangement, or at least Spencer’s reason for bringing me.
Spencer looks over at me with an apology in his eyes, if not on his lips. “This is my girlfriend Layla.” He speaks loudly so those on the couch can hear.
“Call me Dorian,” Spencer’s dad says as he holds out his hand. His handshake is firm, but he holds me for too long. I tamp down my discomfort. This will soon be my father-in-law. Yikes.
Dorian motions to the women on the couch. “My partner Ginger. My sister Ellory. Her husband Gerald. We’re happy to have you here for Christmas.”
Ginger studies me with a pinched smile. Her bright red hair looks unnatural, and she’s older than I expected. From the few times Spencer has mentioned her, I thought she was much younger than his father, though it’s hard to guess her age because her skin is unnaturally tight and smooth, I’d guess from plastic surgery. Maybe she’s in her early fifties? Her dress is a gorgeous gray and white floral that reaches to the floor. She’s paired it with gray peep-toe heels. Stunning.
I stand straighter at her perusal and meet her glance as her eyes travel back up to mine. She raises her eyebrows and turns away, dismissing me, but I know she’s found nothing to criticize with my appearance. I loosen my fingers from around the strap of my Boudron. This is a highly uncomfortable situation, but I’m holding my own. For now.
Ellory approaches wearing a tailored tweed business suit paired with a black turtleneck and is no less stunning. As she pulls me into her arms for a quick hug, I catch the scent of honeysuckle. “We’re so happy to have you. Dorian was just bragging about the wonderful woman his son has been dating.”
Now that Gerald has a full drink, he shakes my hand. “Nice to meet you. Unfortunately, we’ve had a case fall apart in the last twenty-four hours. Did Spencer tell you? We’ll be working on reviving it for much of the week.”
“Gerald, I’ve got it under control.” Spencer’s cheeks turn red. From embarrassment or indignation, I can’t guess. “There isn’t any reason for you to get involved.”
“Nonsense,” Dorian says. “This trial is worth millions. We can’t lose. We’re all putting in the time. This isn’t your fault, so don’t get defensive, but if the case fails it reflects badly on the firm. We have to do what’s best for our client, not your ego.”
Brutal. I look at Spencer to see his response. He doesn’t argue, just purses his lips and gives a sharp nod.
Ginger wraps her arm around Dorian’s waist. “Yes, the client comes first, but not tonight. Let’s enjoy a few hours without talking shop.”
Ellory laughs and lifts her glass as if to clink it against an invisible one. “Agreed. I could use a break from work. I was hoping for a week, but I’ll take twelve hours.”
Tori walks into the room and heads to the drink cart. “Why does Sadie have to be so difficult at bedtime? I would love to sleep for nine hours straight. She doesn’t appreciate sleep like she should.”
Ellory shrugs like she’s heard this from her daughter before. “If you had a nanny, you wouldn’t have to deal with her tantrums.”
Tori takes a long swig of whatever she poured into her glass. “I’m raising my daughter myself. If a nanny can handle tantrums, so can I.”
“Once Sadie starts school and you come back to the firm,” Ellory says patiently, “You’ll have to hire someone to help you. Now that you’re a single mother, you can’t do everything.”
“Watch me.”
Ellory shakes her head and raises her hand like she gives up talking sense into her daughter.
Tori collapses on the couch and lays her arm over her eyes. Her body sags with exhaustion. “Grandmother better make this week worth it. Does anyone know why she made us come early? We’re not going through her will until after Christmas. There’s no reason to make us stay here a week when we can get it done in a day.”
“Just as long as I get the Manhattan Penthouse, I’ll stay for a month,” Dorian says.
Ellory stands straighter. “I get the Manhattan Penthouse. Father promised it to me.”
“Yes, well, he’s dead, and now Mother holds all the strings.” Dorian taps his chest. “I’m the oldest. I get the first pick of properties.”
“I’m the favorite, and that holds more weight with Mother.”
“Will you two stop arguing?” Ginger says. She lays a hand on Dorian’s arm. “We have this one night where you two won’t be working. Let’s enjoy it.”
Dorian and Ellory’s glares soften, and they nod. This is not the family I expected to meet in Maine. Where is the joy in seeing each other? These people don’t seem to like each other.
It’s going to be a long week.
Spencer tugs me toward the couches.
“What would you like to drink?” he asks close to my ear as everyone continues to belly ache about having to spend Christmas at a mansion in Maine with their extended family.
I shake my head. “Nothing, thank you.”
My knowledge of alcoholic beverages extends to the cooler section of the grocery store. I have no idea what to ask for, and it’s better if I keep a level head. I sit on the edge of the cushion furthest from the fireplace. It’s already too hot in here .
Everyone else makes their way back over to the couches to sit.
Ellory sits next to me.
“It is nice to meet you,” she says and pats my knee. “You’re so kind to make the trip out here at such short notice. Granted, we all only had five days to make arrangements, but you must be missing your family.”
I am. Not only Nana, but also my roommates. The Christmas before me looks bleak and lonely with Ginger and maybe Tori the only other people not working.
Instead of telling her the truth, I make up a pretty lie and hope I sell it. “No, I saw my grandma yesterday and she’s my only family. I’m happy to be here with Spencer and to meet all of you.”
Tori rolls her eyes. I tone down my chipper attitude. I don’t want it to seem like I’m trying too hard. As someone who participated in musical theater in high school, I feel like I’ve entered from stage right into a dramatic production where everyone has a script except for me. I was never great at improv.
“How long have you and Spencer been dating?” Gerald asks from the other couch, effectively making sure everyone is looking at me.
I rarely mind attention, but attention from these people makes me squirm. Especially when I’m not sure how to respond. Spencer and I have dated for five months out of the last twelve.
Lucky for me, Spencer answers. “Almost a year.” He sits on the arm of the couch next to me.
Tori narrows her eyes as she looks between us. “You’ve been dating for a year? And you’ve never told me about her? ”
Spencer lays his hand on my shoulder and looks down at me with adoration. A+ for his acting skills. D- for laying a foundation for an engagement.
“We met at a New Year’s Eve party last year,” he says. “We spent hours talking. She was my first kiss of the year, and I knew it was serious.”
He leaves out two important points: I was hired to sing at that party and the kiss wasn’t over two seconds to celebrate the holiday. Spencer makes it sound like we shared a memorable, life-changing moment. Maybe under the watchful glare of his cousin, that’s for the best.
Tori taps her chin thoughtfully. “Weren’t you dating some model a few months ago?”
Spencer told his cousin about the model who wouldn’t let him watch her eat, but failed to mention me? Ouch.
“Layla and I broke up for a time,” Spencer says smoothly. “But we found our way back to each other.” He holds out his hand for mine. I take it and hold on tight. He’s the only thing familiar in this weird world I’ve walked into. “I love Layla. I know what we have will last.”
Maybe he needs to tone it down a little.
“Good luck in this family,” Tori mutters. She’s about to say more when the door flings open. She screams, which startles me, and I jump in my seat. She runs to the door.
When I turn to see who entered, she’s hugging a man. From the profile view, her head hides his face from me. Next to them stands a lanky teenager with long hair tucked behind his ears and a woman with thick, brown hair weaved through with gray. Her natural look is in stark contrast to the other women in the room. Her brown eyes glisten with tears.
This must be the aunt Spencer’s never met and her two sons. Marianne and … I realize Spencer never told me his other two cousins’ names.
Tori laughs thickly as she continues to hug the older cousin. “You doofus. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I was hoping my mom would change her mind,” comes the muffled reply.
Dorian and Ellory move toward their sister and hugs are exchanged and tears shed, at least by Marianne and Ellory. Dorian seems to be focused on keeping a stiff upper lip.
Spencer tugs me toward Tori and the two younger arrivals.
When Tori finally pulls back, I catch my first glimpse of the new arrival. It’s funny, because this stranger reminds me a little of Owen. They share the same prominent cheekbones and dark hair and eyes, but the resemblance stops there. The new arrival has close cropped hair and a trimmed beard. He wears tailored gray slacks and a black button-up shirt. It’s just my mind playing tricks on me. I need to get Owen out of my head because I’m secretly engaged to someone else.
But then the stranger smiles, and he looks exactly like my Owen.
It can’t be … until he laughs and I know it is.
Owen is here.
My breath catches.
Layla, we have a problem.
I step behind Spencer’s shoulder. Yes, I’m hiding, but not well enough. Eventually, Owen will notice me. I’d rather hide behind the couch. Under the circumstances, no one would blame me.
This is the family Owen told me he was visiting for Christmas. How? There is no resemblance. Not just in looks, but in personality. First, Owen is kind and friendly. Second, he wears t-shirts with car wash logos and well-worn shorts, not Luca Faloni. Though right now, I don’t miss the snug t-shirts. His black button-up showcases his broad chest and biceps and is causing me heart palpitations.
Not the type of thoughts I should have at this moment.
A new realization hits: I’m stuck with him in the same house for a week.
He could ruin everything. I went out with him last night. He’ll see right through my arrangement with Spencer. Or worse, he’ll assume I’m a heartless cheater.
“Tori,” Owen says to Tori. “This is my brother Brady.”
His voice is as smooth and deep as I remember. It’s like a siren call. I might need to Uber some earplugs.
Tori grins at Brady and lays her hand on his shoulder. “Aren’t you a handsome creature? You’ll have all the girls running after you with that hair.”
Brady turns a deep red.
“Owen,” Spencer says in greeting.
“Spencer.”
They size each other up like they’re about to step into a boxing ring.
I know the exact moment Owen notices me. His eyes widen and his jaw drops. He takes a step back like he’s received a physical blow.
“Layla? What are you doing here?”
Spencer moves so he can see me. I’m no longer hiding.
“You know my cousin?” he asks me.
Tori’s grin widens, renewed interest in me clear in her eyes. “This just got interesting.”