Chapter Twenty-Six Lee #2
Claudia sniffs. ‘He might as well have been. You know, he tricked me into that marriage, showering me with gifts and affection and taking me to fabulous parties, then the second he had that ring on my finger he thought I was going to turn into some little housewife. Can you imagine?’ She turns to me, wide-eyed. ‘Me?’
‘Um, no,’ I say, because I can’t. Also she’s not wrong. Nico’s father was a horrible man, a bully, a philanderer, a really nasty piece of work. According to Gran, Claudia was wise to get out when she did. I only met him a couple of times in passing, but the man had strong Disney villain vibes.
‘Marriage,’ Claudia pouts. ‘It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.’
‘Says the woman who’s been married five times,’ Nico snorts.
She smiles. ‘What can I say? I’m a romantic. Of course that’s how your father got me in the first place, the cad. So attractive, but so withholding,’ she sighs. ‘Still, I have to admit he was marvellous in bed…’
Nico is groaning again.
‘And I did enjoy my time being a duchess,’ she continues blithely. ‘In hindsight I should have kept hold of the title for longer instead of remarrying, but c’est la vie.’
‘How long are you here for, Claudia?’ I ask, trying to turn the conversation in a better direction.
‘As long as you need me, my doves!’ Claudia beams. ‘I’ve cleared my schedule. It will give me a chance to spend time with Phoebe as well. Do you know, I do believe she has inherited some of my moxie.’
‘Oh yeah, she’s full of moxie,’ Nico agrees, resigned.
‘And Lee, it really is so good to see you again.’ Claudia reaches across to take both my hands in hers and give me a good once over.
I would sell my soul for a hairbrush. ‘You’ve grown into such a gorgeous woman.
I always knew you would. Beauty and brains, everything a mother could ask for in a daughter-in-law. You’re an absolute doll.’
She gives me one of her enchanting smiles, and I find my own mouth pulling up in response.
This is the thing about Claudia – she’s a tornado in designer couture, but she’s also completely irresistible.
When I was small I idolised her. Although I had my own impossibly glamorous parents, Claudia somehow transcended even their standards.
And she wasn’t only beautiful – she was so much fun, always up for an adventure, or pulling me aside, away from the boys to play with her perfumes and have ‘girl talk’.
When she moved out of the house next door to us and went back to the States I’d been devastated.
‘It’s good to see you, too,’ I say, suddenly a bit shy. ‘Are you staying in town?’
‘As it happens there isn’t any accommodation available in Roseport, so I’m staying in a darling little hotel in the next town over.
Your local driver – Bud, is it? – has offered to chauffeur me around as needed, and I did some light snooping when I checked in.
’ Her smile widens, showing off her sparkling white teeth.
‘It seems your Mr Saunders is staying down the hall from me. Très convenient.’
‘Ma, please, just… keep a lid on the seduction plans for now, yeah?’
Claudia blinks at Nico. ‘Of course I could try,’ she says doubtfully, ‘but I’m afraid the wheels are already in motion.’
‘You met him for about ninety seconds,’ Nico huffs.
His mother’s shrug is languid. ‘I don’t know what to tell you. It’s my gift… and my curse. Besides, if I’d been in his confidence this morning, he never would have been able to spring this surprise visit on you. Think how useful it will be to have a mole on the inside!’
‘Right.’ Nico only nods because I think it’s clear to both of us that there’s little point in arguing further, and Claudia is already picturing herself as a femme fatale in a trench coat.
Claudia’s phone dings and she pulls it from her pocket. ‘Ah, Bud awaits! I’ll leave the two of you to your morning, but we’ll catch up for dinner later, won’t we? My treat.’
‘We already have plans today, Ma,’ Nico says gently. ‘I’m sorry, but I had no idea you’d be here. Tomorrow?’
Claudia looks supremely unbothered. ‘Whatever suits you. You know I never have any problem entertaining myself.’
‘Precisely what I’m worried about,’ Nico mutters under his breath.
‘And before I forget.’ Claudia pulls something else from her pocket with a flourish, placing it on the kitchen counter. ‘I brought you these.’
Nico eyes the small black box with suspicion. ‘What is it?’
‘Your grandparents’ wedding rings,’ Claudia sings, already heading for the door.
‘They’re nothing special, you know, but I assumed you wouldn’t have thought about it.
Unlike Phoebe, you, my treasure, inherited none of my devious wiles.
Speak soon!’ She wiggles her fingers at us as she slips outside.
‘Bud! You darling man!’ I hear her cry, before the door swings shut behind her.
Nico and I look at each other and then down at the box. It feels like Claudia just tossed a grenade at us and then left.
‘This is a very strange morning,’ I say finally, trying to break some of the tension.
‘Even by Roseport’s standards,’ Nico agrees, but he’s still looking at the box. ‘We shouldn’t have done this, any of it. I should never have agreed.’
My heart sinks. ‘I’m sorry,’ I say miserably. ‘I know I’m not a very good actress.’
His eyes fly to mine. ‘No!’ He steps towards me. ‘I’m sorry. I can’t believe I roped you into this insanity. And now,’ he gestures to the small and innocent-looking jewellery box as if it’s a live tarantula, ‘this. I hadn’t even thought—’
‘It’s just a costume, Nico,’ I say, even though I get why he’s freaking out.
Pretending to be married is one thing, but wearing actual wedding rings feels like a whole other level, one that I foolishly hadn’t considered.
I thought if I ever wore a ring it would be put there by someone who loved me.
It feels like cheating us out of something, this particular moment of pretence, but it can’t be helped.
‘It was a good idea,’ I carry on firmly, trying to convince both of us. ‘It would have been conspicuous to anyone looking for holes in our story. As it is, we can get away with it because I had obviously just got up so I wouldn’t necessarily have my ring on yet.’
He doesn’t say anything, only nods tensely and picks up the box, as if it might explode. He opens it and looks inside, the expression on his face unreadable, then he turns it to face me.
I gasp before I can stop myself. Inside are three rings: a man’s gold band; and a woman’s set – another gold band and a diamond engagement ring.
By Claudia’s standards I suppose they’re nothing special, but I think they’re lovely.
The engagement ring has a small round central diamond, surrounded by eight smaller diamonds.
It looks like a snowflake, or a tiny flower.
It looks like a daisy.
There’s a lump in my throat that I’m trying hard to ignore.
‘You don’t have to wear one,’ I manage to choke out. ‘Some men don’t.’
I feel his gaze on my face. ‘I would,’ he says, his voice deep with a rough edge to it. ‘I’d wear one.’
I swallow. ‘Okay, then,’ I say as calmly as I can manage. ‘We’ll wear them. If they even fit.’
I take the two women’s rings from the box before he can do anything – I absolutely couldn’t handle having Nico put a ring on my finger – and slip them on.
And of course they fit. As if they were made for me.
Nico has put his own wedding band on, and he spins it around his finger. ‘It’s a bit loose,’ he says. ‘But that’s fine.’
I look at the gold band on his ring finger and feel a spike of something weird and primal at the sight of it. I like seeing it there. I like it a lot. When I tear my gaze away, he’s watching me.
‘So I think there’s something else we need to talk about,’ I clear my throat. ‘After this morning it’s pretty clear… you need to move back into your bedroom.’
There’s a long pause. ‘And where will you sleep?’ Nico asks slowly.
Wow. Okay.
‘I’ll sleep in there, too.’ I wish I didn’t sound so defensive. ‘We’re both adults, it’s not a big deal. We even shared a bed before, once.’
Bringing up Vegas right now is probably not a great idea, and Nico’s scowl only confirms that.
I swallow. ‘Look, when I got here we had no idea I’d be staying for three weeks. I should have said something anyway, even before Charles arrived unannounced. You can’t keep sleeping on that tiny sofa. I’m surprised you haven’t seriously damaged your back.’
‘I’m fine,’ Nico grinds out.
Okay, so he really doesn’t want to do this. That doesn’t feel great. ‘Is it—’ I hesitate. ‘Have I done something to make you feel uncomfortable?’ I manage to push the question past my lips. I think about the awkward kissing moment, and I want to die.
His expression softens. ‘No, you haven’t.’ He twists the ring on his finger again, an absent gesture. ‘You’re right,’ he says at last. ‘We can be adults about this. We can share a bed.’
He sounds like he’s trying to convince himself rather than me.
‘Great,’ I say.
‘Great,’ he echoes grimly.
Somewhere inside my brain an alarm is blaring, but it’s too late to back out now.