Chapter 13
Deep down, Ingrid knew that the evening would be a disaster, and she should have listened to her husband.
Her mother took center stage of course. After two glasses of margaritas (shaken not stirred) she was on a roll.
She flirted with Anthony and Kyle, making sure she touched each man to make her points. And completely ignored her son.
Ingrid could not help but feel guilty that she had brought her parents in without letting her brother know.
She was going to have to pay for it. Her father just sat there, drinking steadily until Kyle did the prudent thing by cutting him off.
The delicious meal that had been so carefully and lovingly prepared by their housekeeper was not done justice to.
Then Iona started on her daughter.
"Darling, the dress is a lovely color, but it looks like you're wearing a tent." She pretended to be dishing out fashion advice, but the malice in her tone belied it.
"I happen to think that it suits her." Smoothly butting in, Kyle took her hand in his and brushed his lips over her knuckles, squeezing when he felt the tension there.
"I told her so when she was dressing." There could be no doubt to anyone at the table, that they were committed to each other.
Iona saw the look on Kyle's face and felt the bitter twist of envy inside her.
She had spent years playing second fiddle to her own daughter.
She was the beautiful one, the one who was thin and acceptable according to society, yet her oversized and overweight daughter had always managed to steal her spotlight.
Now to make things worse, she had the adoration of a very handsome man, one who was also extremely wealthy. She could not stand it.
"I see things have improved between you two." Her smile was wide, her expression skeptical. Turning to Anthony, she touched his arm briefly as if to get his attention. "You must have heard the rumors. Kyle married my daughter because he was forced to by grandparents on both sides."
"We were forced to marry each other." Ingrid reminded her tightly.
"Oh, of course." Iona waved a hand as she picked up her wine glass and took a delicate sip.
"But I have to say, and everyone knows that you got the better side of the bargain.
Kyle happens to be a very handsome man. One who could have been with any woman he chose.
" Her large eyes swept over Kyle's face.
"I suppose you had no choice but to settle.
What with the meddling grandparents taking charge and all. "
Kyle felt the anger burning a path through him and had to force himself not to lash out at her. He knew what she was doing. The woman was jealous of her own daughter and made no qualms about it.
"I did not settle." He linked his fingers through Ingrid's and felt the tension mounting. "I happen to be in love with her."
That admission brought out a tinkling laughter. "Darling, we're all family here, there's no need for pretense."
"Mother, you are being a spiteful bitch." Matthew spoke up for the first time since sitting down to dinner. "You simply cannot bear that your own daughter is happy. It must stick in your craw that Kyle obviously adores her, doesn't it?"
The mask slipped and for a moment Iona looked like what she was, an aging bitter woman who had never been happy in her life.
"Are you judging me darling?" She asked silkily. "You who are sitting there with a man for a lover. I thought you were a man, you were when you were growing up. Now you're shacking up with someone of your own sex. How dare you sit on the judgment seat with me."
"Iona!" The unexpected sound of Jeremiah's icy tone had the occupants staring at him in shock.
He had somehow risen from his stupor to make a contribution.
"Leave these children alone. Goddammit woman, how much of a bitch can you be?
It's not enough for you to be the worst wife and mother in history.
You were invited as a guest by your daughter, the least you can do is act like it.
" His golden-brown eyes sizzled. "I know Ingrid is probably too polite to ask you to leave, but one more spiteful word out of that mouth of yours, and I will be the one to throw you out. "
"How dare you--"
"Is that clear?"
"Is that clear?"
Anthony touched her arm in warning, when she opened her mouth to respond.
Shoving back the chair, she rose, forcing her date to get up.
"I don't have to stand for this. I see I'm not wanted here.
" Her gaze swept the room. "I don't have to sit here and take any of it.
" Tears shimmered in her eyes as she stared at her ex-husband.
"You've always taken her side. It was always about your precious Ingrid.
You were always defending her, talking about how smart she is.
'Ingrid this and Ingrid that' well, screw all of you. Anthony, we're leaving."
"Let me get your coats." Kissing his wife's hand before letting go, Kyle pushed back his chair, a militant glint in his eyes that warned her he was out for a pound of flesh.
"Let me--"
"No." He pressed her back. "I'll see to it."
She waited a beat, before excusing herself from the table. Keeping her distance, she saw when her husband handed them both their jackets and clamped his hand around her mother's arm.
She clearly heard his icy warning. "I did not say anything while you were insulting my wife in her own home.
But here's fair warning. It will not happen again.
You will afford her the respect she deserves.
She planned this meal to try and get the family together.
She made the effort even though I disagreed.
She wanted the family to start healing. I will not allow anyone, not even you to hurt her, is that clear? "
"Let go--"
"Is that clear?"
"Yes!" Iona hissed. "I don't know what you see in her anyway."
"She's beautiful, caring and the strongest woman I know. She managed to be all of that, in spite of who her parents are. I lift my hat to her." He let go of her and waited until she had flounced out before locking the doors.
By the time he came back into the dining room, she had taken her seat, a strange and dazed expression on her face.
"I'm afraid we must be leaving too." Matthew pushed back his chair and rose.
"Oh, what about dessert?" Ingrid exclaimed.
"I'm full." His eyes met hers. "I need a word."
"I'm fine." She assured her husband as he looked at her.
She found him pacing in the gold and white salon to the left of the dining room.
She followed him silently, the echoes of the argument still ringing in her ears.
The laughter and clinking glasses from the dining room were now a distant memory, replaced by an uneasy quiet.
Ingrid paused by the doorway, uncertain, the weight of the evening pressing down on her shoulders.
After a moment, she gathered her composure and stepped inside, determined to face whatever conversation awaited her, no matter how raw her emotions felt.
"One thing we can say about this family, we do not lack drama."
Her words did nothing to dispel the tension. Biting off a sigh, she stood and waited for him to say something.
"You had no right."
Lifting her shoulders, she gave him a pleading look. "I know. I mistakenly thought that if they were both confronted with the truth of who you were, they would come to accept you."
"And how did that work out?" The sarcastic bitterness in his tone tore at her heart.
"Not well." She spread her hands entreatingly. "I had to try."
"Why?" he demanded, stopping his pacing.
"Who gave you that responsibility? I'm living my life and you're living yours.
Who handed you the keys to make this family whole?
All you ended up doing was make things worse and embarrassed me and Andre.
" He passed a hand around the back of his neck.
"Look, I get it. You're happy and you want to spread the joy, but it doesn't work that way.
The next time you plan something like this, leave us out of it. "
"Matt--"
"No, Ingrid. I'm pissed right now and not in the mood for a peace offering. On that note, I'm going to need a few days space. Don't call me, I'll call you when I'm done being royally pissed." With that, he marched from the room and left her standing there.
It took her a few minutes to compose herself enough to go back to the dining room. And by that time, her brother and Andre had left. She was surprised to see her dad still lingering around the table.
"Can never resist crème br?lée." He eyed her when she came to sit next to him. "Your husband is seeing your brother and his gentleman out. Is that the appropriate term? I have no idea about these things."
She had enough left in her to laugh. "That will do." Lifting a hand, she touched his face gently. "Thanks for sticking up for me as usual."
He nodded and dipped his spoon in. "Someone has to. Although I do believe that husband of yours has it covered." He smiled. "He loves you."
"Wonders never cease."
"No." He shook his head. "You're indeed a beautiful woman.
Your mother knows it and always thought you were in competition with her.
You deserve to be happy sweetie. And don't worry about your brother, he'll forgive you.
" He patted her hand as Kyle came back in.
"Now, I must be taking my leave. Thanks for supper.
Don't get up, I'll see myself out." Leaning over, he kissed her cheek.
While her husband locked up and cleared the table, she went upstairs and took off her clothes. She was tired. Emotions ran high during supper, and she was now wrung out and perilously close to tears.
Dragging on an old tee, she slid into bed and settled back against the pillows to go over the evening. It had been a disaster. Pure and simple.