Chapter 12 #2
being maligned by his ex.
Jenny had been angry, herself, and had let Luna have it when she had the nerve to send her editor to Jenny, seeking an author
endorsement of her awful novel. As if Jenny would ever help someone who had hurt her son so badly, turning friends against
him. Jenny had heard her on a podcast and been horrified at everything the creature said.
Still, Parker should never have allowed his hurt to turn into bitterness.
It had taken root and turned him into a shock-jock wannabe.
Before that he’d been great as a radio personality, talking about sports with his growing fan base, interviewing pro athletes.
He’d even had his Uncle Jerome on the show more than once to talk about his pre-cop glory days as a fullback for the Kansas City Chiefs and to make Super Bowl predictions.
She’d always listened when they were on together and, while she didn’t understand much of what was said, she’d enjoyed their lighthearted teasing and snarky banter.
But Parker had wandered over to the dark side, and that grieved her. What was it going to take to bring him back into the
light?
“That will teach the man,” said Bettina when Scarlet stopped by after her latest staging job to show off the many sites where
Parker was being condemned. “More effective than a lawsuit.”
Alice had to agree, but, much as she liked seeing Parker get what was coming to him, she felt . . . it was hard to put into
words what she felt. She should have been doing the Snoopy dance. Instead, something heavy sat in her stomach. Was dishing
out this kind of tit for tat how a true heroine behaved? Posting that picture had been a bad idea.
It turned out her mother agreed, and Nola was not happy. “It was foolish and immature. And you’ve made Genevive look bad,”
she said, frowning at Scarlet.
“She doesn’t know who did it,” Scarlet protested.
“Who else was at that dinner and had a reason to? These things have a way of getting out. You’d better hope that if this does,
Genevive has a sense of humor.”
“Somebody needed to even the score for Alice,” Scarlet insisted, her cheeks flushed.
“And you call playing some ridiculous prank that embarrasses an author whose books we carry evening the score?” Nola snapped.
At this, Bettina drifted to the back room to hide. Alice wanted to join her, but she felt like she needed to stay and defend her sister even if the revenge photo had been a bad idea.
“She was just trying to help,” Alice said.
“It wasn’t at all helpful. Honestly, Scarlet, this was so irresponsible. I’m very disappointed in you.”
“So, what else is new?” Scarlet retorted, matching her mother’s frown. “You’ve been disappointed in me since December. As
if everything going on with Mark is my fault.”
“Not everything, but you’re contributing to the problem,” Nola said.
If you asked Alice, their mother was right, but Scarlet would never admit it. Scarlet had always forged her own path in life,
rarely stopping to ask directions, even if she was headed for a cliff.
That wasn’t Alice. She preferred safe sidewalks.
The heated discussion would have continued if Georgia Bishop hadn’t walked in. Alice was relieved to see her.
“Have you seen what’s happening on social media?” Scarlet greeted Georgia, obviously looking for an ally.
Georgia shook her head and came over to where the women stood, and Scarlet showed her a post with the infamous picture.
“Oh, wow! Is that . . . ?” Georgia began.
“Yep,” Scarlet confirmed. “It’s Genevive Eden. With Parker Black cuddling up to her.”
Nola was frowning. “She’ll be here next week to talk about her new book. Hopefully. I don’t know how I’ll face her.”
“Maybe she’ll bring her sugar baby with her,” Scarlet cracked.
Nola pointed a finger at her. “That is quite enough. We won’t be making fun of Genevive for being with a younger man.”
“Good on her, says I,” put in Georgia. “Except why would she pick a snake like Parker Black?”
“I don’t think she knows about this side of him. Someone needs to tell her,” said Scarlet.
“Someone has done enough,” Nola said in her mom voice, and Scarlet scowled.
But Alice was relieved. This didn’t need to get escalated any further.
“At least maybe now he’ll go back to talking about sports and we can talk about books,” Nola finished.
One could hope. This would all blow over and they could pretend the ugliness and embarrassment had never happened.
Alice produced the novel she’d been saving for Georgia and passed it to her to inspect. “This is such a fascinating read.
I know you’re going to love it.”
Georgia looked at the cover and beamed. “A heroine who has some curves. I like it already.”
“She’s a baker,” Alice said.
“Ooh, are there recipes in the book?”
Alice nodded. “There’s one for a strawberry-rhubarb custard pie and one for peanut butter brownies.”
“Be still my heart,” Georgia said. “I can make those brownies for Genevive Eden’s book party if you want.”
“We would love that,” said Nola.
“Brownies and Genevive, that’s going to be a great evening,” Georgia predicted.
“I still think someone should tell her about Parker,” Scarlet insisted.
“Someone will do nothing of the sort,” said Nola.
Scarlet shrugged, refusing to be chastised.
In the end though, Alice knew Scarlet would drop her vendetta. Genevive Eden would find out the truth about Parker Black soon
enough, but it wouldn’t be the Willoughby women who burst her bubble.