Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
DEIDRE
“H oly shit, girl,” Mandy whines, covering her head with a pillow. “You’re so freakin’ loud.”
“No, I’m not. You’re just that hungover.”
“Shhh,” she bids.
I can’t help but giggle. It’s been a long time since Mandy has had this much to drink.
“What time is it?”
“Eleven,” I reply.
She barely cracks open an eye. “Where are you going?”
“I have lunch with Mike and Claire. After that, there are a few things before we have the dress rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.”
“Do I seriously have to be at any of that?” she asks with a whiny tone.
“No,” I laugh. “But you’d be the bestest friend in the whole wide world if you came.”
“What time do you need me?”
“Not until about four,” I say. “I’ll send Tony to get you. I’ll text if anything changes.”
Mandy covers her head with the blanket. “Sounds good.”
“There’s water on the nightstand and some pills for you to help.”
Her hand lifts and waves. “Thanks, babe.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, and I ordered some food. It should be delivered any minute.”
She sighs. “You’re a doll.”
“Feel better and see you later.”
“Later, Dei,” she mumbles.
Tony’s waiting for me in the valet area just out front of the hotel.
As he maneuvers through the streets of San Francisco, I check emails and text with Victoria about the upcoming marketing plan.
For the first few months, I had been able to hide behind the app, not revealing my face.
Realizing that I had to make some improvements with marketing, I hired Victoria.
There’s apparently a sense of community or something when they know who owns a company along with the fact that profits increase and the popularity of such businesses has a longer retention.
Plus, there was some mumbo-jumbo with me being an attractive, young woman which they wanted to leverage.
The first-year anniversary for Flirt is just around the corner.
The number of meetings and press photos has only increased.
Victoria has pushed for a lot. It’s not always been met with happy faces on either side.
She’s great at what she does, don’t get me wrong.
I’m the challenge. I know I need to be in the public eye, but I don’t like how much.
I get the benefits of being a public figure, but at the same time, I don’t like how much information people want to know about me.
I’ve been able to hide most of my personal life thus far, but it looks like I need to do more in order for my brand to not only be known, but last.
Lunch is smooth and quiet. It’s easy when it’s just your brother, your soon-to-be sister-in-law, your father and stepmother, and the bride’s parents.
Once we’re done, we make our way over to the venue for the dress rehearsal.
Claire shows me around the place as the staff start some preparations for tomorrow.
As time nears for everyone to arrive for the rehearsal, I excuse myself to take Vix outside for a little walk and then head into the bathroom afterwards, knowing that I need to prepare myself for seeing my mother.
I’m actually avoiding everything at the moment, knowing that she’s probably already here.
I text with Mandy, who has just arrived.
Once she confirms that the coast is clear, Vix and I make our way through the French doors that will be the main walkway to where the ceremony will take place.
I glance around and note that all of the bridesmaids are chatting off to one side while the groomsmen are talking on the other.
Dad and Irene are in the aisle near the front with Claire’s parents.
“She’s alive,” Luke teases as I approach.
“Why wouldn't I be?” I ask, trying not to be nervous.
“Seriously? You drank a lot, Dei,” Will says.
“I can hold my own.”
“Looks like it,” Luke agrees.
I peer around the room. “What’s the hold-up?”
“We’re just waiting on the priest,” Mike explains. “Claire said that he should be here any minute.”
“Cool.” My gaze shifts around, hoping I don’t see her .
“You okay?” Mike asks.
“Peachy.”
“Who’s this?” Luke asks, squatting down.
“Vix.”
“Vix? What kind of a name is that?” he goads.
“Short for Vixen.”
Luke picks her up. “Hi, Vixen.”
“Why did you name her Vixen?” Brad asks.
“Why?” I return with a snippy tone.
“Just curious,” Brad says defensively.
“It’s supposed to be tied to your business, right?” Mike says.
“Yeah,” I reply, not adding any other rationale. I’m not in the mood to discuss business at the moment.
“There you are,” Mandy squeaks from behind me.
“Hey, sexy,” I greet loudly.
Mandy greets Mike before I introduce her to the groomsmen. As Luke puts Vix down, a few of Mike’s friends hit on Mandy. After a few moments of conversation, Mandy and I make our way over to the bridesmaids to catch up.
A voice is heard in the distance, so I pick up Vix, needing something to keep my hands busy from doing something I might regret. Her voice gets louder as she approaches. I force myself to keep my back to her.
I pretend to have a conversation with Mandy as I listen to the woman greeting everyone around us. I hear an unfamiliar man’s voice, and at first I think it might be the priest. Hearing Mom introduce him and their conversation with Mike and Claire, I turn to look to see the man.
“Deidre,” she gasps before I get to completely turn away from her direction. “My sweetheart.” Her cold, boney hands take hold of my arms, directing me to face her when she’s closer.
Panic rises within me as my eyes search for Mike. He nods reassuringly, but I don’t trust him. I don’t trust any of them, let alone myself. After a hard swallow, my feet slowly shift to follow her pull.
“There you are, darling,” Mom greets. “Look at you. All grown up. My, aren’t you a lady.”
My body is frozen in place.
Mom takes Vix from me, and my eyes bulge. “Who is this cute creature?”
“That’s Vix,” Mandy says.
“Who are you?” Mom asks.
“I’m Mandy, Dei’s roommate. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cameron.”
Mom laughs. “Oh, dear. I’m not Mrs. Cameron anymore. Not once the divorce is final.”
I’m not surprised that Mom is close to having her fourth divorce under her belt and is now focused on locking down hubby number five from the looks of it—if not already. She’s a serial bride and gold digger.
“Deidre, my sweetheart,” Mom says, kissing each of my cheeks. “It’s so nice to see that the years have been good to you. I was a bit worried about that when you hadn’t really started changing like most girls do.”
“It’s been six years, mother,” I remind with a clenched jaw. “A lot can happen during that time.”
“Well, you were wearing a lot of frumpy clothes at Mike’s graduation,” she states, always having to find something wrong with what I do or say.
I offer a fake smile and take Vix back.
Mom is about to say something else, but everyone’s attention is drawn to the priest who is walking toward our group. While Mom’s distracted, I grab Mandy’s hand and dart over to Dad, needing to distance myself from even breathing in her stale, musty air.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it?” Dad asks.
I hold Vix tightly to my chest. “Don’t start.”
Dad wraps his arm around me for comfort. “Come on, Dei."
“So I should just let my mother bully me?” I snap under my breath.
“What did she say?” His body shifts as he peers over his shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it,” I say, brushing it off, not wanting to make a scene.
Mom continues her facade that we’re one big happy family to her new beau who’s well-dressed, sporting a diamond-crusted Rolex, and looks like he could die any day.
The woman even has the nerve to try to direct the wedding planner who’s been helping Claire.
She always has to have attention one way or another.
The sad part is that everyone gives it to her—just reinforcing her behavior.
I’m able to keep my distance from Mom during the majority of the rehearsal. After an agonizing hour and a half later, thanks to Mom talking half of the time, we disperse and make our way to the restaurant for dinner. Dad and Irene ride with Mandy, Vix, and me with Tony at the wheel.
As we enter the restaurant, we’re led to a back room that overlooks a beautiful garden. The table is a long and wide rectangular shape. I specifically note the direction everyone is migrating towards, especially my mother, so I can stay as far away from her as possible.
Most of dinner is peaceful, other than hearing my mother’s loud and obnoxious laugh infrequently.
Eventually, she makes her rounds to everyone at the table to chat —seriously everyone.
I see Mike eyeing me as Mom gets closer to my side, probably making sure that I don’t snap and suddenly attack her.
Dad and Irene are talking to Mandy, who is to my left, as Vix rests calmly in her arms. Suddenly feeling like I’m a rat backed into the corner, I stand up to get away.
“Deidre, darling,” my mother calls as I get just two steps away from the table. “Come here. I haven’t gotten a proper hug from you.” Her arms extend and wrap around me as my body remains immobile.
My eyes dart to find Mike, but he’s not looking. I will him to see me, to rescue me, but he’s lost in a conversation with Claire.
“Let me get a good look at you, sweetie,” Mom states, wrapping her cold, bony fingers around my shoulders as she holds me out at arm’s length.
“Ah, yes. You did get my good genes.” Her eyes trail down the length of my body and back up, resting on my breasts for a few seconds before looking at my face.
I offer a fake smile, refusing to let her bait me into a fight.
“Where is your boyfriend?” she inquires.
“I don’t have one.”
“Why not? With hips like mine and perky breasts like those, you should have a man already. One to take care of you.”
“I don’t need a man to take care of me,” I say coolly.
“Of course you do. Every Baird has a man to take care of her and her needs.”