Chapter 42
Chapter forty-two
Audrey
Ispot my parents huddled together on the deck, isolated in the crowd of partygoers. This is my moment. I firmly grip Rhett’s arm, ready to introduce him to my mom. To rip the bandage off. To show them Jackson didn’t break me.
The live music on the pool deck fades away up near the house, and my mother wears a soft grin as she notices Rhett and I approaching.
“Finally, my daughter comes to greet me.” She pulls me into a stiff hug, lightly kissing both cheeks.
Her blue dress sweeps the top of her sandals, and she smells like the same perfume she’s worn since I was a child.
Beside her, my dad remains stoic behind his tortoise shell sunglasses.
His peppered hair doesn’t blow in the breeze, but his lips twitch and I clock the way he covers it with a sip of his drink.
“There’s a lot of people here, it was hard to track you down,” I reply, holding my Elson smile tightly on my lips. But my mom’s attention is already off me, her eyes tracing Rhett’s broad frame.
I nearly jolt, smiling up at the man next to me. “Mom, this is Rhett. Rhett Anderson.”
He reaches out his hand, and I hold my breath as my mother slips her small, manicured fingers in it, greeting him politely.
“You have a beautiful home, Mr. and Mrs. Elson. Thank you for inviting me.” Rhett’s smooth southern voice sounded like honey, and I could see the charm work on my mother for a moment.
It was hard not to be charmed by him with his baby blues and dirty blonde hair that he let me style today.
He looks polished, and the clothes I bought him fit like a glove.
“Thank you, Rhett.” She punctuates his name like it’s foreign on her tongue, and my neck pricks in response.
“I’m glad you were able to get away from work and accompany Audrey.
We weren’t sure if she'd make the time to see us this summer.” One of her eyebrows cock up, a flash of her white teeth, and I know it’s a double-edged statement.
Rhett remains in the dark. I've done a good job of shielding him from my parents' unpredictable behavior, but he must sense my unease. He always knows. A warm hand takes residency on the small of my back, steadying me in my spot.
“What is it you do for work? My daughter has told us nothing about you.” My father finally speaks, but rocks back on the heels of his leather loafers, shoving a hand into his pocket.
“I’m a carpenter, sir.”
My mother nods, murmuring something unintelligible as she sips her cocktail. The metal of my dainty necklace feels like it’s burning a line into my collar bone, but it’s not. It’s just the fierce fire inside me, wanting nothing more than to protect Rhett.
But I remind myself he asked for this. He wanted to meet them.
“Don’t let him downplay it,” I scoff, placing my hand protectively on his chest. “Rhett owns his own business and is quite talented. You’d be floored by some of the custom work he’s done.”
“Oh, is that right?” my mom muses and I smile back way too big.
“Yes, it is. You should see the library he is currently building at a home in Forest Hills, it’s beautiful.” Rhett’s hand stills on my back as he clears his throat.
“Oh, is that how you met, was Rhett doing work in your house?” My father smirks, like he dares me to reveal that his daughter fell for hired help. I grind my jaw before exhaling, refusing to let myself come undone this early in the night.
“No, we didn’t meet there.” I smooth my already perfect dress and tilt my head at my gawking parents. “Actually, I have good news. My agent, Elena, called me right after we landed at JFK. There’s already an offer on the house.”
Rhett’s fingers strum along my back. Earlier, he kissed me, twirling me around the hotel room when the news came, but that’s not the result I expect from my parents.
“Well, isn’t that something.” My mom swirls her cocktail as she laughs to herself. Probably her fifth cocktail. That’s how these parties usually go.
That’s my cue to be done with this conversation, so I smile sweetly, and grab Rhett’s hand. “We haven’t eaten, and the food looks promising, so I’ll see you two around, yeah?” I try to diffuse the situation.
“Your father,” my mother tapped my dad on the shoulder, her cocktail nearly spilling from her glass.
“He spared no expense this year. Andrew is around here somewhere, I’m sure he will be happy to see his reclusive sister,” she adds, and I dip my head, pulling Rhett from the carnage.
I don’t speak while we weave through people, arriving at the spread of food.
“There you go, you met Evelyn and Samuel, so we can eat and head out. Or there’s a cute little Italian place not far from here where we could grab a bite.
” I get too excited at the idea of escaping this hellscape.
I notice eyes on me, but I don’t acknowledge anyone.
I’m already known as Samuel Elson’s distant daughter, and I’m not looking to change that title today.
Rhett turns to me, plucking an appetizer from a tray as catering staff walks by. “Everything is okay.” His crooked smile melts the piece of me I felt turn to ice the moment I arrived in this damn state. I nod even though I don’t buy it.
“Sure, that went better than I was hoping,” I admit sadly. “But I know this isn’t really your scene, so please, just say the word and we will leave.”
“Listen, if you need to leave darlin’, we can.
I feel ridiculous in these clothes.” He laughs, caressing the side of my face, “but you know I can have fun anywhere with you.” He pauses, scanning the tables around me.
“And say what you will about your parents, but I’ve never seen a buffet like this.
And I haven’t eaten a decent meal since yesterday. ”
“Fair enough.” I stand on my tiptoes, kissing him, and pat his chest. “I am going to use the bathroom and I’ll be back.
Whatever you do, don’t get sucked into a conversation with anyone who comes out of the guest house.
They are my brother’s friends. Grade A assholes and probably high.
” Rhett grabs a look at the guest house, back to me.
“Got it.”
The inside of my parent’s house is quieter, and I go through the kitchen to the back half of the house, to the bathroom I know the guests won’t be using.
I take a moment to catch my breath and reorient myself. I remind myself of the things I know are true.
I’m at my parent’s house at the shore. They met Rhett and it went okay. Just okay, but it could’ve been worse. They didn’t bring up my job or Jackson, and Rhett is being polite. He’s being perfect, actually. He is outside looking more handsome than any man I’ve ever seen. He is okay. I am okay.
Leaning on the sink, I take a deep breath, meet my hazel eyes in the mirror.
You can do this.
Shortly, I’ll be back at the resort with Rhett, and everything will be good again. I'll get to show him how much I appreciate him. Warmth spreads through me just thinking about being tangled with him in the king size bed.
“Oh, I’m sorry!” The bathroom door swings open, hitting someone.
“Audrey?” My father stands in the small, dim hallway, but his sunglasses are gone now, and his eyes are in view.
It’s just us, the murmurs of the party are muffled beyond these walls, and I pause, still on a high imagining my night with Rhett.
Letting myself think, for a split second, maybe things could also be okay with my father and I.
He might not accept every part of me or ever stop thinking he knows best. He might be business driven, but maybe, we could come to a mutual understanding. Maybe he could just be happy that Rhett loves me. Maybe it could be enough for him.
“Dad, hi,” I breathe out. He looks uncomfortable, and not just because I've boxed him into this corridor.
“Listen, we’re all adults here, so I know you’ll understand, but I don’t want you to be taken off guard. Jackson was invited to the party as well.”
It was logical. I know that. Every year, the executives from Elson Enterprises are invited to this party with their spouses and children.
It’s always been that way. Jackson was the VP of Tippins Group, and the merger was finalized at some point this summer.
I’d blocked it all out, unsubscribed from the narrative of that news.
But it didn’t mean it didn’t sting less.
It didn’t prevent my mouth from growing dry, from my heart cracking open, bleeding onto the tiny bit of joy I manufactured minutes ago.
“I see.” But then heat rises in my core thinking about the way my mother begged me to come home, guilted and shamed my long-time absence. All while knowing my cheating ex-fiancé would be in attendance.
My father purses his lips together, clearly done with the conversation, but I'm not. “Did you and Mom not think to give me that important information ahead of time, before you know, I flew up here to introduce you both to my new boyfriend?”
He holds his hands up, like he’s exhausted, accompanied by a sigh that fills the space between us.
“Don’t be like this, Audrey. We have been more than understanding about the called-off engagement, the house, even the employment news you sprang on us in the last twenty-four hours.
I know you’re upset things didn’t work out how you wanted, but that’s the way of the world, honey.
Things don’t always happen the way you think they should.
I thought I taught you to be smarter than this.
You know how to deal with this system, how to deal with people.
” He peers at me, and I pause, not sure I want to believe this conversation is truly happening.
“Excuse me? What are you implying? You really think I should’ve just laid down and let Jackson treat me like a doormat?” I can barely control my voice and my father glances back, but no one is there.
“We all make mistakes. You of all people should know that.” His voice rasps, like this sentiment should be well-known, like it’s the hundredth time he’s telling me.
“But Jackson could give you what you deserve. Together you two would’ve had it all, don’t you see that?
You threw that all away, and I think you should reconsider the realities of the world.
Where do you want to be in ten years?” I fall silent and my father sighs again.
“Listen, I’ve worked with him all summer, he’s very remorseful, you know. He cares about you, Audrey.”
I want nothing more than to shove past my father. Fear courses through my veins picturing Rhett out there, a sheep in a lion's den.
“You are no better than him.” I shake my head, taking a step in the small space between my father and the wall but he catches my elbow, his mouth close to my ear.
“I’m only trying to look out for you. Can you look me in the eye and honestly tell me your future is with that man out there?
Come on now. We are better than that.” He scoffs and I rip my elbow from his grip, fisting my dress as I rush through the house, searching frantically for Rhett in the crowd of people I never did trust.