by Vivian Wood
“I mean… I guess? I could have used more warning—”
“Same here. Oh, and one more thing? She might not know that I’m married, per se.”
“Excuse me? What the—then why the hell do I even need to go? This is going way past what we agreed upon—”
“That’s what I love about you, how you roll with the punches.”
“Jack, I’m serious.”
“Look, I’m sorry. She took me by surprise, too. But do this for me, and I swear I’ll make it up to you. I’ll shelter you from her as much as I can, too.”
“Oh my—fine. Whatever. Where are we going?”
“Same place we had that incredible triple date before. Only the best for Mum.”
Addy groaned.
“Can I meet you there? I don’t have anything clean to wear, I need to raid Kenzie’s closet. And check on Dad,” she added.
Jack gulped. He felt guilty about springing this on Addy when her dad had only been home from the hospital for just three days.
“Yeah, sure, love. Meet us there.”
Jack waited on the tarmac for his mother’s plane. It wasn’t unusual for private planes to land in Tahoe, but he still felt like he was getting stares from the locals who worked there.
He tried to shake it off, but it still got to him. He’d hoped to leave the spoiled rich kid shadow behind. But as soon as his mother was en route, it all came back.
When her plane arrived, the ground crew immediately hustled toward the private jet. She emerged with newly shorn hair, a razor-sharp silver bob that had been her signature look for as long as Jack could remember.
Her cream silk skirt suit was impeccably tailored, without a wrinkle in sight. She didn’t even bother to remove her Jackie O sunglasses as she swished toward Jack, used to everyone rolling out the red carpet treatment for her.
“Jacob,” she said, and air kissed both his cheeks.
“It’s Jack,” he said, but she brushed it off as always.
She finally did remove her glasses to take in the Jeep as he hoisted her Louis Vuitton Damier luggage in the back.
“Mum?” he asked, as held the door open for her.
“I’m not getting in your trashy little plaything, darling,” she said, her nose wrinkled. “Fortunately, I know how boys are. Even ones raised to such high standards. It’s a good thing I had my assistant order a chauffeured town car. Where’s the transportation entrance? They said they’d wait there.”
He gritted his teeth and escorted her to the sleek black town car.
“Oh, just come with me, darling,” she said. “Nobody’s about to steal that tank of yours.”
“Where to?” he asked as he slid in beside her.
Jack knew better than to suggest she stay with him, at a hotel, or anywhere else. She was a force to be reckoned with, and it was always better to let her take the lead.
“The hospital,” she said as she pulled out a compact to check her makeup.
“The… my hospital?”
“Oh, you hardly own it. The one you work at, dear,” she said. “I thought we’d do that first, so I could see how you spend your days. Doesn’t that sound nice?”
He felt his heart rate increase the closer they got to the hospital.
“Just wait right here,” she told the driver.
“Mum, this is for ambulances,” Jack tried.
“Well, I’m certain he’s capable of moving temporarily should one arrive,” she said.
Even in her teetering stilettos, she managed to stay a few paces ahead of him.
He was greeted with surprised and confused looks from the rest of the staff. “I thought you were off for the night,” Philip said.
“I am—I was. This is my mum, Diana.”
“Mrs. Stratton,” she corrected.
Philip held out a hand and offered up his winning grin, but she paused uncomfortably long.
“I’m sorry, dear,” she told Philip. “Don’t take it personally, but considering the place and your job, I don’t know where those hands have been.”
“Oh! Right, okay,” Philip said.
He gave Jack an odd look as he pretended to look at his pager and wandered off.
Jack felt the shame thicken around him as his mother was rude to everyone they approached—until she caught sight of Rosalie.
“Rosalie, darling!” she called.
Rosalie whipped around. It took her a moment to recognize Diana, but when everything clicked into place Jack saw Rosalie freeze. He easily remembered their last, and only meeting—it had been just a brief dinner, but his mum had been cold and frosty to her.
What’s she up to?
“Mrs. Stratton,” Rosalie said. “What a surprise.”
She accepted the air kisses, but shot Jack a What the hell? look over his mother’s shoulder.
“Well, when I found out that you followed my Jacob here, I realized just how serious you two were.”
“Excuse me? I didn’t follow—”
“Mum!”
“Oh, hush,” she said, and patted Jack’s hand. “Rosalie, dear, you must join us for dinner.”
“Dinner?” Rosalie looked at Jack, confused.
“Mum, I’m sure Rosalie will still be on shift—”
“What time are you done, dear?”
“Uh, in about thirty—”
“Perfect, we’ll see you there. Jacob? I’m ready to leave,” his mother said.
“Alright. We’ll text you the details,” he muttered, happy to get her out of there as quickly as possible.
Before they’d even exited, she began to pick apart the building.
“Poor quality craftsmanship is all I can say,” she said. “Honestly, Jacob, I don’t understand why you would leave your prospects in Melbourne for… this.”
Jack was quiet. She egged him on, but there was no way he’d let her rile him up before she met Addy.
“Where to?” the driver asked after he’d opened their door and slid back into the front seat.
Jack looked to his mother, who raised her brow.
“Well?” she asked. “Give him your address, Jacob.”
Shit. No hotel? He mumbled the address to the driver. Jack could feel his mother’s appraisal of him as they made the short drive.
“Haven’t had time for the gym lately,” his mother said. It was a statement, not a question.
“Been busy,” he said.
“Too busy to even get out into the sun? That’s the one good thing about this place in the summer. You look sickly without a tan, Jacob.”
“Yeah, well. I’m a doctor, Mum. Kind of busy.”
“Jacob, don’t make excuses. If your father could do it, so can you.”
He clenched his fist and jaw, but the buzz of his phone distracted him.
Just got back to the condo, Addy said. Got a black dress from Kenzie that I think will work.
“Here we are,” the driver said as he pulled up to the building.
Jack’s mother peered at the craftsman-style condos and raised one judgmental brow. “Jacob—”
“Mum, I need you to listen to me.”
The driver got out of the car and came toward their door.
“It’s very important that you be nice to the person you’re about to meet.”
“About to mee—Jacob.” She scowled. “I knew it. You moved here for a girl, didn’t you—”
“I met her after I moved here,” he said, cutting her off.
The driver opened the door and offered an arm to his mother. She took it with a huff.
“Be nice,” he repeated as he opened the door.
“I’m always nice, Jacob.”
Addy sprung off the couch as soon as he threw open the door. Jack saw that she’d madly cleaned the condo as best she could. Even in the crazed state only his mother could put him in, he couldn’t help but notice how incredible Addy looked.
Her hair was blown out and the black dress with the lace cap sleeves hugged her figure perfectly but balanced modesty and sensuali
ty.
“Addy, this is my mum, Diana. Mum, this is my wife, Addison. Addy.”
Addy reached out her hand. He saw the usual disgust in his mother’s face, but it faltered at the word “wife.”
“I’m so happy to finally meet you, Mrs. Stratton,” Addy said.
“Your… your…” his mother said. He’d never seen her shaken like this before.
Before Addy could realize his mother wouldn’t take her hand, he engulfed her in a hug.
“It’ll be okay,” he whispered to her, but she was clearly terrified.
He felt the small trembles that poured through her. Not that he could blame her. If he were in her shoes, he’d have run for the hills by now.
His mother glanced at her watch.
“Jacob? We must go to the restaurant now. I don’t want to keep Rosalie waiting.”
“Rosalie?” Addy visibly deflated a bit, and Jack saw his mother smirk at the reaction.
“Go get your purse,” he told Addy. “Rosalie’s excited to see you again. You haven’t hung out with her since you two went camping together, right?”
Only he would have noticed Addy’s little flush at the mention of camping, but he wasn’t about to let his mother make Addy feel inadequate.
“Quite friendly, are they?” his mother asked as Addy went to the bedroom for her purse. “Rosalie and Allison.”
“Addison,” he said, though he knew she knew her name. “Yeah, they’re friends.”
“Huh. Odd,” his mother said. “Brave of Allison, though. I wouldn’t want such a sophisticated, gorgeous woman as Rosalie around my husband.”
“Mother, behave,” he said, and turned to her with a pointed finger. “Because if you don’t, I’m perfectly happy to be motherless.”
She balked and her mouth dropped open.
“Ready,” Addy said, and held up a little black satin purse she must have also borrowed from Kenzie.
“What a lovely purse, dear,” his mum said, without even a hint of sarcasm.
24
I think this is a panic attack.
Addy had never had one before, or at least she didn’t think so, but couldn’t figure out what else it could be. Ever since she’d spotted Rosalie at the restaurant, already seated and looking like a deer in headlights herself, Addy’s heart had started to hammer.
She was simultaneously hot and cold at the same time. Her palms were coated in sweat no matter how many times she wiped them on Kenzie’s dress.
Addy could hardly keep track of the conversation. Not that she really needed to. Jack’s mom largely ignored both of them to fawn over Rosalie, whom she sat beside.
Jack was pressed against Addy, one hand on her thigh. He squeezed her hand frequently and leaned over to kiss her cheek or whisper compliments in her ear that she quickly forgot.
Any other time, and maybe it would have been comforting. However, it felt more like he was doing it for his mother’s sake than hers.
And maybe to make Rosalie jealous, she reminded herself.
Addy took a long swallow of rosé wine and watched Rosalie nod politely at Jack’s mom. Whenever she could, Rosalie would steal a look at Addy and give her an I’m sorry! look that seemed genuine. But who really knew?
She shrugged and smiled at Rosalie. It probably wasn’t her fault that she got roped into this. Still, she had to wonder if Jack was actually the one who’d invited Rosalie, or at least had easily gone along with it.
It was perfect, wasn’t it? If his whole goal was to make Rosalie jealous, what better way than to parade his “wife” in front of her along with his mother?
“Sometimes Jacob reminds me so much of his father,” Diana said with a sigh. “We sent him to space camp when he was twelve, and you’ll never guess…”
Since Diana refused to acknowledge Addy, she didn’t bother to listen in on the mundane stories. She felt a twinge of empathy for Rosalie.
It must be terrible to be stuck here listening to stories about your ex while sitting across from his wife, she thought.
The familiar beeping of a hospital pager interrupted Diana’s story.
“It’s mine,” Rosalie said before Jack could reach for his. “I’m so sorry, I have to get back to the hospital.”
“Who has the petite filet mignon?” A waiter arrived with four covered plates.
“So soon?” Diana asked. “Can’t someone else—”
“Mum, she’s a doctor,” Jack said. “She’s on call. You were a doctor’s wife, I know you understand this.”
His mother sat back in a huff as Rosalie showered down apologies.
“Don’t apologize,” Jack told her. “You were kind enough to even show up for this… whatever it is.”
Rosalie apologized once again, particularly toward Addy.
“I just… sorry, but I have to go. This was, um, thanks for inviting me,” Rosalie said.
She rushed away at a fast clip, and Addy saw Rosalie’s slender shoulders loosen and relax with every step away from this mess that she could get. She couldn’t blame her. In fact, she was jealous of her.
What I would give to get the hell out of here right now, too.
Diana sighed.
“Poor girl, she can’t even enjoy a nice dinner out. Well. At least she has a real career, though,” she said.
She eyed her steak without touching it.
“This isn’t medium rare,” she told the waiter.
“Ma’am, let me cut it open for you and check—”
“I said it’s not medium rare. Take it back. So, Addy, tell me again. What do you do?”
I didn’t tell you in the first place because you didn’t ask.
“I’m, uh, I’m a waitress—”
“She’s taken over her father’s restaurant,” Jack cut in. “Addy is acting as proprietor.”
“Hmph. Waitress, restaurant proprietor. Two very different jobs. I can’t begin to fathom which is true. Though I have my suspicions,” she said and gave Addy a look that chilled her to the marrow.
“Mum, I’m telling you—”
“Jacob, I’m tired. I think I’ll have the chauffeur take me to my hotel.”
“Your hotel? Mum, you just—”
Diana tossed down two hundred-dollar bills.
“Feel free to take mine to go in a doggy bag,” she said pointedly to Addy.
As soon as Diana disappeared from view, Addy couldn’t hold it in any longer. She looked to Jack, but when she opened her mouth the only thing that came out was a sob.
“Let’s go home,” Jack said.
“Where—is everyone leaving?” the waiter asked.
“Yeah, sorry.”
“This doesn’t cover the bill,” the waiter said, accusing. “What are you trying to pull? You can’t just order all this and—”
Addy was enveloped in embarrassment and madly wiped at her eyes with her napkin.
“Hail us a cab and run my card,” Jack said. “Consider the cash your tip.”
“Yes, sir,” the waiter said quickly.
“I’m so embarrassed,” Addy said as they got into the cab.
“Don’t be, my mom is a royal bitch. Always has been. You okay?”
“Just let me be for a minute,” she said.
She hated that about herself, how she could barely even speak when she cried. The ride home seemed to take forever with the cab driver unaware of the roadwork being done en route. Jack, thankfully, obliged her and didn’t press or ask any questions.
Finally, some peace and quiet, she thought.
However, it gave her time to dwell.
What the hell had he been thinking, springing his bitch of a mom on her? Why did he even have to drag her into it?
One thing was certain. No matter what, if she’d thought they came from totally different worlds before, this confirmed it. She hadn’t thought women like his mom actually existed.
Her embarrassment gave way to a fury that was fueled by anxiety.
Who the fuck does he think he is?
When
they finally pulled up to the condo, she couldn’t get out of the taxi fast enough. Addy slammed the door behind her and left Jack to pay.
Just try to talk to me, she dared him in her head.
She went directly to the bathroom to scrub the makeup off her face and heard the front door shut as she toweled it off.
“Addy?”
She kicked off the too-high heels and barreled into the living room. “What? What do you have to say?”
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked, clearly confused. “I warned you, and I told you I was sorry—”
“That doesn’t cut it anymore, Jacob. I’m not about to be part of your lifestyle choices anymore, okay?”
“Addy, what the hell is the matter with you? What are you talking about?”
“You think your mom’s a bitch? You’re one to talk. Where do you think you got your whole outlook on life from?”
“What? Don’t compare me to my mum—what’s gotten into you?”
“I see exactly where this is going.” Addy approached him. In her bare feet, she barely reached his shoulder but she was energized by sheer adrenaline. “The second I get to be old hat, you’ll just ditch me and move on to the next thing. It’s what guys like you do. It’s probably what you did to Rosalie, and then—”
“Whoa, hey,” he said and pulled himself up to his full height. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but I have zero interest in hearing anything more about Rosalie, and even less about my mum. She’s toxic, poisonous, alright? I know that. And I didn’t even know she was coming here until an hour before she landed.”
“Jack—”
“No, you got to talk, you listen now. Maybe it was shit of me to spring dinner on you like that, but I panicked.”
“And Rosalie just magically happened to be there? To get invited? Even if your mom really is the one who invited her, you couldn’t—”
“My mum is the one who invited her. You can ask Rosalie if you don’t believe me. And you’re probably right, it wasn’t by chance that Rosalie was there. My mum demanded to go directly to the hospital. Hell, for all I know she called ahead to ask if Rosalie was working at the time. She already knew she was here—how she knew, I don’t know.”
“What? What the hell is wrong with your family? Is your mom stalking you, or what? This is exactly the kind of thing I don’t want to be in the middle of. I knew your family had money, but I didn’t know… this isn’t…”