by Adrianne Lee
As I headed to the ladies, I spied Seth watching me. I hoped I didn’t look as ill as I felt, hoped he wouldn’t follow me to offer to buy my thoughts. I might just sell them to him. Or break down and cry on those solid shoulders of his.
Luckily, I had the bathroom to myself. Everyone else seemed to still be enjoying dessert. I was wishing I’d skipped mine. I daubed a wet paper towel against my hot cheeks, mindful of my makeup. I didn’t want to have to explain mascara streaks under my eyes.
The outside door opened, and a flash of red caught my eye. Tanya. I began to shake inside, as if my emotions had been put into a blender and turned to whip. But as stirred up as I was, I couldn’t bring myself to ask her if she and Peter were once lovers. “Don’t borrow trouble,” Billie always said.
I didn’t have to mention a rumor or gossip to Meg, but once I’d confirmed something as serious as this, my options would narrow into intolerable choices. My head began to ache. I kept to a safer subject. “What’s the deal between you and my mother?”
Tanya fussed with her lipstick, one eyebrow shooting up at my question. She replaced the lid on the tube of gloss, then glanced around as if to make sure we were alone. The stall doors hung open. Empty. I assured her, “No one but you and me.”
She gave me her full attention, but I didn’t like the reluctance in her expression. “What did Susan say it was?”
Nothing. I bit down my frustration. This was going to require another approach, but since strangling the truth out of her wasn’t a good idea, I strove to be tactful. “I’d like to hear your side of it.”
She seemed about to laugh. “You’re offering me the benefit of the doubt?”
“Yes. For Meg’s sake.” I offered a smile, reining in my escalating temper and swallowing a lump of anger the size of a pincushion. “I think she would appreciate it if you and I could at least be civil.”
Tanya’s narrowed eyes were full of distrust. “Okay.”
I didn’t trust her either. But it occurred to me that, at some point, I was going to have to come to terms with her role in my best friend’s life. Like it or not. I didn’t much like it. I also didn’t like asking her for information that I should have gotten from my mother. But my need-to-know was consuming me.
“Well,” I said, encouraging her to get on with it. I realized that my body language might give away the disgust I fought to conceal and forced my arms to my sides.
Tanya leaned against the counter, arms folded, defensive. “You grew up in Weddingville. Born and raised, as they say. So I doubt you can comprehend how very unwelcoming a small town can be to newcomers.”
There was a trace of bitterness in every word that painted a visual I didn’t care for. I felt as though Tanya had grabbed me by the shoulders, forcing me to give her my full attention. I couldn’t look away. She said, “When Finn bought the café, he had such hopes for our life here. He’d sunk every penny we had into the move. I was less enamored. It seemed like we’d arrived at the end of the world. Weddingville wasn’t the bustling concern then that it is now.”
She glanced toward the mirror, finger-lifting her hair as if the distraction could further distance her from the past. “The café was not an instant success. The first three weeks? Not one customer. Do have any idea the daily cost, the wasted food, the loss in revenue? Not to mention how it makes you feel?”
She didn’t wait for me to answer. “Every day more wasted food. More and more. Our nest egg slipping through our fingers. Every day watching the door, seeing people walking past, peering in, raising our hopes. No one coming in. Do you know how it feels to watch your life failing right before your eyes and there’s nothing you can do to stop it? On the fourth week, we had two customers. Out-of-towners.”
Shame filled me. I’d always thought of my hometown as the friendliest place on Earth, where strangers and outsiders supplied our very survival. Hurt balled in my chest. Despite my personal feelings for this woman, my empathy was off the charts. I’d felt something similar when I’d moved to Los Angeles. On the outside, looking in. Off my game. As if I’d never fit in.
“Then one day, a Wednesday I recall, he walked in. The mayor. Daryl Blessing. Your daddy sat right at the counter where everyone passing by could see him, and he ordered the biggest breakfast on the menu. After that, a few others decided to give us a try, and soon, word of mouth got around that we had great food at reasonable prices. Daryl saved us. He was an incredible man, an amazing friend.”
I couldn’t speak. My worries about mascara smears fled as tears slipped from my eyes. My dad had been one of the good guys. I had so many sweet memories of his generous heart, but this was one more I would cherish.
“Eventually, he brought your mother and you around. You and Meg were the same age and hit it off right away. It seemed like we’d all be great friends. But soon I got the impression that Susan was jealous of me, the way I dressed, the way men looked at me… I’m not sure. Something. Maybe she thought Daryl paid too much attention to me.”
Her words were like stones pelting into me, smashing my empathy, shattering the sweet memories of a moment ago. Exposing a rotted center. Had my dad and her…? No. No frickin’ way. My memories of my parents were solid and clear. They were always kissing and holding hands and laughing together. I stopped just short of calling Tanya the B word again.
My face must have given me away. Tanya laughed. “You didn’t ask Susan, did you?”
“I did.” She just wouldn’t tell me. Which didn’t necessarily mean there was any truth in what Tanya had suggested. Did it? “She has a different version.”
“I’ll just bet. I think your granny was the real culprit though. She didn’t like me. Thought I was too friendly with her dear son. She probably planted a bug in Susan’s ear, stirred up the green-eyed monster with gossip that had no foundation.”
I weighed what she’d told me. Was it the truth? Or a lie with some basis of truth? I had no way to judge.
“You look so much like your daddy, Daryl Anne. Makes me sentimental. He was a hell a man.”
I sensed someone else had slipped into the ladies room. I glanced up to see my mother standing there, her face crimson, her eyes burning with hatred. She hissed, “How dare you suggest those things to my daughter about her father?”
Tanya’s shoulders squared, and she spun toward my mother, a smirk on her face. “She’s not a child any longer, Susan. You can’t protect her from the truth forever. Besides, I sugarcoated it.”
“Come on Daryl Anne,” Mom reached for me, but my feet were frozen, my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth.
“So you’d rather keep running from the truth, Susan? It’s been fifteen years. Why don’t you face it? If you’d given Daryl the divorce, he’d still be—”
Mom’s face went ashen. Her hand flew out like a whip connecting with Tanya’s cheek and rocking Tanya sideways. “Shut up. Or I swear I’ll, I’ll—”
“What?” Tanya reached up to touch her reddened face, but she didn’t back down. Her taunt came on a laugh. “You’ll kill me?”
My mother’s mouth snapped open, then shut. She was shaking all over. While I felt as if I’d been zapped into a concrete statue, paralyzed by the word divorce. By the unspoken suggestion that my father’s death was somehow connected to the hatred my mother felt for Tanya. By my mother’s rare show of violence.
But Mom seemed to call on some inner calm that I couldn’t even imagine she possessed. The soft words that spilled from her were more chilling than her fury had been. “Whatever I do, you won’t see it coming.”
Tanya blinked. Mom left without another word, without looking at me. Tanya wasn’t as kind. She took one more potshot. “That’s right, Daryl Anne. Your daddy was going to leave Susan for me.”
Sensation returned, tingling my chilled flesh with burning pinpricks while something hot and sick danced in my stomach. I don’t think I’ve ever hated anyone as much as I did her at that moment. If a weapon had been within my reach just then, she’d be lying on the fl
oor bleeding.
CHAPTER NINE
“There you are.” Meg caught me in a hug the second I reentered the banquet room. I clung to her much as I had the day of my father’s funeral. God, how I needed her at that moment. It was as if she sensed it. She was the only one I wanted to tell what had happened, what I had just learned from our mothers. But of all people, how could I tell her? The realization sent the brittle sensation from my knees to the rest of my joints, leaving me feeling as fragile as an ancient vase. One bump and I might shatter.
Maybe I should blame Meg for bringing her mother to town, for bringing on this awful string of events. But the only thing keeping me from falling over the edge of sanity was our friendship. And how could she know the harm simply wanting her mother at her wedding would do? My gaze went to Tanya. She stood near the bar, flirting with Walter as he waited for the bartender to finish fixing his drink. She stroked his tie, and Walter looked more like she’d tightened it around his throat. He seemed to be fighting the urge to shove her away.
Meg eased back, studying me, giving me time to recall my own struggles with Tanya. I tried to hide my distress, but it caught her attention. She asked, “What’s wrong?”
Damn my inability to conceal what I was thinking. One look at my face and everyone with working vision could read me like a book. “I, er, ate something that didn’t agree with me.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Was it the shrimp? I thought it tasted a bit wonky.”
“Probably.” There. I’d given myself the perfect excuse to leave. To go home and confront my mother for answers. I gave Meg another squeeze. Why wasn’t I heading to the door? The distasteful reason wormed through me. I was a coward. I didn’t want to hear that Tanya had been telling me the truth, that my beloved dad had planned to leave us and run off with her. That everything I’d ever believed about my parents’ relationship was a lie. I wanted to be the jolly maid of honor Meg expected, but if my fears were confirmed, I’d be hard pressed to find a smile.
A roar tore through my thoughts. Meg and I, along with everyone else in the room, froze, our collective gazes riveting on Big Finn. “I should’ve wrung your neck twelve years ago.”
Onlookers gasped. I felt Meg go stone-still. Her cheeks flamed, but her mouth was ringed in white. I grasped her hand as if we were eleven again, the past rearing up to catapult us back in time. Two little girls holding on to each other to outride a tumultuous storm.
Tanya tossed her head and laughed, aware of the audience but apparently not smart enough to realize the danger of egging on her furious ex. “All I said was that you’re more handsome than ever, Finn. Most men would be flattered.”
Finn brought to mind a bull about to charge. His nostrils flared as he took a step toward her. No one moved. Meg’s complexion paled and tears shone in her eyes. Pity welled in me. I know, I know. Meg had brought this on herself by inviting her mother to the wedding, but I couldn’t help feeling bad for her. This is supposed to be a happy time. And in her excitement over reestablishing a lost relationship, she hadn’t thought about possible consequences. Long or short term. I wanted to shout at her parents that this was not the time or place, but the words choked in my throat.
Seth, however, set his camera on the nearest table and rushed to intervene. He kept his voice low, but the room was as silent as a morgue and his words were not lost on anyone. “Do you think the two of you could set aside your differences and remember that you’re here to celebrate the marriage of your daughter? This is a special night for her. Would you like her to recall it forever as the evening her parents embarrassed her in front of her friends and fiancé?”
Big Finn glanced toward Meg and blanched, his chest deflating like a spent balloon. He retreated and let Zelda lead him back to his seat. A murmur went through the guests. Seth signaled the harpist to play. Realizing the excitement was over, everyone returned to whatever they’d been doing before the disruption. Some were finishing their drinks while others were readying to leave. Only then did Tanya react. Instead of offering Meg an apology, she shrugged with an innocence I couldn’t believe and mouthed an “I was trying to be nice.”
Apparently, the ploy worked. Meg wasted no time joining her.
I stood where I was, total disbelief sifting through me. But I wasn’t the only one. Ash leaned against her chair, staring after Tanya, her mouth twisted in a sneer.
“I was about to send someone into the ladies to make sure you were okay,” Seth said, standing close to my ear. I’d been so lost in murderous thoughts that I hadn’t heard or felt his approach. The warmth in his smile chased off a lingering shakiness. If I wasn’t careful, I could fall hard for this knight-in-shining-armor side of Seth.
But it was my damsel-in-need-of-rescuing side that galled me. It felt like I’d lost control of my life. I loathed the feeling. I mumbled a thank you, hoping my complexion didn’t still have that green-around-the-gills glow. Just in case it did, I added, “Something didn’t agree with me.”
“I can guess,” he said, gesturing toward Tanya and Meg, who now huddled together like conspirators plotting a war move.
“No, you can’t.” Not even close. I scanned the banquet room, but there was no sign of my mom or Billie.
“They left a while ago,” Seth said, convincing me that I’d too quickly dismissed his ability to guess. The man was a regular mind-reader. “Your mom also looked like something hadn’t agreed with her.”
“You were right,” I said, giving it up. “More like someone.”
I tried to hide my disappointment, but doubted my success. I was tired of Mom running out and avoiding my questions about Tanya, which only lent more credence to the nasty allegations. Why was I so afraid to hear the truth? What difference would it make now? None. Let Mom cool down. I needed to do the same. It occurred to me then that maybe Mom had left in a rush to avoid doing bodily harm to Tanya. The same bodily harm I wanted to do to Meg’s mom.
“Yeah,” Seth said, lifting his camera, the lens pointed toward the lady in red. “I’ve been asking myself why a woman would come to her long-lost daughter’s wedding only to stir up a lot of trouble and unhappiness.”
“Yeah, first she brings Troy to the bachelorette party, then she takes suggestive photos of them dancing, that got sent to Peter, by the way.”
“Jesus.” Seth’s camera came away from his eye.
“It caused quite a stir.” And he didn’t know the trouble she’d tried stirring up in the restroom. I stifled a shudder. “Kramer suggested Tanya was here simply to cozy up to Peter.”
I didn’t share that she’d allegedly already cozied up to him at some point in time. I wasn’t really sure I believed that. Or maybe I didn’t want to believe it.
“Not sure how that’s going to work,” Seth said on a chuckle. “Our groom seems as fond of his future mother-in-law as I am of double exposures. And going after Finn didn’t endear her to anyone.”
I nodded, frowning. “I thought he was going to have a stroke.”
Seth grinned. “He did look a bit like a boiling lobster. Hot enough to fry my camera lens.”
“I’m pretty sure you prevented her imminent demise.”
“I don’t think Finn would have seriously done her harm.”
“Don’t you?” I wished I was so certain. I’d never seen such hatred in someone’s eyes. It chilled me just recalling it.
“You think he might have hurt her?”
I shrugged. “I’m surprised Peter didn’t intervene.”
“He isn’t here. He left about an hour ago with his agent.”
“What?” I scanned the room as if to prove him wrong, but he wasn’t. Indignation raised my hackles. “I get his celebrity mind-set of arriving late, but this isn’t Hollywood. You don’t show up late to a party you’re hosting. And you sure as hell don’t leave before your guests.” Note to self: give the actor a book on etiquette for Christmas.
“Guess he thinks rules don’t apply to him,” Seth said. “Oh, say, I got a slew of great photos. I hope you
’ll have time to look them over before you head back to L.A. and let me know which ones you think I should suggest for their wedding album. Wow, can you believe tomorrow at this time, Meg and Peter will be married?”
His words caught me by surprise. As much as I wished nothing but the best for Meg, it hadn’t really sunk in how very different our lives would be going forward. But they would be. She’d be married to a big film and TV star. I’d still be a Key Wardrobe. A single woman in L.A. I’d still be invited to parties at their house, and we’d have the occasional girls’ night out, but she was going to be busy. Probably too busy for me.
No. Don’t dwell on that. If you do, you won’t get through tomorrow. “Sure, I’d love to go over those photos with you.”
“Great.”
I peered into those sexy brown eyes and swore I saw something different there, something like interest in me as more than an old pal. My heart beat a little faster. This was a sweet wrap to a sour couple of days, but it was also dangerous. Don’t fall for a guy you can’t have a serious relationship with, Daryl Anne. Heartache City. Not a destination I wanted to book.
“Seth… I…”
“Yes?” He leaned toward me and something hot curled in my lower body. Something kind of delicious.
“Er, uh, I’m heading home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He looked disappointed, but didn’t push it. “Sure. Sweet dreams, Blessing.”
I went to the table to get my purse, intending to let Meg know that I was leaving. But when I saw her, I stayed put. Tanya had her ear, waving her hands as she spoke in quiet undertones. Conning Meg, I was sure. Acting like the victim. Playing her everyone-hates-me card to the only person in the room who might believe that innocent act. Meg could be a strong advocate for an underdog. That fierce loyalty was a gift. I hoped she didn’t forget that she’d inherited that gift from her dad, who I noticed had also gone.
As I headed toward the door, Ash stopped me. “What’s up with that woman? Meg should be bubbling over with joy and anticipation. But look at that crease between her brows. And she’s nibbling on her lower lip. If this keeps up, she’ll have frown lines only a Botox injection or plastic surgery can erase. We need to rescue her.”