He didn’t comment.
They stared at the front of the house and Isadora sighed. “I guess I have to go in there. It’s strange how it feels like my house until he returns. Then it’s like I have nothing, like I’m a guest in my own home.”
“You know you could move, get a smaller place for you and Toni. The change might do you good.”
“As crazy as it sounds, I love this house. I know it’s too big for us and not mine, but … I feel like this is where Mommy is, where her spirit lives.”
“I get it. I’ve actually been thinking about the country house, but I’m waiting until I have the money to buy it outright.”
The country house was where their mother was buried, where they used to spend their springs. “Daddy will never sell it.”
“He will if the price is right. Despite all his posturing, everything has a price.”
It hurt to know their father would give up the home where their mother rested, to know Lucian already realized that fact. “You’re too young to be so cynical, Lucian.”
“So are you.”
She laughed. Maybe they all were. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He surprised her with his easy response. “I’ll call you tomorrow about taking Toni out before I leave.”
She hugged him goodbye and took her time making it into the house. When she reached the second floor her sister’s door creaked open. “Isa?”
She went to her. “Why aren’t you asleep?”
“Please don’t leave me here alone with them again.”
“What happened?”
“They’re horrible. Tibet only speaks French—but I know she’s fluent in English—and Daddy insists I speak her language, because she’s our guest . Then she has the nerve to correct my pronunciation. And Daddy keeps making comments about my weight.”
Isadora’s teeth locked. That was the sort of thoughtless parenting he excelled at. His cruel comments were just words to him, but to his children they became badges of shame permanently tattooed on their character.
“I’m sorry, baby. Don’t listen to them. There’s nothing wrong with your body. They’re leaving soon anyway and tomorrow Lucian’s taking you out.”
Her mood immediately brightened. “He is?”
“Yes. Before you know it, everything will be back to normal.”
“When are they leaving?”
“Wednesday.”
“Thank God.” Toni’s body sagged against the door with relief.
“Thank God,” Isadora echoed.
Wednesday couldn’t come fast enough.
Chapter Nine
“A life is meant to be lived, not placed upon a shelf.”
~Shamus Callahan
Life took on a new pace, a sort of rapid momentum that never quite waned. Winters unfurled into springs, followed by sweltering summers, and everyone seemed to be on the right path, heading toward different goals.
Although Isadora still didn’t have the time to be a full time student, she moved around her schedule and made room in her life to take some classes here and there. She’d taken a pottery class and created some dreadful art pieces. Tap dancing, which turned out to be a humiliation she couldn’t bring herself to share with others, but a decent workout. And then she moved on to Italian, which was just challenging enough.
She promised herself if she mastered the language she’d treat herself to a long vacation on the Amalfi coast one day. Perhaps Sawyer would go with her and they could openly be a couple there.
Lucian, to no one’s surprise, did exactly as he said. As soon as the market turned in his favor, he pulled half of his investments and made an offer on their family’s country home. Their father had the good sense to turn him down, appearing to have a conscience for a split second, but when Lucian came at him with a better offer the following winter he crumbled.
Toni was too preoccupied with her own life to care that the family she hardly remembered was tearing at the seams. She seemed satisfied enough just to know they had another home to visit, one with a heated pool in a beautiful countryside, where she claimed her brother would host her sweet sixteen—which was still three years away. But according to Toni, such parties took as much time to plan as a wedding.
Her sister seemed in such a rush to age. Isadora tried to explain that nothing fun happened once you were an adult, but her sage advice fell on deaf ears.
Sawyer had become a constant in Isadora’s life. They still met on Mondays, and very rarely in between. Sometime around their two-year anniversary Isadora admitted—only to herself—that she was in love with him.
He never made any promises about their future, and as time passed Isadora’s need to know where things were leading faded. They were clearly committed to each other, and whether he labeled it or not, they were in a relationship.
Sawyer was more than her lover. He was her closest friend, her confidant, and her happiness.
By the time Lucian entered his junior year of college, he started making comments about how tedious his education was becoming. She feared he wouldn’t finish his degree, but on the same hand, she feared encouraging him to stick it out was a waste of time. Lucian did what he wanted.
There was no doubt her brother had arrived, a man bursting with ambition and wise beyond his years. She supposed certain traits were simply genetic.
It was impossible not to envy him, his confidence, his courage to demand satisfaction from every corner of the world as if it was his due. He was a distant storm that fascinated her and although he was younger, she admired him greatly. His determination to make something of himself often encouraged her to do the same.
The invitation to Vivian Callahan’s wedding came the following spring. The event was scheduled for that August and Toni was thrilled that she’d garnered a place on the guest list, claiming this was some implication that she was one of the grown-ups.
According to her sister, no ordinary dress would do. Their summer consisted of multiple shopping sprees and many disagreements.
“But I like this dress,” Toni argued one afternoon in the Neiman Marcus dressing room.
“Toni, you can’t wear that. Daddy’s going to be there and he’ll have my head if he sees you dressed like that.”
“Why?” she scoffed, clearly outraged. “I like the way I look.”
Perhaps a little too much.
For all the curves Isadora lacked, her sister certainly made up for the both of them. On the cusp of fourteen, she was built like a seventeen-year-old pinup model.
“I said no. Take it off.”
“Damn it, Isa. Why can’t I get it? You’re not the one paying for it.”
“Hey, don’t you swear at me. Either try on something else or we’re leaving with nothing.”
Her sister glared at her for a long moment, but Isadora didn’t bend. With a huff, Toni turned and marched into the dressing room, muttering under her breath.
“Everyone else gets to buy whatever the hell they want with Daddy’s money, but I don’t get a choice in anything. I hate being the baby.”
“Antoinette.”
“Fine,” she grumbled. “I’m almost sixteen you know.”
“Let’s get through fourteen and fifteen first, hmm?” Yes, they all knew she was growing up, but no one else credited teenage milestones with the significance her sister presumed.
They settled on a classy “pink” dress that exposed her shoulders, but hid superfluous cleavage.
“What about you?” Toni asked, as they searched for shoes.
“Oh, I’ll just wear one of the dresses in my closet.”
Toni rolled her eyes. “Buy something new, Isa. It’s a wedding. Your future husband might be there.”
“A wedding isn’t a sophomore mixer, Toni. It’s supposed to be about the bride and groom.”
“I’m happy for Vivian,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to miss out on a chance to dance with my future husband.”
“Lord give me strength,” Isadora
muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. “You are aware that most of the guests will be adults? Vivian invited you as a courtesy to us. I don’t think many kids will be there.”
“You’re wrong. She invited me as a courtesy to Shamus. He promised to dance with me.”
Isadora frowned. “Toni… You know Jamie’s just a friend, right? He’s too old for you.”
“He’s only seven years older than me.”
“And you’re only thirteen. It’s illegal. I don’t want to hear anything more about it. It’s totally inappropriate.”
A twinge of hypocrisy gave her pause, but what she had with Sawyer was certainly not comparable to her thirteen-year-old sister having a crush on her brother’s twenty-year-old friend. She wanted to make sure Toni understood why her feelings were not okay.
“If a twenty-year-old came near you in that way he’d go to jail, Antoinette.”
She snorted, not measuring Isadora’s warning with any sort real concern. “So would Lucian, because you know he’d kill the guy. Trust me, Isa. I know what’s appropriate and what’s not. But I’m going to dance with Shamus at his sister’s wedding and I don’t need you making a big deal about it.”
She decided she’d have a word with Lucian about their sister’s little crush and let him make sure his friend wasn’t unintentionally encouraging her feelings in any way.
Toni talked her into buying a gown that—by the time they were on their way home—Isadora regretted purchasing. The back was cut so low the slightest draft would tickle parts of her best left hidden. But Toni, with her impetuous persistence, insisted she needed this dress.
It was deep violet, which was as good as black to Isa, and cut rather simply in the front. But the back… That was going to make her uncomfortable all night. She’d likely wind up wearing one of the plain gowns in her closet.
She mentioned the Shamus situation to Lucian, who assured her his friend was not interested in some kid . He’d even gone as far as asking Shamus, which, in turn, mortified the poor man and embarrassed all of them for even thinking such absurdities needed clarification.
In the end, Isadora was relieved, but Toni was furious when her brother teased her about her crush.
“How could you tell him? I trusted you! God, I can’t talk to you about anything!” He sister stormed off to her bedroom.
Isadora contemplated the value of friendship with her sister and hoped moments like that didn’t damage their chances of getting along in the future.
Their father would return to Folsom for the wedding, but announced he’d be staying at his hotel rather than at the family estate—something they were all grateful to hear. Knowing he’d be in attendance at the reception meant Isadora couldn’t expect a moment alone with Sawyer, so she made the most out of their time before her father returned to town.
Lying next to Sawyer in his bed, she trailed her fingers over his chest. “You know what I was thinking?”
“What?”
“I think we should take a trip to Italy. I haven’t been there since I was little and I’m getting pretty fluent at Italian. We could take a vacation, rent a vista overlooking the Mediterranean, make love with the windows wide open in the warm sea air. No one would bother us there.”
He smiled and caught her hand. “That sounds lovely. But people would notice we both went at the same time.”
“Only if we told them. You could say you’re going to Spain. Who would know?”
Her stomach pinched with familiar longing. She was growing tired of hiding their relationship, certain if people knew they’d been dating for so long they’d understand outside opinions were insignificant at this point.
“But you would tell Lucian and Toni you were going to Italy?”
She shrugged. “You could just tell Slade the truth.” Maybe starting with Slade was the first step. Then over time they could broach the subject with her family.
He sighed. “Isadora, things are peaceful. No one bothers us the way things are. And if the news got back to your father…”
Her father missed nothing and he was the last person she wanted involved in her personal life. Things had gotten very nasty between him and Lucian in the past year. She wasn’t sure if learning of his daughter’s ongoing affair with his trusted partner might push him over the edge. She certainly didn’t want any severe consequences to affect Sawyer’s job.
“It was just a thought.”
“And a nice one.” He lifted her hand and kissed the backs of her fingers. “I’m not saying no, but I don’t know if this is the right time. I promise I’ll take you one day—when the time’s right.”
Satisfied that he’d made the promise, she let her other concerns go for now. Eventually they’d find normal and all of this sneaking around would end.
Lucian had somehow acquired a private driver for the wedding. The chauffeur, not much older than herself, was named Dugan and had a very intimidating presence. But despite his gigantic height and unshakable expression, he seemed like a nice man. The limo, one from their father’s fleet, had been washed and readied for the evening.
Dugan wasn’t the only unexpected guest. Just as Isadora fastened the clasp on her earring, her bedroom door burst open.
“Oh my god, Isa, you’re never going to believe this!” Toni exploded, shutting the door at her back.
“You scared the crap out of me! What’s wrong?”
“Lucian brought a date. ”
She frowned at her sister. “So?”
“Not just a date. A girlfriend . She said she’s been dying to meet us, and her and Lucian have been seeing each other for over a month!”
Isadora’s mouth opened. “ Our brother?”
“Yes!”
Her lips slowly curved into a smile and she quickly collected her clutch. “What’s does she look like?”
“Super pretty. Blonde—not natural, but flawless. Skinny. Tall.”
Her heart raced with anticipation to meet this woman who had spent a considerable period of time with her brother. “He didn’t tell me he was in a relationship.”
The idea thrilled her. Lucian needed a steady woman in his life. Someone who could ground him and make him see there was more to life than financial advancement spurred by their vindictive father.
But the second she set eyes on his date—Monique—she knew she wasn’t the right woman for her brother. She couldn’t decide what was off about her. She was stunning to say the least, but not right for Lucian.
After only five minutes in the woman’s presence Isadora picked up on a shallowness that could make anyone unattractive. While Monique showed great interest in Lucian’s attire, cars, and assets, there was a lack of any deep interest in Lucian himself. It struck Isadora as odd that this was the woman he chose to settle in with after years of proclaiming he didn’t have time for anything serious.
The ceremony was lovely and the reception was a lavish affair. Shamus’s sister—the newly titled Dr. Vivian Sheffield—was a stunning bride. She’d certainly grown into a striking woman. The fact that she was also smart made her the whole package. Isadora hoped this Sheffield man was everything Vivian deserved.
While there was a familiar flicker of envy in watching another friend get married, Isadora harbored no resentment. It was Vivian’s time. Isadora’s time would come. Eventually she’d have her happy ending just like the rest of her friends.
They were seated adjacent from their father and Tibet’s table, which she also suspected was where Sawyer would sit. What she hadn’t anticipated was his plus one —or the fact that he’d bring a date, knowing full well she’d be in attendance.
Unfortunately, life lessons sometimes had a way of creating natural consequences that needed little translation. Painful truths were indeed excruciating.
Sawyer’s date appeared in her mid-forties. Her clothing spoke of a secure bank account and her jewelry was tasteful. None of that mattered, however, because Isadora hated her on the spot.
The moment her gaze crossed with his, Isad
ora started to shake. How could he humiliate her like this with no warning? This was not a benefit for some charity. It was a wedding for a mutual friend.
When Slade sat himself beside Monique at their table, Isadora casually gathered information. “Is your father dating?”
Slade’s eyes, much like Sawyer’s, danced with humor. “Hardly. You should have seen what I had to go through to convince him to bring a date tonight.”
So this was partially Slade’s doing. That helped ease a bit of her outrage. Although, if they’d just come out of the closet, no one would be trying to fix either of them up.
Very aware that she was frowning, she distracted herself by staring around the room, but her jaw wouldn’t unlock and her scowl wouldn’t relax.
Although no one else knew Sawyer had humiliated her with his date, her response to the situation was not flattering and people at the table were starting to give her questioning looks. Escaping to the bar, she ordered a glass of chardonnay and prayed it was a good year.
“You okay?” Lucian asked, surprising her at the bar and ordering a cocktail of his own.
“Fine.”
“You look like you’re going to be sick. Do you want to get some air?”
She hesitated, glancing to Sawyer’s table where his date held court with all the men. “Yes, okay.”
Lucian walked her outside and they took a path into a garden lined with stone benches. “Is it Dad? Did he say something to upset you?”
“No, I’m just bad with crowds.”
He frowned, likely wondering when that had happened. Providing a distraction, he said, “Vivian’s a beautiful bride.”
“She is. Classy. There’s always been something timeless about her.”
He nodded.
She wished Lucian would find someone like that—beautiful without realizing how much. Maybe that was what was wrong with his girlfriend, she seemed too in love with herself to form any real affection for anyone else.
“How long have you been dating Monique?”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t call it dating.”
“What would you call it?” That was the impression the woman gave Toni.
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