Page 40
Fear rushes through me as memories overcome me.
The fruity cocktail from my honeymoon…
The glass of wine on my birthday…
The first glass of water I had after spending days locked up…
A tremble takes over my hand, and I lower the glass before I spill it. Tears gather in my eyes, but I blink as fast as I can to keep them at bay. No one notices. Thankfully, everyone around me is immersed in conversation, unaware of my panic.
Except…Alex.
Without saying a word, his hand reaches across me, his fingers wrapping around the stem. He lifts the glass to his lips and takes a slow drink, swallowing before setting it back down in front of me. His eyes meet mine. There’s no pity in them. No questions. No judgment.
Only understanding.
I press my lips together, fighting the emotions threatening to spill over the edge. Taking a deep breath, I grasp the glass and lift it to my mouth. I try a small sip, letting the fizzy, cool liquid float over my tongue before swallowing it without fear.
“Thank you,” I whisper as I set my glass down.
He offers a barely perceptible nod before picking up his fork and spearing a slice of prosciutto, allowing the conversation around us to continue as though nothing had happened between us.
“So, Charlotte,” Alina begins, setting down her fork. “Are you a reader?”
Madeleine groans, rolling her eyes. “Here we go.”
“What?” Alina turns to Madeleine. “Reading is a perfectly reasonable conversation topic.”
“It is,” Madeleine agrees. “However, it’s your only conversation topic.”
Mauro kisses Alina’s temple, grinning, while I think, signing something.
Alina waves a dismissive hand. “Ignore them.”
I smooth a cloth napkin over my lap. “Probably not as much as I should.” I smile apologetically. “I don’t think I’ve read a book from beginning to end since school.”
“Oh?” Scarlett’s head tilts. “Where did you go to school? Somewhere around here?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I attended a boarding school in Connecticut specializing in the arts and then…” Then my dreams of attending art school were shattered when I was forced to marry Garrett the day after graduation. I clear my throat and reach for my glass. “And then I got married.”
An uncomfortable silence settles over the table.
Every person is unsure what to say.
I take a small sip of my water before carefully setting the glass back down.
“And what was your focus?” Cecilia asks gently, rescuing everyone from the awkwardness.
I look over at her. “Oil paintings.” A slight smile curves my lips. “I wasn’t particularly good at them, but…” My fingers twist anxiously together beneath the table. “My school had this beautiful garden, and I’d spend an entire day there with my easel, getting lost in the colors and scents of the flowers.” I look up, and my smile fades when I see everyone’s attention on me. “I’m sorry. I’m rambling.”
“No,” Cecilia says warmly. She exchanges a knowing look with Alex before smiling at me. “I think you’ve ended up exactly where you’re meant to be.”
My brows furrow, but before I can ask what she means, Scarlett leans forward excitedly. “You should come with me on Monday to help me pick out flowers for my wedding!”
“Oh, I…” I glance at Alex, unsure what to say.
“Please,” Scarlett adds sweetly. “I’d love another opinion. Alina and Madeleine both have work, and someone has to stop me from buying every rose in New York.”
Leo slides his arm over the back of her chair. “You can buy every rose in the world, Firefly.” He grips her chin and tilts her face his way. “Remember, there’s no limit. I want this to be the wedding of your dreams.” He presses a kiss to her lips, and she melts under his touch.
