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Vaughn’s hand slipped around my waist and it was the only reason I didn’t collapse in a heap.
Eloise reached her hand forward. “Kate. Leo. So good to see you here.” She grinned.
“How are you, Eloise?” Vaughn was the first to respond. He took her hand while I was still paralyzed with shock and fear.
“You all know each other?” Aubrey looked between us.
“Eloise was also our realtor,” Vaughn explained. “Small world I guess.”
“I guess so.” Aubrey pulled another champagne glass from a moving tray.
“Kate, how is the flat?” Eloise asked.
I wanted to yell and scream. I wanted to throw my clutch and lose my mind in a wild tantrum. I wanted to shout that she couldn’t do this. She couldn’t steal my happiness. She couldn’t take our freedom. She had no right to enslave us this way.
“It’s great, Eloise. I should have you over sometime soon to see it. I’m done except I still need an area rug in the sunroom off our bedroom.”
“I’d be happy to give you some suggestions.”
Aubrey almost dropped her glass, but Vaughn caught her arm. “Oops.” She giggled. “When does dinner start? I might need some food and less champagne.”
“It could be now. I think I see people taking seats,” Vaughn answered. “Let’s find Paul and our seats.” He turned to Eloise. “Good seeing you again.”
“You too.” She smirked at me. “Enjoy your evening, Kate.”
Vaughn maneuvered Aubrey and me through the wealthy crowd. Paul was locked in conversation with another scientist about a program he didn’t want to use. It felt as if I was underwater. Everything was muffled and distant, even though I was only inches away.
It was over. The escape was destroyed. Eloise had been a step ahead of us the entire time. She was like a circling vulture. She always had been. Had I been naïve? Too trusting in Vaughn’s ability to plan? Overconfident? How the hell had this happened?
I stared at the soup that was placed in front of me.
Vaughn squeezed my leg under the table. “Try it,” he urged.
“I-I can’t eat.”
“Yes, you can,” he whispered. “You have to.”
The tables sat twelve in a large circle. We were seated with Paul and Aubrey along with four other couples. Paul had begun introductions, dropping in details about how he had known someone from working on the board or from crossing paths along his own adoption journey. I didn’t bother trying to keep them straight. None of it mattered.
“Paul, guess what?” Aubrey questioned her husband.
“What, cher?”
She smiled. “I talked to Kate about the gallery and she wants to do it. We’re going to be partners.”
“Wonderful news.” He grinned at me. He also seemed a little drunk. His cheeks were rosy. “You two work well together.”
“Yes, they are going to kill it,” Vaughn added. “I can’t wait to see the gallery.”
I looked at him. How could he keep going like there weren’t a million reasons to fall apart right now? How did he stay cool? Engaged in stupid details?
I tried a spoonful of the soup. Everyone said it was a delicate blend of spices. I tasted nothing.
I pushed back in my chair. “If you’ll excuse me. I’m going to the powder room.”
The gentlemen at the table rose as I exited and walked at a brisk pace. It was too fast and sudden, but I needed air. I needed my own private escape.
I paced inside the lounge. Every time I pivoted I caught a swirl of the dark velvet wallpaper. The 3D effect on the walls was dizzying.
