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She had a good mind to walk up and tell him she’d decided she did trust him. Just to watch him try to squirm his way out of that one. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of rejecting her, of telling her that he’d been joking, that he’d only offered a relationship under duress.
No, she wouldn’t ever give Oz Manning the opportunity to hurt her again.
An hour later the event was in full swing. A stage dominated the far end of the ballroom. The band played to the right. Buffet-style snack foods and tables occupied the opposite end of the room.
The event was sold out to the room’s full capacity. Which was great for Dr Talbot. Horrible for Blair’s stomach.
“You don’t look like you’re having a very good time,” Dr Talbot mused from where he sat beside her. After the MC had introduced him to the crowd he’d been pushed in his wheelchair to the table closest to the stage. Seats had been reserved next to him in Blair, Reesee and Addy’s name. They had a perfect view of the stage. Addy took every detail in with excitement, insisting on sampling the chocolate fountain and strawberries.
Reesee had volunteered to go with her as chocolate was involved.
Blair forced a smile to her face. “I feel like I should be doing something to help Stephanie, but she insists I stay with you, which I enjoy. But big shindigs like this aren’t my usual cup of tea.”
“Mine either,” he agreed. “Who likes all this attention?”
But there was a light in his eyes she hadn’t seen in weeks. A sparkle that said he was enjoying all the hoopla even if he implied otherwise.
For that alone, all the work they’d done had been worth it.
Blair followed Dr Talbot’s gaze and smiled for real at what she found him watching.
“Stephanie really went all-out to make sure this was a spectacular party, didn’t she?” Blair leaned closer to him and placed her hand on his upper arm.
“Yes, she goes all-out in everything she does. Reminds me of Selma.”
That was something she’d never heard him say before.
“Stephanie reminds you of your late wife?”
Dr Talbot nodded. “In ways. In others they are as unique as night and day.”
His ache infected Blair. How sad it must be to have loved someone so completely only to have to watch them die. To go on with life without the person you most loved.
Blair’s eyes watered. “You miss her, don’t you?”
&nbs
p; “Selma?” His pale eyes took on a faraway gleam. “Every minute of every day.”
“I can’t imagine having a love like that.”
“Can’t you?” Dr Talbot’s gaze shifted to her.
Despite her feelings for Oz, they were never meant to be. Eventually, he would have left her. Then she’d have been alone, nursing a broken heart; alone, trying to explain to Addy why Oz was no longer a part of their life. So she pretended to misunderstand.
“What I had with Chris was nothing like what you and Selma shared.”
“I wasn’t referring to Addy’s father. I was referring to Oz.” Dr Talbot placed his hand over hers, giving her a fatherly pat. “But you already knew that.”
Her gaze shifted to where Oz stood with a group of women. All evening he’d gone from one group to another, working the crowd. He checked on Dr Talbot periodically, but otherwise he stayed away from their table.
“I don’t love Oz.” She plastered what she hoped was a convincing look on her face.
She wouldn’t place the burden of her broken heart on their mutual friend. She wouldn’t have him pushing Oz to say things he didn’t mean in an effort to spare her. Oz didn’t love her. If he did, he’d have told her last night.
“Are you sure about that?”
Absently rubbing her sternum, Blair nodded. “I’m sure. He’s too much like Chris for me to ever take him seriously.”
