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“You’re the one that paid twenty grand last minute, right?” says a wrinkle-free woman in a red suit with chin-length red hair. She speaks with a no-nonsense tone and a sarcastic smile on her face, and already I like her immensely.
“That’s me,” I admit sheepishly, fighting the blush from my cheeks. “They told me that all the seats for today’s event were taken, though they’d be happy for my donation, at any rate. But I didn’t mind paying a little extra for a seat at the table. It’s all for a good cause, anyway.”
Mrs. Lancaster slowly lowers her cup of coffee in centuries-old fine china instead of a proper coffee mug, the American way. I hate the Plaza.
“Yes,” she says smoothly, pulling the attention from me to her. “She’s a close family friend.”
Mrs. Lancaster is in a purple suit, with her hair tucked back on her head in an exquisite French twist.
I’m trembling, but I can’t decide if it’s nerves or anger. I should tell everyone right now that two weeks ago, I was her future daughter-in-law. But I wouldn’t do that to Remi, as much as it would make me feel good.
“That reminds me!” I say, sounding all the world like a ditz. I cluck my tongue against my teeth and tilt my head with a self-deprecating smile. “I’d completely forgotten. I left something in my car—a gift for Mr. Lancaster, since we missed his birthday last month. Would you be willing to walk with me to the valet, Barbara?” I rise without waiting for her answer, pulling my phone from my clutch and tucking the purse under my arm. “I’ll text my driver now so he’ll meet us up there. We’ll be back before the presentation starts, promise.”
The hag gives me a gracious smile, an exasperated “kids these days” falling from her tongue with skillful execution. She places her unused napkin folded over her unused dinner plate and rises from the table like a queen.
“If you’d excuse us, ladies. It appears I’m taking a stroll to the valet,” she says on a sigh. “I need to get my steps in anyway.”
Her circle of sycophants laughs, giving her knowing and agreeing smiles. Not wanting her to get away, I move my clutch under my other armpit, then wrap my arm around hers. When we’re far enough away that her circle of friends can’t hear us anymore, she hisses in my ear.
“What game do you think you’re playing?” she demands, her voice like venom despite the genial smile still stuck across her face.
“A woman will do desperate things for the person she loves. Though I suppose you don’t know that, having never been in love yourself.”
She yanks her arm out of my grip, and I follow where she leads into a hidden nook off to the side of the dining hall.
“What do you want with me, child?”
What do I want? I didn’t actually think that far ahead. I wanted to see her. I needed to look into her eyes and know how she can treat her son—her only child—in the deplorable way she does.
“I want to know why you’re doing this to Remi. Can’t you see you’re breaking his heart? He told us about seeking you out. He tried to tell you then, but you laughed in his face. How could you?”
Her eyes flare wide, and anger seeps from her pores, her back as rigid as a pole.
“How could I?” she whispers with deadly fury. “How could you? You’re married, Julia! Married! You come at me, but I’ve never broken my marriage vows. You manipulated my son to think he was in love? To give up everything he’s been raised for to live in sin with a married white couple. How couldyou, Julia? You’re deplorable. Family values,” she scoffs, ripping her eyes away from mine like she can’t even look at me.
“I do love him!” I demand hotly. “We love him! Why is that so hard for you to understand? Man and wife only became the norm with the advent of the Bible. I hate to break it to you, but sex and love have existed for a heck of a lot longer than that.Welove him! But do you?”
My voice is rising, and I swallow down my rage to even out my tone. My hands are shaking and my chest is heaving, but I took an anxiety pill before leaving the house, expecting this to happen. Not fighting with Remi’s mother, per se. But knowing I was pushing to my limit. Justin doesn’t know I’m here today, and I can’t risk having a panic attack when he’s in classes halfway across town. Besides, cornering Remi’s mother probably goes against the wait-and-see approach Justin thinks we should be taking.
“Of course, I do!” she seethes, glancing at me before looking away again.
“How can you claim to love your son when your type of love makes him miserable? He’s heartbroken and lonely. Have you seen him since your husband destroyed his heart? Don’t you care at all that we’re dying inside because of you? Shouldn’t his happiness be more important than stock prices?”
She doesn’t answer me, instead staring out into the distance, eyes focused on nothing. I move until I’m in front of her and force her to meet my gaze.
“I want to have his children, Mrs. Lancaster. We’re not trash off the street. We’re not tricking him into a situation against his knowledge. I don’t want him for his money. We love him. I love Remi as much as I love Justin. We make him happy. Why isn’t that enough for you?”
I’m crying again, but just barely, thank god. I roughly wipe the drops away, hoping it doesn’t smear my makeup. Every woman knows waterproof mascara may work against the ocean, but it stands no hope against her tears.
“Wealth and influence mean nothing if you die with no one to hold your hand. He may be your son, but he won’t love you, not if you continue to push this life onto him that he doesn’t want. You’ll be as alone as he is.”
“He won’t be alone,” she snaps, finally looking me in the eye. “There are plenty of suitable women out there, worthy of the Lancaster name.”
Ouch.
I can’t help but flinch. That hurts more than I thought it would.
“And that made you happy?” I press, seeing the building collapse behind her eyes. “When you make love with your husband, do youfeelloved? When was the last time someone held you in their arms and whispered they loved you in your ears? Before you were married, perhaps? Never?”
