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“I’m not having this discussion now,” Rita said.
Dad turned to Grayson. “You know about her ex-husband, don't you?”
“Yes.” Grayson smiled. “And she knows about my ex-wife. We’ve shared everything with each other and we’re very happy together. We’re going to make an even happier family. You have nothing to worry about.”
Thankfully the server arrived with appetizers, distracting everyone with mouthwatering aromas. Rita selected a little of something from each of the shared plates then dug in, trying to ignore the chatter around her.
Grayson squeezed her leg, making her think her parents were saying something negative about her again.
She could get through one meal. Then after this, she would eat with other people. Friends, kids, anyone but her parents. Her siblings were questionable. She’d have to find out if they felt the same way as her parents. Given none of them had reached out to her after everything she’d been through, it seemed obvious where their allegiances lay. On the other hand, given her father’s controlling nature, he could’ve very well prevented her sisters and brother from calling her.
Not that she needed them. She’d gotten through her toughest time with the help of her friends. Family members were assigned by birth, but not friends. They were there because they wanted to be. These were the people she could trust — the ones who had been there for her through thick and thin.
Laughter roared around the table.
Rita glanced up, pretty sure she didn’t want to know what was so funny. Probably something about her. She glanced at Grayson, who just rolled his eyes.
She was definitely better off not knowing.
Once she emptied her plate of appetizers, she excused herself to use the restroom. It was much easier to breathe without having to be so close to her parents and their cutting remarks. At least there were enough activities and other people at the hotel that she should be able to easily avoid them for the rest of the weekend. As the bride, she had the freedom to do as she pleased.
That would make it so much more bearable. She would make sure to ask Ariana and the twins to help her keep a permanent distance between her and her parents. Then once she and Grayson climbed into the limo to head for their honeymoon, she wouldn’t have to worry about seeing them again. They had shown absolutely no interest in their grandchild growing in her belly, so she wouldn’t waste another thought about them pushing their way back into her life.
Rita spent extra time in the bathroom adjusting her hair, poking at her dress, and studying her makeup.
She was stalling. And she didn’t care. The less time she had to spend with her family, the better. It had probably been a mistake to invite them, but Grayson had insisted it was a gesture of goodwill.
It would be the last one she extended.
For now, she needed to get through the meal, and it wasn’t fair to leave Grayson at the table to deal with them on his own. Even though including them had been his idea.
She looked at her eyes in the mirror and stared herself down. “You can do this. It’s just one hour, and then you can turn your focus to Grayson. He’s the only one who matters. This whole weekend is about us, not anyone else.”
Her feet still didn’t budge.
She couldn’t spend the entire meal in the bathroom. This was all about celebrating her wedding.
Rita took several deep breaths before standing tall, exiting the restroom, then walking with purpose down the hallway.
The tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. A chill ran down her back. It felt like someone was watching her.
She quickly turned to look but nobody was in the hall. All the doors were closed.
As her breath hitched, she narrowed her eyes and crept the rest of the way back toward the noisy restaurant. But the sounds of friends and family didn’t ease her discomfort.
The leaves of a large potted plant moved. Or was it her imagination?
“Is someone there?”
She marched toward the miniature tree.
Silence.
“Show yourself!”
Nothing.
Rita pushed the branches out of the way.
