Page 21 of Love, Hate, Love

“But that happened the day you got home. How many paintings did you get shipped?”

I tried not to look at Kade, but he was definitely looking at me. He was like a bloodhound when he caught a scent, had always been that way, and I was hoping he was so convinced that I was some sort of thief that he wouldn’t believe anything she said. But I had to get this conversation shifted before he picked up the scent. From the feel of his burning attention on me, I wasn’t sure it was possible to throw him off.

“Look, it’s done. I screwed up. Now how’s the wedding planning going?” Kade was still staring at me with an intensity that made me squirm in the seat.

“How’s it going? Horrible. Everything is horrible. I’m getting married in less than a month and I lost my maid of honor! How could my planning be anything but a disaster?”

She talked about each detail going wrong. She continued for so long that I could only hope she’d bored Kade into a coma, erasing any of the previous details I’d prefer to bury.

I had to cut her off after a few more minutes to squeeze in the rest of my calls.

I called Monroe next, which was short and sweet, because all he cared about was that I had enough time to call our mother.

I dialed her next and quickly launched into a disclosure before she could humiliate me more, if that were possible. “Mom, Kade is in the room listening. It’s part of the contract that he monitors my phone calls.”

“Oh, Kade is there? Hello? Kade? Can you hear me?” She sounded like a groupie. When had he reached star level? Did she not realize that even though he was technically doing Monroe a favor for some unknown reason, he was my mortal enemy? Or had I forgotten to mention that to her?

I might not have told her that, now that I thought of it. It would’ve led to questions I hadn’t wanted to answer.

“I’m here, Mrs. Loode. How are you?” Gone was his impatient tone, replaced by some fake pleasantry.

“I’m well. It’s so wonderful to hear your voice. We haven’t spoken in so long. I can’t thank you enough for taking care of our little Leah. I know she did wrong. It’s so generous that you stepped up in spite of what she did and welcomed her into your home.”

“Of course, Mrs. Loode. It’s not a problem.”

Not a problem? That wasn’t the song and dance I got. Nice act. Next he’d be marching out the dancing penguins.

I let her gush another five minutes before I decided that Kade didn’t need his ego inflated any more and I couldn’t handle another second of hearing how he’d saved her daughter.

“Mom, I’ve got go. I have more calls I have to squeeze in, and I only get thirty minutes.”

“Oh, but?—”

“I can’t debate this with you. I have to go. I’ll try to call you next week.” I hung up, immediately hating how sharp my tone had gotten.

It wasn’t her fault I was here. Iknewthat. She didn’t even know the truth, and yet I couldn’t stop the rage from boiling up and spilling out onto her.

But the thing I couldn’t quite get past was her bringingthat maninto our lives. If she hadn’t, if she had been just a little more aware of things and not so blind…

It didn’t matter. It was done and I’d get through this year.

“You done?” Kade asked, glaring at me like he hadn’t in at least the past day. So what if he judged me a little more? Whatever.

“No. I have to make one last call.”

“Then make it,” he said, clearly looking to wrap this up.

If I’d had a modicum of privacy, this would’ve been the first call I made. But I hadn’t, and now I was dreading it.

I dialed Greg’s number. I’d told him I was going to call Sunday, that it was the only day I could call, but he wasn’t answering.

I’d told him he wouldn’t recognize the number. He should be answering all his calls today.

Kade raised an eyebrow. I hit end as soon as voicemail hit.

I redialed. Greg had probably just been in the bathroom or had his hands full.

It rang until the machine came on again, and I hung up. Maybe he’d had an emergency he needed to handle.

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