Page 62 of The Next Mrs. Parrish

My shoulders slump in defeat. “Girls, go ahead with Chloe. I’ll be home later. It’s okay.”

They leave and I get into Jackson’s car.

As we drive away, he reaches out and puts a hand on mine, squeezing it tightly. “I’m very disappointed, Daphne. I thought we were making such progress. I’m afraid you aren’t well.”

“Enough with the games, Jackson. You had all your bases covered with Amber showing up at the beach that day. But I’m going to call the authorities and expose her. Jax’s mother is going to jail for her crimes back in Missouri. Maybe then she’ll come clean.”

He pulls the car over and shifts in his seat to look at me. “I wouldn’t advise it. You do that, and I’ll make sure that you never,ever, see those girls again. I’ll alert DCF that you attempted to kidnap them. Chloe is a witness. You might even go to jail.”

“What do you want from me, Jackson? I don’t love you. Do you really think you can force me to be a loving wife again?”

“You may need some pharmaceutical help. I’ll be letting the DCF investigator know that you’ve had some delusions and they’ll mandate therapy for you if you’re to continue living in the same house as the girls. I’m confident with some therapy and some medication you’ll be the loyal, docile Daphne that I love so much.”

“I’m not going back to that quack that lied for you all those years ago.”

He shakes his head. “Dr. Graham is retired. Last I heard the man had only a few months to live. We’ll go back to the woman we had that one session with, Hannah, right? You’ve already made quite an impression on her. Of course, once she realizes all those awful things you said about me were just a product of your delusions, she’ll be quite relieved to know that I’m actually a good guy. I think we will develop a nice rapport, don’t you?”

Great, Hannah the obtuse, who Jackson will have eating out of his hands. I lean back and close my eyes. He may have won this round, but the fight’s not over.

– 38 –

AMBER

Amber put the finishing touches on her makeup and appraised herself in the mirror. Daisy Ann would shit a brick when Amber waltzed into her showcase party tonight. This time she wouldn’t be able to kick Amber out, and she couldn’t wait to see the look on Daisy Ann’s face when Amber dropped the bomb that she was now the majority owner of Daisy Ann’s vanity company. It was unfortunate that Hugo, on parole like Jackson, wasn’t allowed to leave Connecticut, otherwise she would have had him escort her tonight. That would have been a more subtle way for the truth to dawn on Daisy Ann. This was probably better anyway. Let her think she had the upper hand and then Amber would eviscerate her in front of everyone. She fingered the bold silver necklace, filigreed and hammered to exquisite perfection. It was the crown jewel of White Orchid’s new Ottoman Empire Collection, and Wade had snuck it out this morning. The necklace dazzled against the stark plainness of Amber’s black sheath. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Daisy Ann’s face when she saw it on Amber’s perfect neck.

She texted Bobby to let him know she’d be down shortly and to make sure the car was a cool sixty-eight degrees. Taking a sip from the glass of Fleur de Miraval, she toasted herself in the mirror. “Onward and upward. Only the best from now on.” The champagne was delicious, and she savored the taste, remembering when the best wine she could afford was under twenty dollars. She’d leftthat version of herself far behind and she had no intention of ever going back.

Bobby opened the door for her when she walked toward the white limousine she’d ordered for tonight. It was just a short drive to the Dallas Country Club, where, Wade had told her, they were expecting over two hundred guests this evening. He would be ducking out after Amber arrived to avoid a confrontation with Daisy Ann when she learned he’d betrayed her. He still thought he’d gotten away clean. Amber was waiting until she sold her shares to Valene Mart and made her exit from Texas before she gave the information back to Nancy and he discovered that Amber had screwed him over.

As the car pulled up to the front of the building, Amber sat a moment watching as women clad in their designer best walked through the doors.

“I’m ready.”

Bobby walked around, opened her door, and extended a hand to help her out. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the limo, straightened her shoulders, and marched inside, delighting in the looks of interest and admiration she received. The room was crowded, and she didn’t spot Daisy Ann right away. Tables were strategically placed with the jewelry displayed under glass and segregated by type. She walked over to scan the bracelets. A well-dressed older woman was standing nearby and chatting to a smoking hot guy. It took her only a moment to realize who he was. Daisy Ann’s husband, Mason. Amber had met him before, of course, at Jake’s funeral, but she’d barely paid attention that weekend with everything else going on. He must be at least six four, with wavy black hair, and smoldering green eyes. She wouldn’t kick him out of bed, that’s for sure. Too bad she had little chance of that, considering she was about to take his wife down. She pretended to be scrutinizing the bracelets as she moved closer to hear what the two were talking about.

“Such a nice turnout, don’t you think so, son?” the older woman said.

“Yes, ma’am. Looks like things are finally starting to turn around for her. She looks so happy tonight.”

Not for long,Amber thought as she rolled her eyes.

The woman waved to someone across the room and moved away. Amber walked over to Mason. She wondered if he’d remember her. She sidled up next to him and put a hand on his arm. He turned to look at her. “Has anyone ever told you that you look so much like Henry Cavill?”

“Um, no.” He stared at her for a long moment. “Do I know you?”

Amber laughed. “If you mean in the biblical sense, unfortunately no. Trust me, you’d have remembered.”

Before he could put two and two together, she walked away then glanced at her watch. Seven thirty. Wade had said Daisy Ann would be giving her welcome speech at seven forty-five. She didn’t want to be seen until just the right moment. She relished thinking about what was about to happen. Moseying over to the earrings collection, she pretended to examine some of the pieces while eavesdropping on the two women a few feet away. Both were dressed to the nines, in high heels, formfitting jumpsuits, and enough jewelry to start their own business. Hadn’t these women heard of understated? Amber’s ears perked up when she heard one of them mention Daisy Ann.

“I don’t know how she does it all. You know she was president of the Women’s Club last year while running her business and takin’ care of her little ones. She’s a dynamo, that Daisy Ann. And all the while looking hot enough to scald a lizard.”

“Well, who wouldn’t be with all her help. Come on now, her daddy practically owned the state. Talk about being born with a silver spoon. I’d be a dynamo too with a full-time staff at my disposal. And she gets to sleep with that yummy Mason. I bet he gives it to her good.”

The other woman chuckled and slapped her friend’s arm good-naturedly. “Simone, you’re awful.”

They both were,Amber thought, as she moved away. Her heart began to beat faster when she looked across the room and saw Daisy Ann move to the front, holding a microphone. Amber grudgingly admitted that she looked gorgeous. Her blond hair was blown out to perfection just past her shoulders, and she wore a burnt orange silk coatdress and high-heeled gold strappy sandals. She was decked out in all her own jewelry and looked as though she’d stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine. Daisy Ann addressed the crowd.

“Thank y’all for coming tonight. It means so much to see so many familiar faces and some new ones as well who I’m sure will become good friends. I hope you love our new collection as much as we do. We’ll also be taking some custom orders. In the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy the delicious appetizers provided by the amazing chefs. Now let’s shoot the lights out!”

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