Page 47 of A Family Affair: The Vow
The woman he wanted to pretend wasn’t sitting next to him spoke. “I’m so happy to be part of this.” Her voice dipped and he did not want to hear the sincerity in those words, but they pinged his brain, one syllable at a time. “I’ve actually got some other ideas I’d like to share and get your opinion. And I can’t wait to show you the headbands Meredith Reese from Trendy Chic Headbands sent. It’s a whole box, high-end stuff, and there are also mother-daughter headbands.” More sincerity spilling, coated with excitement. “Wait until you see those. So precious.”
Christine touched her husband’s arm. “Nate? I want you to bid on those mother-daughter headbands. It would make the perfect Christmas gift.” Her gaze moved from her daughters, shifted to Lily.
“Can you see Mom in a headband?” Lily clapped her hands, smiled. “I think she would look fancy. What do you think, Mom? If Nate wins us headbands, can we wear them for the Christmas picture?”
The look on Miriam’s face said it wasn’t her second, third, or tenth choice, but the smile she gave her daughter said she’d do it for her. “Of course.”
Nate shook his head and took a healthy gulp of wine. “I don’t know, Lily. Mom wears headbands about as often as I wear a suit.”
“But you look good in a suit,” Lily said. “You look like a businessman. You should wear one more often, like Uncle Harry does.” Her expression lit up as she pondered Nate in a suit.
Christine laughed, clasped her husband’s hand. “Nate isn’t going to wear a suit unless it’s a special occasion.”
“Like a wedding?” Lily slid a glance at Vic and Rae. “A wedding is a good time to wear a suit. Don’t you think so, Vic?”
Rae sucked in a breath and grew very still as though she wanted to disappear. Yeah, well, he’d like to disappear, too. But even if he could, where would he go?She’dstill haunt him tomorrow and the next day and the damn day after that. Vic worked up a smile, settled his gaze on Lily and gave her an answer. “I think a wedding would be the right occasion for a suit, but some people wear suits to funerals, too, so...”
The frown Nate gave him saidDon’t push it, but Lily didn’t seem to notice. In fact, she liked Vic’s answer. “You’re right. Huh, I guess people can wear suits to happyandsad occasions.”
And sometimes the happy occasions turn out to be the sad occasions like when you fall for someone who isn’t who you thought she was... Of course, Vic kept his mouth shut because no way was he admitting how much real estate Rae Darlington owned in his head.
He managed to get through the rest of dinner without having to look at Rae and he only spoke to her twice. Once to sayWould you please pass the stuffingand the other to offer athank you. Yeah, quite a shift from the conversations they used to have—in bed, naked.
Right about now. Vic almost wished he’d stayed home and grilled a steak. Of course, that would’ve made his mother sad and then she’d invite him to Charlotte for Christmas and not let up until he accepted.You shouldn’t be alone, she’d say.Or, why aren’t you eating with the Desantros? I know how much Miriam loves feeding you. Why aren’t you there?
It’s not like he could tell her the truth so he would have had to make up a story about how the Desantros had a busy family now and he couldn’t always impose…I wanted to give themspace...OrI needed space.
She wouldn’t have bought any of it, and there would have been more questions, but damn it, he’d suffer the questions next time. Anything was better than spending hours of torment in the same room as the woman who’d torched his heart.
As soon as the meal was over, Vic pushed back his chair and began gathering plates. “I’ll do the dishes,” he said, anxious to get out of the room. He hated doing dishes, but he hated feeling like a lovesick fool more. It was one thing to realize you were never going to get what you really wanted and another to still hope for it. Christine helped out in the kitchen, her quiet efficiency the perfect calm for his agitated brain and Lily’s chatter as she divided leftovers in containers. Vic tried to block out the laughter drifting from the dining room, but no matter how many people were talking or laughing, he could still pick out Rae.Would it ever stop?
“Vic?”
He rinsed the final platter, wiped his hands on a dishtowel, and turned to face Christine. “Yes?”
“I just want you to know she misses you.”
27
Vic Tramont paid her a visit one snowy evening four days before Christmas. She hadn’t expected anyone, certainly not him, but when she opened the door, there he was... So handsome... So perfect... So very close... His nearness stole her thoughts, and she almost lifted a hand to touch him.
And then he spoke.
“Did you actually let Josh borrow your carandyour condo?”
Rae stepped back and he followed her inside. No hint of kindness, no compassion, no joy at seeing her. “Yes, I did.”
“Why?”
She cleared her throat, shared another truth he might not want to hear. “I’ve got to give him a chance, don’t I? If I never expect him to do the right thing, then why would he? Josh understands this is a big ask for me and a huge leap, but I don’t think he’ll disappoint me.”
“So, you just decided it was a good idea to give him the keys to your BMW and your condo so he and Hannah can visit the city?”
Yes, that’s exactly what she’d done. “They wanted to see Christmas lights and I bought them tickets to a musical.” She didn’t tell him about the dinner reservations at the exclusive restaurant or the hot stone massages she’d booked at her spa.
A laugh fell out, cold, harsh. “Those two aren’t going to be looking at Christmas lights, trust me on that one.” He raked a hand through his hair, frowned. “Why the sudden shift in attitude? What’s really going on?” The frown deepened. “Are you setting him up, showing him what he could have if he followed a ‘better path,’ say, left Magdalena, and headed to college?” When she didn’t answer, he bit out, “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re going to give him a taste, and then offer to teach him how to get there. And all he has to do is change who he is...”
That was not it at all. “Do you really find it impossible to believe I did it for them, no strings?”
