Page 57 of Kyle
"It just occurred to me that I will be seeing my mother for the first time since the wedding. What the hell was I thinking?"
"Too late." Taking her hand, he tucked it through his and led the way out, just as the doorbell chimed.
"It's not her. Iona likes to make an entrance. It has to be Matthew." Her fingers tightened on his arm. "I'm going to have to tell Matthew that they're coming and hope that he understands."
Saying nothing, Kyle led her down the stairs and towards the front doors. Greeting her brother with a warm embrace, she ushered them in.
Before she could have a quiet word with him, the bell chimed again. Kyle opened it and her mother sailed in with her date. She had brought a date. My God, Ingrid thought in acute despair and anger, the woman was impossible.
"Kyle darling." Shrugging off the ermine wrap, she dangled it from the tips of her fingers and beamed at him. "You must know Anthony. He's the latest Broadway rave. The poor thing was going to be alone for the holidays." She swiveled to look at her daughter. "I hope you don't mind having him over."
"Dad will be here any minute." Ingrid was seething.
"Oh, he won't mind." She wandered into the living room and stopped short on seeing her son and the man standing next to him.
When they just stood there staring at each other, Ingrid took the initiative and made the introductions.
"Well!" Turning to Kyle, she offered a hand. "I really do need a drink, darling. How about you pour me one?"
Chapter 13
Deep down, Ingrid knew that the evening would be a disaster, and she should have listened to her husband. Her mother took center stage of course. After two glasses of margaritas (shaken not stirred) she was on a roll. She flirted with Anthony and Kyle, making sure she touched each man to make her points. And completely ignored her son.
Ingrid could not help but feel guilty that she had brought her parents in without letting her brother know. She was going to have to pay for it. Her father just sat there, drinking steadily until Kyle did the prudent thing by cutting him off. The delicious meal that had been so carefully and lovingly prepared by their housekeeper was not done justice to.
Then Iona started on her daughter.
"Darling, the dress is a lovely color, but it looks like you're wearing a tent." She pretended to be dishing out fashion advice, but the malice in her tone belied it.
"I happen to think that it suits her." Smoothly butting in, Kyle took her hand in his and brushed his lips over her knuckles, squeezing when he felt the tension there. "I told her so when she was dressing." There could be no doubt to anyone at the table, that they were committed to each other. Iona saw the look on Kyle's face and felt the bitter twist of envy inside her.
She had spent years playing second fiddle to her own daughter. She was the beautiful one, the one who was thin and acceptable according to society, yet her oversized and overweight daughter had always managed to steal her spotlight. Now to make things worse, she had the adoration of a very handsome man, one who was also extremely wealthy. She could not stand it.
"I see things have improved between you two." Her smile was wide, her expression skeptical. Turning to Anthony, she touched his arm briefly as if to get his attention. "You must have heard the rumors. Kyle married my daughter because he was forced to by grandparents on both sides."
"We were forced to marry each other." Ingrid reminded her tightly.
"Oh, of course." Iona waved a hand as she picked up her wine glass and took a delicate sip. "But I have to say, and everyone knows that you got the better side of the bargain. Kyle happens to be a very handsome man. One who could have been with any woman he chose." Her large eyes swept over Kyle's face. "I suppose you had no choice but to settle. What with the meddling grandparents taking charge and all."
Kyle felt the anger burning a path through him and had to force himself not to lash out at her. He knew what she was doing. The woman was jealous of her own daughter and made no qualms about it.
"I did not settle." He linked his fingers through Ingrid's and felt the tension mounting. "I happen to be in love with her."
That admission brought out a tinkling laughter. "Darling, we're all family here, there's no need for pretense."
"Mother, you are being a spiteful bitch." Matthew spoke up for the first time since sitting down to dinner. "You simply cannot bear that your own daughter is happy. It must stick in your craw that Kyle obviously adores her, doesn't it?"
The mask slipped and for a moment Iona looked like what she was, an aging bitter woman who had never been happy in her life.
"Are you judging me darling?" She asked silkily. "You who are sitting there with a man for a lover. I thought you were a man, you were when you were growing up. Now you're shacking up with someone of your own sex. How dare you sit on the judgment seat with me."
"Iona!" The unexpected sound of Jeremiah's icy tone had the occupants staring at him in shock. He had somehow risen from his stupor to make a contribution. "Leave these children alone. Goddammit woman, how much of a bitch can you be? It's not enough for you to be the worst wife and mother in history. You were invited as a guest by your daughter, the least you can dois act like it." His golden-brown eyes sizzled. "I know Ingrid is probably too polite to ask you to leave, but one more spiteful word out of that mouth of yours, and I will be the one to throw you out."
"How dare you--"
"Is that clear?"
"Is that clear?"
