Page 176 of The Perfect Wrong

“Thanks for being my rock, dear, as always.”

I hug him back and slowly let go, feeling him pull away.

He looks past me then, staring down the hall like he dreads what’s next, but can’t walk away from it.

“Well. I guess I’d better see if she’s going to keep me locked out tonight.” He shrugs. “They said it’d be a long road getting everything out of her system and putting her mind back in a good place. Please don’t be too hard on her, honey, whatever nonsense she says. She’s not in her right mind. She’s suffered so much, and I have to help her find her way back.”

You poor, kind lunk. It isn’t your job,I think bitterly.

My fists hang at my sides, clenched so hard my hands tremble.

But Dad doesn’t glance back as he walks away.

I release a heavy sigh, offering him one more burst of encouragement as I call after him. “Whatever works, Dad! Just please be happy.”

Happy.

There’s that word again, a bullet to the heart.

I’m not sure my happiness and Dad’s willeverbe compatible.

Definitely not when he finds out about Chris.

And sooner or later, it’s inevitable.

If Chris doesn’t just blurt it out in the open, I know I’ll slip up sooner or later.

I’m scared I won’t be ready for that when it matters most.

I wonder if I ever can be.

And if I can’t, if my fear overpowers this love, what then?

* * *

It feellike I’ve just stepped out of a time machine.

Marnie insisted on lavish costumes and formalwear for this party, and I’m actually not regretting it just yet.

The entire house looks so elegant. When Marguerite overheard us planning, she insisted on pitching in with a few other ladies to dress the place up.

Bows and bells hang all over the place, orange-white stripes and red-white-and-blue, the wholesome décor of a simpler time.

The staff helped me finish the last of the setup this morning, and now the guests are filing in.

Dad went off to his conference as planned.

I struggle not to step on my long, flowing blue dress that reaches to the floor. It’s a boat-neck evening dress with crystal studded around the neckline, all old-world charm and modern sparkles.

Whatever Marnie’s sins, bad fashion sense has never been one of them.

I’m waiting on tenterhooks to see how Chris looks.

He said he’d pick something “appropriate,” which I took to mean something military. Whatever it is, I’m sure he’ll put Prince Charming to shame.

But I also don’t mind if the anti-Prince comes out to play once the drinks are flowing.

I give it about an hour before people start losing their fancy outfits and disappear across the beach, filling every little nook and cranny with their own rhythm that’s hot and heavy and private.

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