Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

Isla

T he morning bike ride had gone far better than expected. Possibly too good. Spending time like that with Luke and knowing that we’d be parting ways after this weekend only made the ache in my chest grow stronger.

Bryan had talked him into a swim, and since his baby brother was feeling a little lost and sad after the choking ordeal, Luke felt obliged to say yes.

I could have easily stepped back into a bubble bath, but I decided to save it for later, before the formal party. This morning I’d convinced myself not to bother with the dance, but now I was determined to finish this whole darn weekend with my head held high. I took a quick cool shower and pulled on shorts and a T-shirt. I was hoping to carry a sandwich to the pool area. I didn’t want to get stuck in the dining room or out on the veranda with Margaret and her guests. At least, that was my plan.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t avoid running into Duchess Greyson, as I was now calling her in my head. She seemed like the kind of person who would move heaven and earth to have a title bestowed upon her. We both came around opposite sides of a corner on the corridor leading to the dining room. She was wearing a slim-cut white dress with beautiful, beaded flowers on the bodice to draw attention to her amazing figure. Her overstretched lips seemed to flatten, in distaste, when she saw me.

“Oh, hello, dear, there’s some food still out, though you’re late for the lunch hour.”

Hearing her call me dear set my teeth on edge. My whole face tightened with a forced grin, then I nodded and continued past her, thrilled that this would be the extent of our interaction. Until it wasn’t.

“Oh, and about the incident with Bryan,” she said primly. “In instances like that, it’s always best to leave it to the professionals. I assure you there were at least two doctors out on the veranda last night. You might have hurt him or broken a rib.”

I stared at her in disbelief. “Where were they, then?” I asked.

“Pardon?”

“The doctors? Guess they forgot their Hippocratic oath, because no one came to help Bryan. No one.” I pointed to the bruise on my cheek. “Only me.” I hurried past before she could spew out any more of her vileness. I reached the dining room and felt breathless and dizzy from the encounter. My appetite had shrunk, too. I grabbed a cookie from a tray and hurried out of the house to get the stench of the last few seconds off me.

I nibbled half-heartedly on the delicious cookie as I walked with heavy steps toward the pool area. Laughter, voices, intermittent splashing and music rose in a noisy clatter above the walled area. I stopped short of entering the space, taking the time instead to glance through one of the gaps in the wall surrounding the pool. The pool was massive with a beach front entry and a wet bar at the far end. A massive stone slide poured down from a waterfall and into a shady grotto. Lounge chairs were lined up around the pool’s edge. Luke’s incredible physique, muscular and tanned, pulled my attention to the diving board. He dove into the deep end. I scanned the area, and while there were at least ten other people at the pool, Alexandria wasn’t amongst them.

I took a deep breath and walked around the edge of the garden wall and entered the pool area at the exact moment that Alex left the pool house. She had a silky wrap tied loosely around her slim hips. Her pink bikini sparkled in the midday sun. She didn’t spot me, and since I’d timed my entrance in unison with a woman who looked breathtaking in a bikini, no one in the pool area saw the mousy little woman nibbling a cookie. I backed out quickly and decided to head back to the house and to the security of my room.

Alexandria’s distinctive laugh pulled my attention back to one of my spying portals. I peered through to the pool area. Alex waded in gracefully on the beach entrance side. Then she swam straight to her target. Luke half-smiled as she popped up like a beautiful mermaid right in front of him. She was close enough that their noses nearly touched. She draped her arm around his shoulder. I couldn’t watch any more. I took off at a fast walk toward the house. This was the longest weekend of my life.

Rachel came out of the house as I reached the veranda. She was wearing a bathing suit. The bones on her shoulders and clavicles stood out sharply. Ice cubes clinked in the highball glass she was holding. I realized then that I’d never actually seen her with David. What an odd world I’d stumbled into.

“Isla, I could lend you a suit, so you can come down to the pool.”

“Thank you for the offer. I took a long bike ride this morning. I feel like I need to get out of the sun. I’ve got a touch of a headache.”

“Me, too.” She swirled her drink. “I’m hoping this will drown it. By the way, thank you for yesterday. Bryan is a total pain in the butt, but I love him, ya know?” There was a hitch in her voice as she spoke.

“I know it well. I’ve got siblings, and yes, they can be irritating, but I couldn’t live without them. I’m just glad I could help.”

“You are coming tonight, right? To the dance? Mom has this whole weekend so overfilled. I can’t wait until it’s done.”

We were definitely on the same wavelength there, but this wasn’t my wedding weekend, so that made her statement sad. “I plan on being there. And Rachel, I know you’ll be very busy tomorrow, so if I don’t get a chance to say it—I hope you have a lovely wedding and a brilliant, love-filled future with David.”

I hadn’t meant for my words to bring tears to her eyes, but they did just that. She pressed her hand on my arm. “Kind of you to say, Isla, and I wish things were different, between you and Luke, I mean.”

I smiled and nodded. It seemed to be my turn for tears. “Have fun at the pool,” I said in a forced airy tone. I walked inside and realized I really did have a headache from too much sun. I reached my room and walked straight to my bag for an aspirin. I was struggling with the Fort Knox-style, childproof cap when I returned to the door to answer a knock.

Hazel smiled down at the bottle of aspirin in my hand. “This family has that effect on people.” She had a sunny orange shawl draped around her slightly hunched shoulders. She was holding a black velvet box. “May I come in? I won’t stay long.”

I stepped aside. “Of course. Please, come in.”

She walked with a bit of a halted shuffle as she entered the room. She laughed at the pillows on the bed. “My daughter-in-law has a decorative pillow addiction. Is there even a bed under that mound?”

“It’s a bit of an adventure finding the actual bed, but it’s there.”

She walked straight to the upholstered bench at the foot of the bed and sat down with a sigh. “Those stairs get harder each time I climb them.” Her gnarled fingers smoothed over the top of the velvet box. “I do hope you’re planning to go to the dance tonight.”

“I am.”

She laughed again. “Love your enthusiasm. Like someone saying they’re going to the dentist for a root canal.” Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened the velvet box. The contents glittered before the sunlight in the room even hit them.

“Oh my, I’ve never seen anything like it.” I sat on the bench next to her and stared down at the set—a choker style necklace with jeweled clusters from clasp to clasp and sparkling diamonds surrounding massive blue sapphires. The matching drop earrings had the same pattern and precious stones.

“You can touch them. They won’t break,” she said with a chuckle.

“So, they’re real?” I asked and realized how silly the question was considering my surroundings.

“My Lucas gave them to me on our tenth wedding anniversary.”

“What a gift. What a wonderful man.”

“That he was. Now, what color are you wearing this evening?”

I looked up at her. The jewels were so bright, I could still see spots in my eyes as if I’d been staring at the sun. “It’s light blue. And that reminds me—is it going to be considered a terrible faux pas if I wear the same dress tomorrow to the wedding? I didn’t know about the formal dance, and I only brought the one dress.”

“In my daughter-in-law’s eyes, yes. But I find my day always goes much better when I don’t give a hoot about her feelings or opinion.”

I laughed. “Well, you and I are of the same mindset there. In fact, now I look forward to showing up in the same dress. Not that it’ll matter. Rachel will be the shining jewel of the day. No one will even take notice of little old me.”

“Rachel is always radiant in my eyes, but she’s lost far too much weight. I blame that on her mother, too. She kept pestering her about her weight, reminding her that she would be the center of many photos and that the camera adds ten pounds. Which is all a bunch of baloney, but for months I’ve seen my granddaughter nibble on nothing but meals that wouldn’t even satisfy a rabbit.” There was a good deal of anger and angst in her tone and expression. Hazel was once the woman of the house, the person calling all the shots. It must have been hard to give up the reins to a woman so wholly unsuited for the job. Margaret’s harsh admonishment was still sitting like a rock in my stomach. I never expected a thank you, but I certainly hadn’t expected a lecture.

“Let’s see the dress.” Hazel switched topics, and her smile returned.

I walked to the antique armoire where I’d hung the dress and pulled it out of the garment bag. I’d forgotten how beautiful it was.

“That’s perfect. This necklace looks best with an off-the-shoulder neckline,” Hazel said.

I stopped and stared at her, wondering if I’d heard her right. “You can’t be serious?”

“Quite serious, yes.” She lifted the necklace out of the box. “Bring the dress here.”

I was more than slightly stunned as I carried the dress over to the bench. She held up the diamonds and sapphires next to the pale blue fabric. “It’s almost as if the dress was made for these jewels. And the earrings look best when the hair is swept up off the neck.”

I gripped the dress and sat down. “Hazel, I couldn’t possibly wear these jewels. They’re far too valuable, and the sentimental attachment—well, it’s priceless.”

“Yes, which is why I’ve never allowed Maggie to borrow them. She doesn’t have a sentimental bone in her skinny little body. I insist you wear them to the dance tonight. They’ve been tucked away in their box for far too long. They need a night out.” She placed her hand over mine. “It’s my way of saying thank you. My Bryan was so shaken, he stayed with me for hours. And I can tell you there was nothing better than knowing that one of my grandchildren still needed me.”

“I’m sure they all need you still. I just don’t think?—”

“It would make Margaret green with envy. Although, the last thing I want to do is cause you any trouble?—”

A quick image of Margaret’s expression when she saw me in the jewels flashed through my head. “I’ll wear them,” I said eagerly. “And I’ll wear them with pride and make sure they have a good time on their rare night out.”

“Wonderful. I might even make an appearance just so I can see Maggie’s reaction.” Hazel’s brow furrowed. “If she says one wrong word to you because of?—”

“Too late for that, Hazel. I’m already battle-hardened, and I understand her mode of attack. It’ll be fine.” I touched the necklace in the box. I could almost feel heat radiating off the incredible diamonds. “I’ll feel like such a princess. Just wearing them will make it a night to remember.”

“You just make sure you have a good time. And even though he probably doesn’t deserve it, save a few dances for that grandson of mine.”

“I will.” If Alexandria allows it, I thought wryly.

I carried the velvet box over to the vanity table and set it down. The weight of being responsible for something so precious suddenly hit me. “Are you sure about this, Hazel?”

“As sure as I am that my daughter-in-law has gone one scalpel hit too far at the surgeon’s office.”

We both had a good laugh as I helped her up from the bench. She placed her hand against my cheek. “You’re a good girl, Isla. I’m so glad you came this weekend.”

“And, for me, you’ve been the North Star of the whole event, Hazel.” We hugged and I walked her to the door. Once alone, I turned around and stared at the velvet box.

“A night to remember, Isla Lovely. That’s for darn sure.”

G retchen sent a note up to my room via one of her kitchen staff. “I’ve pulled out my old recipe box and prepared a cherry-almond cake with marzipan crumble. I’d love your opinion.”

There was little that would keep me from tasting one of Gretchen’s masterpieces, even a possible run-in with Margaret. The aspirin and Hazel’s visit had kicked away the headache. I left the room, and luck once again worked against me. Alexandria reached the top of the stairs just as I hit the landing. She appeared more tanned than ever. It figured her long hair was gorgeous and shiny even after a swim. Nonna used to take us to a community pool on the hottest days of summer, and the tips of my pale blonde hair always turned green from the chlorine. My sisters would tease me that I was turning into a witch.

“We missed you at the pool,” Alex said in a voice that dripped with phoniness. “Maybe you don’t know how to swim?” she added. She seemed likable and far more down-to-earth when we first met, but apparently, I’d got her all wrong. So much for first impressions.

“I do swim, but Luke and I went on a long bike ride this morning, and I needed to get out of the sun. You know—skin cancer and all that.” I looked pointedly at her tanned legs.

“Well, it’s probably better that you weren’t there.” Boy, the gloves were coming off now.

“Yes, I don’t feel as if I missed anything special,” I said sharply.

“Not what I meant. We actually had a great time. Look, I know you came here with Luke. His mom mentioned it was a sudden last-minute thing?—”

“We’ve been together six months.” Even I wasn’t believing the act anymore. I wasn’t winning an Oscar this weekend.

“Right. Six months.” She didn’t try to hide her amusement. “I think we both know that Luke and you are not really suited for each other. On the other hand, the two of us are really starting to bond and since?—”

“Excuse me, I have somewhere to be,” I said as I swept past her.

“I’m sorry if the truth hurts,” she called snidely to my back. I raced to the kitchen to make sure I didn’t meet Margaret or her pernicious friend, Patricia. I didn’t think I could handle another full-on assault. I breathed a loud sigh of relief when I stepped into the kitchen. It was loud enough that Gretchen heard it.

“Oh dear, you’d better hurry over here. It seems you are in dire need of a piece of my cake.” A beautiful layer cake sat on a crystal pedestal. Glazed almonds and tiny marzipan cherries circled the top of the cake. Next to it, on a white porcelain plate, sat a smaller, shorter stack of the same cake. A few slices had been removed. Gretchen handed me a plate with a fragrant slice. “Now, the cake is almond. Lots of whipped egg whites to give it an almost macaron-like texture. The filling is a cherry and cherry liqueur reduction, and in addition to the vanilla buttercream, it is covered with a marzipan crumble. I haven’t made this recipe in years, but Margaret decided we needed to include some more desserts at the reception.”

I lifted the plate and ran my nose over it like a vintner with a glass of wine. “Love the aroma. Sometimes almond can be overpowering, but this is pure perfection. My mouth is watering just breathing it in.” I pressed my fork into it at an angle to make sure I got some of the filling and topping too.

It was a concert of deliciousness in my mouth, and at the same time, I felt nostalgic because it reminded me of Nonna’s almond and cherry slab cake. “It’s beyond description, Gretchen.”

A grin splashed across her face, and she clapped. “I thought it was delicious, but you know it’s hard to judge your own work. I needed an expert opinion.”

“I’m hardly an expert at many things,” I added, “but I know an outstanding baked good when I taste one. This cake will overshadow the actual wedding cake.”

Gretchen waved her hand in dismissal and leaned closer. “They must have had a dozen bakers come to the house for cake testing. It was mostly Margaret doing the tasting because Rachel had herself on such a strict diet, she wouldn’t allow herself a bite. In the end they went with one of those minimalist cakes with few decorations—a naked cake—and tiers that climb right up to the top of the tent. I tried a piece, and the sponge was dry and flavorless. It’s all about show and prestige. Margaret picked that particular baker because he had just made a cake for one of the women in her bridge club, a woman she’s constantly in battle with to outspend and outshine. As far as I know, Rachel had as little to say about choosing the cake as she has had with anything in the wedding.”

“That hardly sounds like a dream wedding then.”

“Only for Margaret. So, will you be at the party tonight? It’s going to be quite the affair.”

I thought back to the incredible jewelry sitting in my room. “I will be there with bells on.”

Gretchen laughed as she cut me another piece of cake.

“Just not sure if the dress will fit after this,” I added.