After what had happened just a few days ago, she never wanted to walk inside again.
To be honest, she wasn’t sure how she’d found herself agreeing to yet another planning meeting. Alexis had called and insisted and somehow Gracie had said yes.
“Talk about stupid,” she muttered, then stepped up to the front door and knocked.
The door opened instantly. Alexis smiled. “Good. You made it. Come in.”
Gracie followed her inside. Her sister moved into the living room where Vivian sat by the window.
“Where’s Mom?” Gracie asked.
“She’s not coming,” Alexis said, turning toward her and folding her arms across her chest. “She doesn’t know about this.”
Gracie didn’t like the sound of that. “Want to explain yourself?”
Vivian stood and smoothed the front of her flower print dress. “You really hurt her feelings the last time you were here. She wouldn’t tell us what you two fought about, but she’s still upset. You can’t do this, Gracie. You can’t make everything about yourself.”
“You’re right,” Gracie said, unable to believe they’d set her up to attack her. “That’s your job.”
Vivian’s mouth dropped open. “That is so not true. Alexis, can you believe she said that? Make her apologize.”
Gracie shook her head. “I’m out of here.”
“No.” Alexis grabbed her arm. “Gracie, wait. We have to talk about this. Please. We’re worried about you.”
Which sounded great, Gracie through grimly, but she’d learned enough about her sisters in the past couple of weeks to be wary of just about everything her family had to say.
Gracie pulled free of Alexis and walked to the sofa where she perched on the edge of a cushion. She had a bad feeling she knew what was coming. Vivian sat across from her, while Alexis took the other end of the sofa.
“We’re worried about you and Riley,” Alexis said.
“I knew it.” Gracie wanted to spring to her feet and run screaming from the room. “I knew that was exactly what you were going to want to talk about.” She glared at her sister. “I’ll accept it from my mother, because of who she is, but there is no way I’m going to take it from you. Need I remind you that
“I understand that I had some small part in it,” Alexis said primly.
“Some small part?” Gracie had the sense of being in an alternate universe where logic no longer existed. She turned her attention to Vivian. “Are you here to lecture me about Riley, too, or do you have something else?”
“No. It’s Riley.”
“Great. Then let’s get one thing straight. I don’t care what you think or say. I’m going to do what I want. But for the record, we are not involved. There is absolutely nothing between us. We’re-”
Sleeping together. Oh, yeah. In her outrage, she’d forgotten that one simple fact.
“Then explain this,” Alexis said, pulling the newspaper out from under the coffee table and slapping it on the surface. “What exactly were you two doing?”
“My neighbor’s dog fell in the pool. She came over in a complete panic. Riley went in after her dog, despite the fact that the water was freezing cold. Unfortunately Muffin didn’t understand the whole rescue concept and scratched him. I can get you her phone number if you’d like. She’ll confirm everything.”
Alexis didn’t look convinced. “Why was he at your house in the first place?”
Interesting question, Gracie thought. She realized she had no clue what had made him stop by.
“Why does that matter? You don’t get to tell me who my friends are.”
“Are you friends?” Vivian asked. “Or is it just the illusion of friendship?” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Gracie, honey, we’re so worried. You’re in a really fragile state right now.”
“
Vivian nodded. “I feel your pain. Despite the fact that we should really be talking about me and my wedding, I have enough compassion to know what you’re going through. I’m sorry you never fit in.”
Gracie narrowed her gaze. “What are you talking about?”
“In high school. I know you were unpopular and a misfit. You’ve never had any friends. No one liked you and now you’re back here, reliving your youthful crush on Riley.”
Gracie stood. “Okay, that’s it. I’m tired of being used and insulted.”
Vivian rose. “I’m trying to help.”
“I don’t think so, but if this is your idea of help, I don’t want it or need it. You don’t know anything about my life. How dare you make judgments? For your information, I did fine in high school. I got good grades, I had friends, I was a cheerleader and gosh, I was elected to the Homecoming court. Oh, my boyfriend even expected me to sleep with him after prom. Sounds pretty traditional to me, but then I didn’t grow up here. I don’t know what your expectations are.”
Alexis sighed. “Vivian, you’re not helping. Sit down and shut up.”
“What do you mean I’m not helping? I’m trying to make her understand.”
“What do you want me to understand?” Gracie asked. “What exactly is your point?”
Vivian’s eyes filled with tears. “This is all about you and Riley. What about me? What about my wedding?”
“Is the wedding back on this week? Wow. Color me surprised.”
Vivian glared at her. “So you’re not just pathetic, you’re also a bitch.”
Gracie looked at the two women. “Fine. You guys win. Think what you want. If your opinion of me is that I’m a bitch obsessed with the man from my youth, I can live with that.”
She turned to leave.
Alexis jumped to her feet. “Gracie, don’t. We have to work this out. We’re family.”
Were they? She thought about her aunt and uncle. She’d barely known them when she’d moved in with them, but they’d loved her and cared about her. They’d always been supportive and loving. When they’d been killed in that car accident, she thought she would never recover.
“Don’t bother,” Vivian said as she wiped her face. “She’s just mad because I didn’t ask her to be in the wedding. And I’m glad, Gracie. You hear me? I’m really, really glad.”
Gracie walked to the door, then glanced back. “Me, too,” she said softly and left.
GRACIE CLIMBED into her car and pulled out her cell. The little message envelope flashed, but she couldn’t think of a single person she wanted to talk to right now. She shoved the phone back in her purse and considered her next destination. She didn’t really want to go back to the rental. Too many memories.
She started the car, then made a U-turn and headed across town. As she pulled into the parking lot of the bed-and-breakfast, she noted Pam’s car.
Still, the potential to get lost in her baking seemed more enticing than her worry that she would run into the other woman, so she parked and went inside.
Twenty minutes later she had a preheated oven, plenty of batter in large bowls and the measurable lifting of her spirits. She’d just started to pour when Pam walked in.
The slender blonde looked stunning, as usual. She smiled as she leaned against the counter and set down several fabric samples.
“Can I lick the bowls when you’re done?” she asked with a grin.
“Raw eggs. I doubt you want to risk it.”
“Hmm, good point. Still, I love the way your cakes smell. If I could find a way to bottle the scent, I could make a fortune. Instead I’m knee-deep in fabric samples.” She held up two dark prints covered with flowers. “What do you think?”
“They’re both really nice.”
Pam laughed. “Let me guess. Decorating isn’t your thing.”
“Not really.”
“I enjoy it. I think the B &B is going to be a lot of fun.” She sighed. “I would be happier if there really had been an alien landing like we all thought in high school.”
Gracie finished pouring and carried the pans to the oven. “I can’t see extraterrestrials flying all the way to earth only to land in Los Lobos. Don’t you think they’d want somewhere with better shopping and more restaurant choices?”
“Good point. Although I can think of a few people I’d like taken away by aliens.”
