“You mean your girlfriend?”
Even Ken knew something was going on between us. Lovely.
“She's not my girlfriend.” Unfortunately.
“Whatever. Saw her take off not long ago; looks like she left that other girl in charge.”
My stomach didn't feel right all a sudden. If her family was here, and she left the shop with Lana, then...
“Is everything all right, dear?”
Hazel's kindly voice made me yelp and drop the phone. It clattered noisily on the hardwood floor.
“A-all right? No. I mean, yeah. Of course, Mrs. Masters. Why wouldn't it be?”
She patted me on the back with a gentle chuckle. “I wasn't born yesterday, kiddo.”
The guilt was all-consuming. I knew what I should do, what the right thing was. Too bad the right thing was hard and terrifying and just might anger Sarah even more.
I took a glance over my shoulder to find that Macy had arrived looking as confused as I felt. Already, she'd managed to find Cole and they were arguing heatedly about something. Everyone else was paying attention to other things, so I ushered Hazel out to the balcony.
“Actually, I'd like to talk to you for a moment.”
“Asking the old wise woman for advice, eh?”
“It has to do with your daughter, Ellen.”
Her smile faded. “I see. You didn't tell anyone what we talked about?”
“No, but I found out something very important and thought you ought to know.” Inside, mom was calling for me. Had to hurry. “According to Charles' will, half the property my father inherited is hers.”
She stared at me for a while. “Is that so.”
“Charles wanted all his children to split it evenly. It doesn't name Ellen, though, so if there's no proof she's his daughter, it doesn't matter anyway.”
Thought I'd feel better telling the truth, but I just felt sicker than ever. Hazel stared blankly at the falling snow.
“Darn it, Asher, where are you? Your father will be here any moment!”
Dad? What could he want here? This was turning into a huge circus and I wanted no part of it.
“Coming,” I muttered. “Sorry if I upset you, Hazel.”
“I'm glad you told me. You're a brave boy. Smart. I'll admit I had some doubts at first, but my granddaughter picked a good one when she found you.”
Damn it.
Inside, the place had gotten noisier than ever. The ever-annoying flock of seniors had arrived for brunch. Mom scanned the crowd of them, presumably looking for me.
Maybe I could use them as cover while I made my escape.
“Sorry I'm late. Traffic through downtown is just horrible.”
Dad's voice boomed over all the others. So much for running away unscathed.
He pushed his way through without so much as an apology. When he noticed me, his jaw set. I glared back. That was a look I knew well, one he wore when he was busy scheming one of his evil plans.
“Ah, you actually made it, son. I was worried I'd have to stop by Slicker Image, and I know how much you hate me causing a scene there.”
“Stop wasting my time and tell me what you want. If it's another contract I'll throw it in the fireplace here and now.”
He just laughed at me. Mom finally joined him, with a freshly topped up drink in her hand. She stared at the floor instead of either of us.
“Not a contract, exactly, but a surprise. I think you'll like it.”
“A surprise from you? I'd rather take a bullet to my head.”
“You were wondering why we didn't just cancel the reception and everything,” mom piped in. “Well...”
“Ooh, Asher, there you are! Looking so handsome as ever.”
Oh, no. That voice, that shrill, ear-piercing voice that gave me a headache from the first time I heard it. That sickly sweet perfume, its floral aroma unmistakable in the way it made my eyes itch and burn.
It couldn't be her.
“Aren't you going to say hello? I do hope you're not still upset with me for running off at the club.”
Rosa!
She weaved out from behind dad with a toothy grin. I was too confused to form a single coherent thought.
“Rosa, what are you doing here?”
She pouted. “You shouldn't talk to your fiancee that way, you know.”
My what?!
I spotted Macy hovering nearby and shot her a furious look. Was this her doing? She shook her head violently no, as though she read my mind. Given the look of horror on her face I kind of believed her.
That left only one other person.
“What have you done, dad?” I spat. “You'd best start explaining.”
His dumb smile faded as he accepted a drink from the nervous waiter. When he tried to hand it to me, I nearly threw it back in his face.
“You're a Carrington, son, and carrying on the family name is an honor I'd always hoped you'd be proud of. Sadly, you took to partying and meaningless flings a bit too happily instead.”
“Sure. Isn't that what most kids do when they're young – screw around, make mistakes, sow their wild oats?”
“You're not that young anymore. You're twenty-seven, and before long all the good girls will have been taken.”
Sarah's face flitted into my mind. She was good. She was perfect. What I'd do for a chance to tell her that.
“I didn't want to do the contract, but it was the only way to make you grow up and pay attention to your future. Not that your mom or I had much hope even then.” He gestured to Rosa, who was merrily flirting with the bartender already. “That's why we have her.”
Rosa took a drink from the bartender and handed him some scrap of paper, probably her phone number.
“She's a nice Catholic girl from a fine neighborhood. A respectable family. That's why we and her parents had an arrangement.”
How could this be
