Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Maeme stopped a few feet from me and waved a hand for me to come with her.
“Good luck,” Storm whispered as I left him there.
Getting a change of scenery was helping my mood. The ache in my chest was still there, but it was easier to push it back and think about other things this way. I walked beside Maeme up to the front steps that led onto the porch.
Annette opened her door and motioned for us to go inside. “Come on in. Our drinks await,” she informed us.
This kind of thing was what made it hard to associate these people with what I knew of the Mafia. They seemed wholesome and normal.
You would never imagine that Maeme could shoot a pistol, much less that she owned one. I wondered if Annette had a gun. Could she shoot one too? Was that part of the prerequisite to marrying one of these men?
“You look perfect in that pink sundress,” Annette told me. “I bought that for Lela, and she never wore it. I’m so happy you are getting some use out of the things I sent.” Her gaze dropped to my sandals. “We will definitely do some shoe shopping today.”
“Annette,” Maeme scolded.
Her eyes swung up to meet Maeme’s. “I wasn’t saying anything was wrong with the ones she is wearing. I like Tory Burch. It’s just that she seems to always be wearing them. She needs more shoes.”
Maeme rolled her eyes and looked at me. “You’ll end up with more shoes than you know what to do with today.”
I started to argue that I didn’t need more, but the hopeful expression on Annette’s face stopped me. Instead, I managed a smile. “As long as the cost comes out of Hill’s—uh, my money.” It was hard to think of it as mine.
Nothing that had been Hill’s ever felt like mine. Even before we married, he made it clear that he owned everything. I’d missed so many red flags in my desire to belong to someone. To have a family.
Once, I had daydreamed about having kids of my own. Being the mom I’d never had. Knowing that there was someone who was a part of me. That I shared their blood. But now, I didn’t see that in my future. It was a dream I had let go of after the first broken rib. I’d realized then that I couldn’t bring a child into that life. Hill was dead, but my trust in men was once again gone.
The inside of the Kingstons’ home made me feel as if I had stepped into the pages of Gone with the Wind. The furnishings, although in mint condition, were all from the era in which this house was built. I could just see Scarlett O’Hara descending the open, sweeping stairway that greeted us in the enormous foyer.
“Your home is stunning,” I told her as I took in the chandelier and ornate touches to not only the furniture, but also the architecture itself.
“Thank you. It is a labor of love. There always seems to be something that needs fixing or updating. Barrett’s grandfather originally bought this house. Over the decades, the furnishings have been restored and updated some, but we like to keep it as true to character as we can.”
“Speaking of which, have you gotten the floor refinished in the ballroom?” Maeme asked.
The nervous glance that Annette flashed at me before quickly turning her gaze to Maeme was odd. Why had that questioned bothered her? It seemed innocent enough.
“Yes. Those are complete. I can show you later,” she replied with a fake smile where her real one used to be.
“She knows about the engagement, Annette. It’s okay,” Maeme told her, then looked at me. “The engagement party is going to be held here.”
My stomach knotted up. They were having an engagement party. That made it feel very real. How far were they planning on going with the fake relationship?
“Oh, thank goodness,” Annette breathed. “I was so worried I’d slip up and say something. Storm seemed to think it was very important that I not mention it around Rumor.” Her eyes shone with sympathy as she glanced back at me.
“Can I use your bathroom?” I blurted, needing a moment to get myself pulled back together after this news sent me back to the dark hole I’d been trying to climb out of.
“Of course,” Annette said, flicking her gaze to Maeme with clear concern in her expression. “Right this way.”
I followed her as I mentally began checking off my list of things to be thankful for. Again.
There was no more mention of the engagement party, the ballroom, or King. All the talk was about the flowers, what had bloomed, what was going to bloom, Lela’s decision to get her master’s degree, and the Kentucky Derby next weekend.
When Storm arrived to take us back to Maeme’s, I had eight new pairs of shoes, five dresses, seven new everyday outfits, and two formal dresses that were breathtaking, but I had no idea why I would ever need one. I found arguing with Annette over clothing was pointless. She ignored me and had things packed up for me whether I thought I needed them or not.