* * *
‘You want to steer clear of Maggie,’ Tonya whispered in Chad’s ear. ‘The family’s unstable. Her sister’s a bit of a loony.’
Chad sipped his champagne and set the glass back down on the table. Tonya Egerton plainly still fancied her chances with him and wasn’t about to prise her claws out in a hurry.
‘You sure have a wild imagination.’ He gave no hint of the anger bubbling under his surface smile. ‘What do you plan to do in London when you move back there?’ Chad tried to change the subject.
Tonya smirked. ‘Oh, dear, you do have it bad.’
He hated being seen through by this unpleasant woman and glanced in Audrey’s direction only to catch her giving him an equally knowing look.
‘Maggie will probably be verygratefullater.’ Tonya wouldn’t let it go and Chad’s hands tensed around his champagne glass.
‘I suggest you keep your uncharitable thoughts to yourself, young lady.’ Audrey’s imperious tones rang out and everyone around them stared. ‘Your parents would be ashamed to hear you talking that way.’
An angry flush coloured Tonya’s neck and crept up to flood her face. Chad almost wished the old lady had kept her mouth shut. Experience told him this woman wasn’t someone you wanted as an enemy. He had a suspicion she could cause trouble for Maggie if she chose to.
‘Let’s not spoil a good wedding,’ Chad chirped, inwardly wincing at his fake good humour. ‘Maybe we haven’t had enough champagne yet.’ He picked up the bottle and refilled Tonya’s glass and his own.
Audrey held a hand over the top of her glass and fixed the other woman with a stony glare. ‘Some people have had too much already, and that’s part of the problem.’
Chad set the bottle back down and wondered how much longer the reception would last. He was only grateful there was no evening party to get through because avoiding Tonya’s clutches on the dance floor might’ve been beyond even his expertise. He didn’t go much on his chances of seeing Maggie again later because he could hardly hang around while she cleared up after Emily’s earlier scathing remarks. He suddenlyrealised they were the only three left on the Reject Table. The two younger girls had gravitated towards a couple of the ushers and were attempting to work their magic on the luckless men. The organist was nowhere to be seen and Chad guessed he’d slipped away to feed his cat or practise the hymns for tomorrow’s service.
Chandler, I’m disappointed in you. The poor man did nothing to deserve your unkindness.
His mother’s quiet reprimand filled his head and Chad wordlessly murmured an apology, to his parent and the absent organist. One thing his parents were always strict with him and Josh about was the need to treat everyone the same. It didn’t matter if they were a garbage collector or the President of the United States.
Out of the blue a piercing scream rang out from the kitchen and Chad leapt to his feet, shoved the chair back out of the way and wended his way through the staggered rows of tables, pushing one man out of the way Chad threw open the kitchen door and froze.
Maggie, wide-eyed and frighteningly pale, was bent down over her sister’s lifeless figure sprawled on the floor.
‘Has someone called for an ambulance?’ He shouted and one of the waitresses shook her head. ‘Why not?’
‘Because I told her not to.’ Maggie’s voice was barely audible but a note of steel ran through every word. ‘I need to get Emily home.’
The attorney in him wanted to ask more questions, and press her until he got the truth but he didn’t dare. ‘Do you need any help?’
She glanced up and her deep blue eyes shone with tears. ‘No, thank you. I can manage.’I’ve had to plenty of other times. Her unspoken words rang out so clearly he flinched.
‘How about with clearing away after the reception finishes?’Anything. Tell me and I’ll do it.
‘Susan will see to everything.’ Maggie nodded towards an older red-haired waitress hovering nearby.
What else could he do? Chad nodded. ‘I’ll call later and check y’all are okay.’
‘Please don’t bother. I’ll be busy.’
He fished out a silver business card case from his pocket and opened it to pass one over to her. ‘Use this number if you need anything. I mean it.’ Chad met her challenging stare before he turned and walked away. Back to the Reject Table.
Chapter Eight
‘What am I going to do?’ Emily wailed. ‘He’s got cross at me a few times recently and we did have a bit of an argument yesterday but I never thought he’d actuallyleaveme.’ Maggie wrapped her arms around her sister and rocked her until the heaving sobs quietened down. ‘He dumped me by text. Bytext. What sort of man does that?’
One who knows how emotional you are and can’t cope. He knew this was how you’d react and was too much of a coward to face it himself.Instead he’d left Maggie to pick up the pieces.
‘A weak one, Ems. And not good enough for you.’ Maggie stroked Emily’s silky golden hair. No matter how annoying her sister could be she didn’t deserve to be treated this way — no one did. ‘Let’s get you home.’
Emily gazed wide-eyed around the room at the rest of the staff who were watching them with unconcealed interest.
