“Why would you be talking to a detective?” Ted frowned.
“He’s going to help me look into some of my memories,” Bethany said calmly. “I met him at the marina. He’s been very helpful.”
“I’ll bet he has,” Ted scowled. “He probably knows money when he sees it. Bethany, you need to stop this. Let it go. I don’t want you seeing this detective ever again. He’s just going to try to scam you. Do I make myself clear?”
“He’s trying to help,” Bethany frowned at her father’s resistance.
“You’re not seeing him again. End of discussion,” Ted put his napkin in his plate and stood. “There is nothing to be going to the police about. You’re wasting their time. The only thing this detective is thinking of is trying to get money out of a confused little rich girl.”
Bethany watched Ted leave the room. She set down her fork. She wasn’t hungry anyways.
“I hear Earle has shares in oil companies,” Constance smiled as she changed the subject.
Bethany sighed and let her mother ramble on about Earle Milton’s prospects. Soon enough, Constance would be setting Bethany up with the Miltons and their oil fortune.
Bethany supposed it was better than a pretend relationship with a guy who seemed irritated by her very existence.
Earle Milton was as boring as lint. He was slightly chubby, had a comb over for his balding crown, and was otherwise non-descript. Bethany was used to the men in her life being confident and slightly condescending. They usually liked to talk about themselves and steer the tone of the evening. All Bethany generally had to do was look pretty and smile while gracing their arm while the man of the moment took care of the entire evening
Earle didn’t know how.
He deferred everything to her. He had no confidence. He smiled in an overeager, puppyish way. Earle constantly steered the conversation to her. He ordered what she ordered for dinner. He agreed with everything she said.
Bethany had the feeling that their roles were a little reversed.
It was discomforting. It didn’t help that his mother was at the benefit, watching Earle and Bethany’s every move. Betty Milton was like a hawk, waiting to see what sort of mouse Bethany was. No wonder Earle was weak.
She shouldn’t think that way. Earle was perfectly nice. He was just far too nice.
Bethany sighed. People were giving them pitying looks. It was hard to say who the pity was for. Bethany, for saddling herself with Earle and Betty. Or Earle for saddling himself with the known freak.
Bethany knew what polite society called her behind her back. She was the one who was a little mentally deficient and odd. Everyone knew she was different. For years she’d been on the fringes of high society, the girl who didn’t feel emotions, who wasn’t quite the same, who didn’t have friends. Bethany had been tolerated because she was a Searson.
“Would you like another coffee?” Earle asked her readily. “I’ll summon the waiter, if you’d like.”
“No, thank you,” Bethany gave him a wan smile. “I’d rather not be awake all night.”
“They have decaf,” he supplied. “I’ll get you one.”
Earle waved his hand around and Bethany closed her eyes at the sight. Was this how it was going to be? Looking across the breakfast table at Earle Milton, fetching her coffee at the slightest provocation?
She shuddered.
Milton babies, eager chubby faced cherubs, all wanting to please someone. Bethany tried not to feel sick. This was not going to work out. She was not going to date Earle Milton.
Usually it was the guys dumping her, not the other way around.
Bethany opened her eyes and allowed the waiter to pour her another cup of coffee as the silent auction continued. She wasn’t going to drink it, but at least Earle felt better for having served her.
She had an appointment with Dr. Urshman tomorrow. Maybe the psychiatrist would get a kick out of this. It was a little funny, Bethany supposed.
“Do you like that particular piece of art?” Earle asked. He craned his neck to see over the crowd as a man showcased a painting to the crowd. “I could put in a bid for you.”
“Thank you, but I really don’t need anything,” Bethany smiled to soften her response. She worried that Earle really would purchase the item for her. He seemed pathetically eager to please.
Bethany couldn’t help but compare him to Drew. She didn’t think the detective would ever find himself at a boring art benefit. He probably didn’t go to charity events at all. He seemed like the type who went to bars and watched the game.
She’d never been to a bar. It was something she should put on her to do list.
