Her eyes narrow. I usually avoid talking about my job because they look down on it.
“Uh…okay.” She’s stumped. I feel damn good about that.
Winter Family: 0. Mia: 1.
Aiden’s mother drifts toward us, wrapped in cream cashmere and contempt. “Darling, Aiden tells me you didn’t bring your pies this Christmas.”
Not the fucking pies again!For crying out loud. None of you appreciated them when I did bring them, and now that I didn’t, you’re all getting up in arms about it?
“Well, you did say you prefer what your cook makes,so I decided not to bother.” They have some CIA-stamped Chef, so I know my calling him a cook is going to grate.
“Chef Joseph is a Chef, darling, not a cook.”
I lift a shoulder and let it drop carelessly. “Cook, chef. Same thing.”
Edith frowns, then lowers her voice. “Are you feeling well?”
Gianna leans closer as if she also wants to know what the hell was going on with me.
“Happy as a clam, Edith,” I reply smoothly. “You know, I love that diamond necklace you’re wearing. How much did it cost?”
Inevertalk about money with this bunch, but I’m preparing to burn down bridges soon enough, so I may as well have some fun.
Edith sneers. “It’s an heirloom. Priceless.”
“Oh, come on, Edith, everything has a price.” I laugh with just enough of a giggle that even I find it nauseating.
“Yes, of course, darling. And you’d know all about that,” she flings at me.
Temper, temper, Edith!
“Sure do.” I chuckle. “Speaking of how much things cost, I have to ask about the Fleur House Charity. How did it go?”
Being a kindergarten teacher means that I talk to a lot of parents and nannies. I have the goods on pretty much everyone in this family.
Edith gives me a withering look, but tempers it almost instantly. “There were some issues with that.”
I shake my head as if distressed. “I heard that the gala ended up costing so much that there wasn’t anything left to give to Fleur House.”
Fleur House is a women’s shelter that Edith likes to show off about supporting.
“We were working with a poor partner. Next time we’ll?—”
“But isn’t it amazing how Mary Merced came through?” I speak over her, gushing.
Mary Merced is anathema to the Winters. An ex-stripper, she married into the wealthy Merced family and, after her husband, who was thirty years her senior, passed away, became popular in Burlington society due to her charitable work.
“We don’t talk about that woman in this house,” Edith thunders, eyes ablaze.
Winter Family: 0. Mia: 2.
I tilt my head and widen my eyes, all innocence. “I’m so sorry. Must be the champagne.”
She looks like she just swallowed a lemon.
Drawn by her tone, Nelson and Aiden both flock to where we are. Thisneverhappens. Usually, I’m chasing everyone down. But now, here I am, sitting like a queen, and they’re all coming to me.
Ah, some lessons are learned just too late.
