“Good idea,” I say, though I can’t help but wonder if what’s really bothering him is the idea of his twin marrying a woman he might still have the hots for.
“Of course,” Keira says, lowering her voice, “if there are any more big announcements, I’ll have to run up and get him.”
“I think two is all I can handle in one evening.”
“I’m thrilled for Wendy, of course. But I don’t know what to make about the other... thing. Do you?”
“No,” I tell her. “But they seem really happy so hopefully it will all work out.”
See, I can behave. And when I want to be, I’m a damn good actress.
“What worries me, though, is that it’s a distraction,” Keira says. The thin fissure above the bridge of her nose deepens. “And Marcus and Gabe need to have Ash in full focus mode.”
“You think it will get in the way of them talking business?”
“I’m sure Ash will sit down with them—he promised he would—but if he’s preoccupied with all this family stuff, he may not want to discuss the loan.”
Theloan? This is total news to me. Gabe’s assured me that the business is nicely in the black these days, so I don’t know why there’d be any need for a loan. Maybe they’re just trying to secure a promise of investment money down the road. Either way, I haven’t heard a word about it and I don’t know why.
“Right, the loan,” I say. “Well, I’m sure Ash will be able to focus. That’s his middle name.”
She nods and glances into the living room, where Henry is now demonstrating one of his dozen or so card tricks. “I guess we should join them.”
“I’ll be right in,” I tell her, but after she leaves, I linger, slowly stirring my coffee and hoping Claire might emerge shortly. Is she as upset as she looked?
She doesn’t appear, but the clanging sounds coming from the kitchen have subsided, meaning the cleanup must be nearly complete. I push open the swinging door and step in to find my mother-in-law by herself, sitting at the island and scribbling on a pad. The rain’s stopped by now, and throughthe screened windows I hear the thud of a garbage bag being dropped into the big trash bin, followed by the murmur of voices. Bonnie and her helper must be headed out for the night.
“Hello, darling,” Claire says, glancing up. “Do you need something?”
“No, I was just wondering where you were. Are you going to join us?”
“In a minute, yes. I need to make a few notes for tomorrow.”
There’s nothing about her tone or demeanor to suggest that she’s particularly distressed, though I spot the same tension in her face I noticed earlier, and the rims of her eyes seem pinker than usual, not quite as if she’s been crying but like she’s on high alert. And of course, there’s the fact that she’s in here, and not with the rest of the family.
“Notes?”
“Just some reminders for Bonnie tomorrow. Everything going smoothly in the other room?”
“It seems so. Henry’s entertaining the troops with sleights of hand.”
She sets down the pen and smiles again, this time with her eyes, too, like she’s finally registering that I’m in the room.
“Nick introduced Henry to magic, of course,” she says, “but I know you’re the one who bought him those books and really encouraged his interest. That was so great of you to do.”
“It was my pleasure—and Gabe and I get such a kick out of watching him.”
“It’s exactly what we need tonight, isn’t it? A bit of misdirection.”
Is she hinting that she wants to be distracted from the surprise engagement? Sounds like it.
“Icertainly need it,” I say, despite my promise to Gabe to cease and desist about Hannah. “I... I feel worried about Nick. Making such a, you know, hasty decision.”
She sighs, without losing her smile. “I so appreciate your concern, Summer dear. That’s one of the many things I love about you. But no need to worry. I think this will—how shall I put it?—run its course.”
“You don’t think they’ll get married?” I say, surprised by her comment.
“I don’t. Just between us, I have Hannah’s number. I’ve had it almost since the moment our littleUSCgraduate arrived.”
