With a disinterested grunt, he leans in so they can kiss cheeks, and he nods at her. “How are you finding the crowd?”
“So many interesting people,” she gushes.
I step up and lay my hand on the small of her back.
Standing by for rescue. The second he breaks character and starts spewing his usual thoughtless, offensive shit, we’ll be gone.
I take his insults in stride—I have a whole life of practice—but not if they’re aimed at Lena.
I can see his eyes flicking over her as she talks, mentally computing whether or not she’ll ever be fit for the Pruitt name.
In the moment, I fuckingwishthat were truly on the table.
“I love the wildlife charities here. Making a difference for conservation is very important to me. All part of the trade,” she says brightly, waving a delicate hand up at the large screen above, which displays the details of the many charities looking for donations here today and the amounts they’ve raked in.
“Yes, animals. Nature is dumb and blind without us, so we’d better try to even the score.” A familiar edge creeps into Dad’s feeble voice behind the bland philosophizing.
Only, he doesn’t sound like he’s about to launch into a gutting critique of her. Is that curiosity in his eyes?
It’s been so long, I can’t tell.
Lena takes his cold glances in stride. No matter what she might think about the excessive wealth concentrated in one room, there’s no denying the moneywillgo to good causes—and lots of it.
People in our position can afford to be generous.
Beside him, an older lady nudges in, turning to Lena and offering her a huge smile. “Oh my, you must be Brady’s vet fiancée!”
Her eyes look a little tired, but she leans down and presses two perfumed kisses on Lena’s cheek.
“Vet tech,” Lena corrects with a small smile.
Dad wrinkles his nose.
My fist tightens at my side as I near my limit for his passive-aggressive shit.
“You know, I met the kindest vet nurse yesterday.” The lady dabs under her eyes, which gleam in the light.
“Oh? What happened?”
“My cat, Gatsby, he—” She breaks off and gives a brave smile. “Well, it was just his time, and they were very kind, seeing him off.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry.”
Dad watches with more interest now, biting back something that looks like a smile.
What the fuck? Why are his eyes so sharp?
Why does he look happy when they’re discussing a dead cat?
I glance between him and the two women talking. The older lady, Mrs. Hageman, I think, is damn near crushing Lena in her teary-eyed embrace now.
Something just happened I haven’t picked up on.
“I’m very sorry for your loss,” Lena wishes, glancing at me over her shoulder, tempting me to step in to give her air.
“That’s okay, honey. You can’t change anything now, and he’s in a better place. I simply had to say thanks for what you people do. It’s the noblest profession for those of us who love our babies to death.”
Lena pats the woman’s arm as she finally uncouples.
