“Your favorite granddaughter,” Ottavia teased, glancing over at them. “So obvious, Mama.”
“I love all my grandchildren equally.” Vittoria's voice carried the weight of absolute authority. But then her hand cupped Celeste's cheek, warm and papery-soft. “However, this one is very dear to my heart.”
The words settled over Celeste like a warm blanket. This was why she'd returned to Cheyenne Valley two years ago, along with Braden and the children. Why she’d left the prestige of New York and the cases that made headlines. Her family was here. Her grandmother, who'd built a life from scratch. Her parents, who'd never missed a school play or soccer game. Even her siblings, who called every Friday without fail, making up for their physical absence.
Ottavia shifted Luna to grab her wine glass. “So, how are the preparations going for your trip? I've got the kids' rooms all ready. Fresh sheets, extra pillows. Theo, I even found those glow-in-the-dark stars you wanted for the ceiling.”
Theo's head whipped around. “Really? The ones that make constellations?”
“The very same.”
Celeste felt a growing tightness within her. The trip. Right. “Actually, I'm not sure I'm going.”
Her mother’s eyebrows lifted. “What? Why not?”
“I did some research.”
“You went to the rental place,” Ottavia said with a note of suspicion. “Didn't you?”
Celeste shrugged, trying for innocent and probably missing by a mile. She had driven there that morning, before dawn, catching the manager just as he was unlocking. A twenty-dollar tip and some gentle persuasion later, she'd learned exactly who Braden had arranged as her travel companion.
“It's Ruby Langley,” she said.
“Oh, I remember her!” Ottavia's face lit up. “Brilliant girl. You two were quite the rivalry in high school. I always thought you were friends, the way you talked about her constantly.”
“We were not friends. She was arrogant, condescending, and stole my prom date. Twice.”
Daniel glanced up from the grill. “That was what, fifteen years ago? You're going to hold onto that?”
“Sixteen.”
Vittoria's laugh was low and knowing. “My darling girl, you do love your grudges.”
“I don't—” Celeste stopped. Because that was a lie, and everyone at this table knew it. She'd once refused to speak to Enzo for three months after he'd borrowed her favorite sweater and returned it with a stain. She still got tense everytime she passed the restaurant where an opposing counsel had humiliated her during her first trial.
Celeste’s nostrils flared.
“Ruby was cocky. She knew she was smart and rubbed it in everyone’s face.”
“She was a teenager. Most teenagers are insufferable. You had your moments too.”
“Mom.”
“I'm just saying.” Ottavia took a sip of wine. “You need this vacation, sweetheart. You've been running yourself ragged since the divorce. When's the last time you did something just for fun?”
The same question Braden had asked. Celeste didn't have a better answer now than she'd had then.
“The children—”
“Will be perfectly fine with us,” Daniel interrupted, flipping a piece of chicken expertly as he spoke. “We raised three kids. We can handle two for more than a week.”
His tone was clipped, and Celeste recognized the edge in it. His anger toward Braden. He couldn't understand how his daughter's husband, his son-in-law, could have done this to her.
In Daniel's world, marriage was sacred. You didn't just end it because you fell in love with someone else. You worked through it. You honored your vows.
Except in this case, there had never been romantic love to work through.
“There’s also the firm to manage and worry about.”
