I shake my head. “No thanks. I’m driving.”
Alice drops her hand on my knee. I don’t know if it’s toreinforce her strength or mine, but I have never met two people like Wallace and Celeste Burke.
Their daughter is the best person I know, and they’re acting like she’s the rug on the ground.
I take the proffered water and do my best to school my expression. No need for them to take their derision out on her.
She hands Alice her drink, and silence settles over the room. Alice sips on her wine as her mother looks around and her father does something on his phone.
Watching paint dry would be more interesting than this whole night.
“Sir. Dinner is ready in the dining room,” the butler states as he comes back into the lounge.
Thank God. I don’t know how much longer I could have sat in silence.
Four plates are sitting around a long, wooden table. Candlesticks line the table with a simple bouquet in the center. I don’t know what kind of flower sits artfully in the vase but I’m sure Alice does.
An artfully arranged bowl of pasta, bread and a green salad await us.
“Our chef made quail tonight. I hope you enjoy.”
“Thank you.” I nod at Celeste, helping Alice with her chair and taking the seat next to hers. I drop my napkin across my lap and cut small pieces of…quail.
I’ve never had something so interesting in my life.
“Alice said you two got married while you were in Vegas?”
“We did.”
I glance at Alice, not knowing what she told them because I was under the impression we were waiting until tonight to tell them. My guess is she thought it’d go easier over the phone. I don’t want to say the wrong thing now and throw her under the bus.
“Your parents weren’t there either?” Wallace tsks. “How can you consider that a real wedding if no loved ones werethere? Honestly, Alice. I can’t believe you embarrassed us like that. Our only daughter getting married without us.”
She looks at her plate, pushing the peas around and around.
“They weren’t, no,” I tell him. “But it doesn’t take away from our marriage or that it was, in fact, a real wedding.”
I look him directly in the eye. I don’t want him to treat his daughter like this. I hate seeing my best friend curl into herself.
“Again, Declan, you really need to think about a prenup—or I guess at this point, a postnup to protect your assets.
“With this happening so quickly, this is why you needed to protect your assets.”
“Dad, can you please drop it? We’re fine.”
He tsks at her again, the conversation dropping to silence. The only noise in the room is the clinking of silverware against china.
“Alice, have you given any more thought to the finance position in my office?” Her dad sips his fancy cocktail.
She sighs.
“What’s wrong with the position at Enchanted Petals?” I ask.
“She needs something more stable.”
“Stable? I’ve worked there since I graduated,” she clarifies. “Once Leon retires, I’ll take over.”
“Is it a stable industry? Finance—that’s a good industry,” her dad says once again.
