“We need to talk.” He started to stand. He’d placed the swan-folded napkin from his plate across his lap. He tossed it back on the plate.
Jim glared Scotty down. “I’d like to hear more about the breakup. I understood the cancelled wedding was a mutual decision.”
“Oh, it was mutual. After he got done dumping me.” Marlee held the pitcher like it was a dozen roses from the time she had been a finalist for Miss Teen Colorado. “Take me to lunch sometime. I also work over at The Flower Pot in Cherry Creek. You can find me there. I’ll make Janet an arrangement of daisies. She likes daisies, right?”
Janet was his wife. She straight up refused to come to these events.
“I’ll do that.” Jim’s expression was both tense and soft at the same time. How he managed that, Marlee couldn’t know.
“Marlee.” Scotty’s tone was clipped. “A word.”
“We can go to the kitchen.” She glanced over her shoulder to the swinging doors leading to Eli. She shook her head. “But that’s not a good idea. Eli’s in there.” She quickly glanced at Jim. “He’s my husband. You’ll love him. He’s amazing.”
She gave a pointed look to Scotty.
Sadie grabbed Marlee by the elbow. “Hey, Eli said I should check on you. Looks like maybe I should take this table?”
“Good idea.” Marlee started to move aside. “Mom, Dad, you remember Sadie? She’s my attorney.”
“And as her attorney, I’m telling her to stop talking.” Sadie gave Marlee what could only be described as a shut-the-hell-up stare.
“Marlee, honey.” Her mom started to stand. “I think there’s been a very big mistake here.”
“Marlee’s a waitress?” Jim’s glare was equal opportunity between Scotty and her dad. “And her attorney is serving me dinner?”
“I’ve got to get back to work. You all enjoy your fundraiser.” Marlee didn’t flee to the kitchen. There was no need. When Scotty had dumped her, she set out to make a new life. She’d done just that. A life she was proud of. A life with Eli.
So she didn’t escape to hide in the kitchen, she just moved to the next table. Filled the water glasses. Made sure the wine flowed abundantly. And then she did the same with the next, chatting it up with anyone who felt chatty. Sinking into the shadows around the ones who didn’t. She didn’t mind.
Everything was fine.
“Marlee.” Her mom touched her elbow when she was mid-move between tables. “We didn’t know he was bringing someone. It’s very distasteful. Your dad never would have allowed it if he’d known.”
“You picked him.” Marlee met her mother’s eyes and made it perfectly clear how she felt about that. “You picked him over me.”
“No.” Her mom shook her head. “Dad’s transferring him out of Denver. Scotty doesn’t know yet, but we didn’t pick him. He picked us. But, of course, we always pick you.”
“Miss?” A random man at the next table over held up his glass. “We could use a refill.”
She smiled at him and nodded, then focused on her mom. “I’ve got to get back to work.”
She’d process the rest of it later.
Much later.
Chapter Twenty-One
Eli had nearly survived the night. A night he’d worried he’d never make it through. They were at the dessert portion of the evening. From here on out, everything was on autopilot. Things had finally slowed down enough to focus on something other than food. That something being the conversation Jase was having with Dean.
“Heather’s not pregnant.” Jase loaded up a tray of ginger layer cake with poached pears at the wait station set up in the corner of the big ballroom.
“Then who the hell is?” Dean asked, arranging plates on his own tray. “There were a ton of positive pregnancy tests in the trash when I took it out.”
“Claire?” Jase asked.
Given that they were found at Dean’s apartment, Claire seemed to be the top choice.
Dean shook his head. “It’s not us.”
