she may have wished for it, just to keep the peace. Her eyes kept darting back and forth between the girls and Tom and me. Then dad asked the question I was dying for someone to ask.
“Where’s Deidre? Isn’t she going to be all alone tonight? Her parents left for Europe yesterday, didn’t they?”
“She’s fine; she has a date.” She didn’t, but the lie was part of my plan. If it were up to me, she’d have been on ten dates by now, but she’s hung up on my brother the heel.
I hid my smile at Tom’s reaction, the way he almost jumped out of his seat at my words and rolled my eyes at the way Tessa dragged him back down by his arm with a glare. “Tom, what’re you doing sitting there? This is family time. We always trim the tree together. You know this is one of mom’s favorite things to do for the holiday; let’s go.” I walked over and pulled him up from his seat, pushing him towards the others.
I turned my attention to Tessa, who was about to follow. “You stay where you are; you’re not a Stone yet.” I tacked on the ‘yet’ to soften the blow and keep her from making a stink in front of my nieces, but I have all hopes and aspirations on making this twit gone before too long.
She looked at me with all the hate she wished she could spew and then to mom, who was pretending to be deaf, dumb, and blind. Maybe dad had had a talk with her because she was acting right for once and not playing peacemaker. “Dad, break out the video camera; it’s the girls’ first Xmas trimming the tree. We have to add it to mine and their da… oh, I mean Tom’s collection.”
“You’re right; it’s a Stone family tradition. It was a bit cold outside when you walked them over, wasn’t it? Christine, why don’t you make your famous hot chocolate now instead of later so our grandbabies can get warmed up.”
Mom seemed to be catching on because of dad’s easy acceptance and rushed off to do just that while I helped the twins out of their coats, and Tom, well, he was too busy staring at his kids to notice the storm clouds gathering on the couch.
I was ready and waiting for anything she had, anything at all. I know she’s been comfortable here, using my mom’s easygoing nature against her and the fact that my parents didn’t want to rock the boat too much because of their son, whom they loved. At first, I was pissed that mom and dad hadn’t just cut him off completely.
We’re not the kind of family who condones what he did. But from the information they have, I guess they could see things from his perspective; that kissing pic is pretty damning. But knowing what I know now, and with the information Tom had shared earlier that made things a little bit clearer, I guess I’ll have to be the one to break it to them and let them know in the process that their son is a complete ass.
I’m still not sure what Tessa’s game is. I know she likes money, sure, but surely she could’ve found an unattached man of wealth that wasn’t married to her best friend. I still don’t know why Jared broke up with her, and he refuses to even mention her unless I bring her up, so there’s nothing to go on there as far as character, and I didn’t know much about her before other than that she was Deidre’s best friend. Not that I needed to know anything else with all that she’s already done.
I watched her while she kept an eye on my brother, who was doing his best to pretend he wasn’t taking peeks at the girls. She was pissed, but I think my earlier snipes had clued her into the fact that I would, one, back up my word, and two, that if I knocked her on her ass, no one would come to her rescue. Tom might try, but I doubt he wants to be thrown out in the cold by dad, who was certain to go that route.
The twins, as to be expected, were fascinated by all the decorations mom had spread out on the floor and spilling out of boxes. Mom is very meticulous about her holiday decorating. I think she has everything sorted by year and color,