the whole afternoon with Isabel watching and judging would have been exhausting. But Holly really wanted her best friend there and, in spite of her mother, Lauren was a sweet kid, one who had gone out of her way to make Holly feel welcome at her new school.
Regan stuffed the invitation, and her bad attitude, back in her purse. It didn’t matter if Isabel and Regan didn’t mesh—for the kids they should at least try. If Holly and Lauren continued playing together at school, Regan was going to be seeing a lot of Isabel, which meant that someone had to make the effort. She just hated that the someone had to be her.
“Maybe we could get the girls together sometime after school or over the break,” she offered, thinking of how that would lessen the blow of Lauren not being there Saturday. “I could do a little mock party, just the two of them. Make cupcakes or something.”
“That sounds great. I’ll have to check the calendar. We’re pretty busy this season.” Dismissing Regan, Isabel turned to Gabe, all smiles. “Speaking of calendars, I must have used up one of my Christmas miracles.”
“How’s that?” Gabe asked, his eyes darting between the two women, trying to figure out how he’d just gotten pulled into the middle. But Regan noticed, giddily, that he slid closer, almost offering her his alliance if she needed it. She didn’t, but the thought was sweet.
“I was just talking to Daddy about you. He’s having a small soirée tonight and wanted me to bring you along.” Isabel looked at Regan. “Please don’t think I’m being rude, but it’s an industry-people-only kind of event. Wine industry. I imagine you’d get bored anyway.”
And that was when those rage issues Gabe was always warning Regan about kicked in. Being dismissed was one thing. Being treated like she was stupid was another.
She’d dealt with girls like Isabel her whole life. She knew how to turn the other cheek, how to smile while ducking when they were going for the jugular. When she was younger she’d had to suck it up because her mom cleaned houses for most of their families. But she wasn’t that girl anymore.
“That’s okay, I’m really not all that into plastic corks. Plus, we already have dinner plans tonight.” She slid her arms through Gabe’s. “Right, Gabe?”
Gabe smiled big and long, and Regan knew she’d just played into his hands. “Regan’s right. Tonight she promised to feed me since we’ll spend most of the night testing out that new couch of hers.” She felt him flex and swallowed. “You know, to see where it fits best.”
Isabel’s hurt eyes flew from Gabe’s to Regan’s and narrowed into two scorned slits. Regan instantly regretted using him to get to Isabel. Sure, Lauren’s mom could be nasty and rude, but that didn’t mean Regan had to be nasty back. Isabel was still Lauren’s mom and Regan was better than that.
Regan dropped Gabe’s arm and took a step closer to Isabel. “Look, I think somehow we got off to an...awkward start. We have two wonderful daughters who obviously love spending time together. Why don’t we start over?” She stuck out her hand. “Hi, I’m Regan, Holly’s mom.”
Isabel stared at her hand, then at the powerful DeLuca at her side, and Regan could almost hear her weighing all the possible outcomes. Taking on a single mom who worked at the local hotel would be fun for her. Taking on a DeLuca could be devastating to her family. That Regan knew firsthand, and the way Isabel’s features softened, she did too.
But before anyone had a chance to speak further, Holly came running out of the house with Lauren right behind her, phone in hand.
“Mommy!” Holly screamed. “Lauren’s coming to my party. She’s the first one to RSVP.” Holly pronounced the acronym as a single word, going heavy on the S and the P.
Regan looked at Isabel, silently begging her, from one mother to another, not to break her daughter’s heart. But Isabel only smiled, walked over to stand behind Lauren, and rested her hands on her shoulder. The effect was creepy. It was almost as though Lauren was the puppet and Isabel was the ventriloquist.
“I’m sorry, Holly. But Lauren is at her dad’s this weekend and we have to talk to him first—”
“I already did,” Lauren said, stepping away and breaking the connection. She waved the phone wildly. “And he said that I could go cuz we don’t have anything to do this weekend and