One Tiny Lie – Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,38
sister have ever been best friends with this catty woman? She pinned Margot with a steely look. “My engagement to Hudson has nothing to do with money.”
Margot grunted. “I don’t believe that.”
“Well, that’s your prerogative,” Luna shot back.
Margot’s face fell. “Why’re you being so mean?” she pouted.
Luna raised her eyebrows. “I’m being mean? You’re the one accusing me of marrying Hudson for his money.” Margot tried to interject something, but Luna held up her hand and talked over her. “Just so we’re clear. I’m marrying Hudson because I’m in love with him.” Color rushed to her cheeks as her brain processed what she’d just said. It was true. She was in love with Hudson. She only hated that Margot was the first one to hear it. “My parents are having financial troubles, but I’m not expecting Hudson to fix them. In fact, I’m not taking a dime from him.” It made Luna proud to know that she and Ava were now capable of earning the kind of money that could do something so lofty as to save a vineyard.
“So what’re you gonna do? Just sit back and let the vineyard tank?” Margot’s eyes flashed. “That’s a hard road to go down. I can assure you of that.”
Luna knew that Margot was talking about her family’s vineyard that had burned. She was somewhat amused by the direction this conversation was taking. “Let me get this straight,” she mused. “One minute, I’m a money-hungry fiend who’s willing to marry for money, and the next, I’m an unfeeling jerk who’s willing to sit back and let my parents’ vineyard fall to pieces.” She eyed Margot. “Which is it?”
Margot put down her fork. “I don’t know how you want me to answer that,” she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.
Luna was growing tired of the incessant verbal jabs. She let out a heavy sigh. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Shoot,” Margot quipped.
“How did we ever become friends?”
Margot gasped like she’d been slapped. “How could you even ask that?” Her words came out fast and breathy. “You’ve been my best friend since I can remember.”
“Best friends don’t treat one another the way you’ve been treating me,” Luna asserted.
Tears rose in Margot’s eyes. “Oh, yeah. Well, best friends don’t steal each other’s boyfriends either.”
Luna’s throat tightened. “Are we back to this? Hudson isn’t your boyfriend,” Luna said as kindly as she could. “You and I both know that he has always been in love with me.” Ava, actually, but Margot would get the point.
A single tear dribbled down Margot’s cheek.
“Look, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to hurt you.” She meant that with all of her heart. As irritating as Margot was, Luna had no desire to hurt her. Echoes of Luna’s past rose up around her like a jury of sinister ghosts, threatening to rip away her newfound confidence and condemn her to a life of isolation. There was a time when she would have felt unworthy of a man like Hudson. Heck, truth be known, a part of her still felt that way. Old patterns of thinking were hard to overcome, but she was trying. Luna wanted to be brave and strong like Ava. She wanted to go after her dreams, to believe that happiness could come to her. That she was worthy of love.
Margot looked away. More tears spilled from her eyes. “I know,” she finally said, wiping at her cheeks. “I just never expected you to fall in love with Hudson,” she said miserably. She reached for a napkin and blew her nose.
“I understand.” Compassion rose in her breast. “Margot, you’re beautiful and smart. You have so much going for you. I’m sure there are lots of guys who would be overjoyed to be with you, including Peter Sedgwick.”
“I know.” Margot’s voice broke. “Too bad it’s not the man I love.”
Silence settled between them like a dense fog. Margot scooted back her chair. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to the restroom.” A sniffle rose from her throat as she hurried away.
“Sure,” Luna said, mostly to herself. She rubbed a hand across her forehead. Sheesh. This was getting dicey. She actually felt bad for Margot. Viewing this from Margot’s perspective, she could see how this could be hard. Margot thought she had a chance with Hudson, and then her best friend had suddenly switched positions regarding her feelings for him. When the truth finally came out, Margot would understand.
Several minutes passed until it occurred to Luna that someone was watching her. She