Betrayal (Infidelity Book 1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,28
I said around my mother. I could hear his unspoken warning: don’t upset Mrs. Fitzgerald. I took a deep breath. “It is why I need to leave as soon as our meeting is done on Monday. I have a lot of packing and shipping to do.”
Brantley pulled up to the front of the Gryphon Tearoom. As he got out to open Mother’s door, she said, “Let’s take this one day at a time, shall we? We need to discuss this with Alton.”
I was living in a time warp. That was the only plausible explanation I could come up with. Nothing ever changed in Savannah or around Montague Manor. It never would.
Adelaide lowered her voice as we walked toward the entrance. “Of course, I would’ve much rather had high tea at the Ballastone, but as you know that isn’t until four o’clock and with our guests arriving as early as six-thirty, we just couldn’t.” She reached for my hand. “But once you’re home, we can do that. I remember how much you used to enjoy dressing up for high tea with your grandmother.”
When I was four.
Monday could not come soon enough.
I HEARD THE voices from the grand hall as Jane entered my room. As soon as she closed the door they disappeared. If only she could make them really disappear. I exhaled and sat on the edge of my bed.
“What’s the matter, child?” Her dark eyes sparkled. “I mean madam counselor.”
I squeezed Jane’s hand as she sat beside me. “I’m sorry I didn’t keep in touch with you. I think I wanted—”
“Don’t you fret. I know what you wanted. You wanted to have a new life away from all of the Montague stuff. I’m part of that stuff.” She rolled her head around in a circle, gesturing with the last word.
“The best part of it.”
“Your momma’s down there telling everyone you’ll be down in a minute. It’s been more than a minute and you ain’t there.”
I scrunched my nose. “Do you think they’ll notice if I don’t show up?”
“And miss out on showing all them uptight stuffed shirts what a beautiful and successful woman Alex Collins has become? Oh no! You’re going to walk down there with your head held high.”
My cheeks blushed as I remembered someone else telling me the same thing. I hated how Nox kept finding his way into my thoughts. Chelsea had said to have fun, not get close, and use him, like men used women all the time. I tried, and I did. But I didn’t. Even though I’d left him in Del Mar, he was constantly on my mind.
How is he? Who is he really, his real name? Who does he work for? Where does he live?
“…done invited half of Georgia!”
My attention went back to Jane’s words. “What? Momma said a few people.”
“Well, chi—Alex, if thirty-six, no, thirty-seven people is a few, then that’s what she did.”
I exhaled and lay back on the bed. “Why?”
Jane pulled my hand to make me sit up. “Don’t you go messing that beautiful hair. It’s so pretty and long and look at these curls.”
Pride at her encouragement was momentarily overshadowed by the memory of when my hair wasn’t long and pretty.
Jane pulled me close and wrapped her arms around me. “Don’t,” she said. “Don’t you let those shadows back in your eyes. You keep them out where they belong. You stand proud and show all of them what a Montague woman can be.”
“Collins,” I corrected.
She released me, and her grin was back. “That’s my girl, Miss Alex Collins, and look at this dress. You’ll be the center of attention down there.”
I let out a long breath. “I guess it’s time.”
“It sure is. Let’s get this dog and—”
“Pony show underway,” I said, finishing her sentence. I went to the full-length mirror and did one last appraisal, pressing down the taffeta of my light blue dress.
Light blue… like eyes.
“You know,” I commented, “if I really were Alex and not Alexandria, I wouldn’t look like I just stepped out of Steel Magnolias.”
“You ain’t wearing no hat or white gloves. You look like a formal Alex.”
“Then why do I feel like Alexandria?”
“Because Alexandria’s a fine woman, too. It don’t matter what you call yourself. It matters what’s inside. You have a heart in there, one that knows what’s right and what’s wrong. That’s why one day you’re gonna make a great, powerful lawyer… maybe even a judge! Justice Collins.”
My smile faded. “Momma doesn’t want me to practice law.”