the most part a secret or two doesn’t hurt anyone.” She gave me a gentle squeeze. “Just remember, a secret loses its power when more people learn it.”
For the barest moment, I rested my head on her shoulder and breathed in the scents of earth and sugar.
I would have liked having a mom who smelled like her, like growing things and sprinkle cookies.
“Thanks.”
She kissed the side of my head. “Tell me that again after Abbott is through with you.”
Groaning, I let her march me into his office. I ducked my head to look extra pitiful, but also so she wouldn’t see the silly grin tickling the edge of my mouth as she mothered me better than mine ever had.
Only after Abbott pronounced me hale and hearty did Tisdale escort me to the lobby where my stomach dropped into the soles of my feet as if the elevator car had plummeted down the shaft with us in it. The wobble in my knees sent her into a tizzy, and she would have hauled me back to the infirmary if I hadn’t lied about tripping over the threshold.
She was standing in the lobby dressed in a nice pantsuit.
My mother.
Annabeth Pritchard.
Matron Pritchard.
A sour expression puckered her lips, and her sharp eyes missed nothing. Including my stumble and the attention it drew to Tisdale and me. A quick assessment dismissed me as anyone of importance, and that was…relief…rushing through me to tingle in my fingertips.
Part of me had always expected her to pierce my glamour with that cold stare upon our first meeting, to see down to the Amelie buried deep within the Hadley, and I had braced for her worst. But that was the little girl in me who wanted to cower behind Tisdale and hope I blended into the potted plants to avoid Mother’s notice. The future potentate couldn’t afford to show weakness, not in front of a predator.
“Let me tell my babysitters where I’m going,” Tisdale said, “and then I’m taking you to your apartment.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As I stood there, next to the elevators and sweet escape, Addie came around the bend with her father on her arm. No, that wasn’t right. Our father.
Goddess, having two lives and two families got confusing when my past and present collided in person.
“Hadley.” Addie’s bright greeting made me smile. “What are you doing down here?”
Our father, who hadn’t recognized me, jolted at the sound of my name and spun toward me.
A flash of hope that almost blinded me filled his hazy eyes, but then he saw me, and all that vanished.
“I need a drink,” he murmured. “I’ll meet you at Michelle’s.”
An upscale restaurant for a simple family dinner, but it was Society owned, and I bet half Mother’s enjoyment came from knowing Boaz, therefore she, had to foot the exorbitant bill in front of their peers.
No wonder Addie was so keen on cooking. I would hit the grocer to skip the spectacle of shame too.
Addie watched him go, her shoulders tight, and Mother pounced on that show of weakness.
“Honestly, I don’t understand why you booked him a room.” Her lips curved in the mockery of a smile. “He never leaves the bar. You might as well have booked him a stool.”
Hurt and embarrassment colored Addie’s cheeks, and she was the last person who deserved the barbed tip of my mother’s tongue lashing her.
Crossing to them, I took Addie’s hand. “You’re heading out to dinner?”
Our sister-bonding time flew out the window as she nodded, her gaze tagging my mother as if to explain the change in plans, but I was okay with a quiet night at home with Midas.
“We’re just waiting on Boaz.” She pulled herself taller. “He’s always the last one ready.”
“Why does he need so much gel when he barely has any hair?”
Addie snickered and held on tight, but Mother’s shoulders snapped back on my periphery.
“How are you familiar with my son’s dressing habits?” Her lips twisted. “Or do I want to know?”
“This is Hadley Whitaker,” Addie said coolly. “My little sister.”
A spark of interest kindled in her gaze. “The potentate.”
“Apprentice,” I said, my heart booming in my ears, my spine wilting by slow degrees, “but yes.”
“An unorthodox appointment for a woman,” she said, but not unkindly. “What drew you here?”
Since it would have outed me to say I came to escape from you, I opted for a more diplomatic response. “I wanted to make a difference.”
More polite than made me comfortable, she inclined her head slightly. “Are you joining us for dinner?”
Grateful for