Ellery’s friends, keeping an eye on Ellery, who spent most of the time checking her phone. At one point, her daughter had excused herself to step outside, and Daphne had caught a glimpse of Ellery talking to who she assumed was Josh. Tears had sparkled in her daughter’s eyes, and her disposition upon coming inside was not celebratory.
Ten of them had traipsed over to the restaurant for dinner—Ellery, Rex, Daphne, and several of Ellery’s friends. Madison’s high school boyfriend, Claire’s fiancé, and their buds had arrived to make the occasion more festive, but Josh had yet to arrive. Ellery said he was en route and would arrive before the entrée made it to the table.
“So let’s raise a glass of this delicious wine to our Ellery! Sláinte!”
“Sláinte!” everyone echoed, clinking glasses.
Ellery sat at the end of the table, looking as beautiful as she ever had. She wore a violet wrap dress that accentuated her peachy complexion and hinted at the curve of her high breasts. Her blonde hair was artfully arranged, and chandelier earrings framed her face. Her makeup rivaled any runway model’s, subdued everywhere but the eyes, which were shadowed to look smoky, a perfect background for the intensity of blue irises. But if one looked closely, she could see the strain, the doubt. Ellery’s mouth was strung tight, though she smiled often. Daphne knew it was because there was still an empty chair next to her daughter.
She wanted to kick Josh’s ass from here to Mexico. When she’d first met her daughter’s then-boyfriend, he’d charmed everyone within a mile. Josh was handsome, mannered, and utterly sincere. Daphne had not thought she could select a better fit for her daughter, but then the two had moved to Shreveport, and Josh had changed. Oh, he could still turn on his hundred-watt smile at will, but he’d been distracted and mostly absent since he’d started school.
Still, if there were a line for ass-kicking, Josh could get in line behind Rex.
Her ex was grandstanding, acting as if this weekend was his idea. That’s what he’d always done. But this time, she felt personal about his taking credit, especially after the front desk had called an hour ago, asking if his room should be billed to her account. Seems when he’d checked in, he’d said he was part of the Witt party. Daphne hadn’t wanted to make a scene, so she’d told the front desk it was fine and to add it to her card, but she would tell her ex-husband he had to change it over to his card before he left. She wasn’t paying for Rex’s room for the night. Hell to the no.
“Thank you, Daddy,” Ellery said, smiling at him with the adoration she’d always held for the man who’d spoiled her rotten. “And everyone for coming. I know it was hard for y’all to get away! So cheers!”
Everyone clinked again and then sipped the wine, conversation returning to normal.
Daphne trampled her annoyance at not being thanked. Rex, who did nothing but show up, got thanked. She supposed she’d have to settle for being “everyone.”
“Mrs. D, the decorations at our rental house are so cute,” Claire said.
Rex anchored the end of the table, and Daphne was to his right. Claire sat directly across, next to her fiancé. The two had gotten engaged at the end of college, right before Ellery. Sometimes, Daphne wondered if that was why Ellery had become so enamored of diamonds, china patterns, and bridal Pinterest boards. Ellery liked to be first at everything . . . she also liked to do things bigger and better than everyone else. “Thanks. I thought it would be festive. You know I love a theme.”
“You always think of everything. I wish my mom was more like you and thought about cute things like that. You’re so good at details. That’s probably where Ellery gets it from.” Claire unfolded her napkin and sat it in her lap. “My mama’s always on the road and losing track of things. She actually forgot my birthday this year.”
Rex raised his eyebrows. “Your mama still work for that drug company?”
“Well, Mr. Witt, they like to be called a pharmaceutical company, but, yeah, she’s still with them,” Claire said with a smile. “How are things with the AC business?”
“Perfect,” Rex said, his eyes lowering. He reached for the basket holding rolls as if signaling he didn’t want to talk about his business. Something inside Daphne reared its head. Something felt wrong. Rex was way too jovial,