The Summer of Sunshine and Margot - Susan Mallery Page 0,46

single sign from him that he saw her as anything other than another staff member. At which point Margot thought that maybe it was time to start working on integrating the various parts of her body into a single—

“Hello.”

Margot jumped and spun toward the voice. Bianca was sitting on a bar stool by the big island, a bowl of ice cream in front of her.

“You startled me,” Margot said, pressing a hand to her chest. “How was your day with Wesley?”

“Wonderful. I’ve been thinking about the formal dinner party you want to have. Well, let’s get it scheduled. The sooner the better.”

Margot took a seat at the island. Bianca looked as beautiful as ever. Her eyes were clear, her hair perfectly curled. She had on a silk blouse tucked into tight jeans. There was no hint of the slightly frantic almost-bitch she’d been the night before.

“There are some things we have to work on before the party,” she said carefully. “Last night didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped.”

Bianca dismissed her with a wave of her spoon. “Nonsense. It went perfectly. You said you were going to invite your sister and her little boy?”

“Connor is the child she takes care of. Sunshine is a nanny. I thought they could both come, along with the gentleman she works for. Declan. He designed the gardens here at the monastery.”

“That sounds perfect.” Bianca beamed a million-dollar smile. “We’ll have Edna come up with an exciting menu and you can teach me which fork to use. It will be such fun.”

“Bianca, why are you trying to distract me?”

Bianca’s eyes widened. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’re the one who wanted the dinner party. I’m saying let’s go for it.”

“Yes, and I appreciate that. But you’re avoiding the conversation about last night. We need to talk about it.”

Bianca sighed heavily and dug her spoon into the bowl. “Fine. Talk. I was horrible. What was I thinking? Wrong me. There, are we finished?”

Margot genuinely couldn’t process all the information Bianca was throwing at her. Most of it was in code, but it was there, if only she could figure it out.

She leaned toward her client. “You weren’t horrible at all. You obviously love Wesley and he seems like such a great guy. I’m glad you’re happy with him. And it’s wonderful how you want to make sure you fit in so you don’t jeopardize his job.”

Bianca’s gaze was wary. “But? Because there’s always a but and it’s never good.”

“We all react when we’re nervous. We all have a default position we take to defend ourselves. But for some people, going on the offense is a stronger position. I think you might be like that.”

Margot smiled gently. “If you make the conversation about the other person in a disarming way, you deflect attention and give yourself a chance to regroup. You don’t have to think when you lash out, which means you haven’t done anything to mitigate your anxiety.”

“I don’t lash out,” Bianca snapped. “Who would I lash out at? Alec? Are you saying I’m a bad mother?”

Her reaction had headed the direction Margot wanted, but it was more intense than expected. Yet something else to mull later.

“You’re one of the bravest single mothers I know,” Margot said. “You literally gave your son the world. All the places he got to visit when he was young, all the experiences he shared with you. I know you two were a team. Yet when he was a little older, you let him go to boarding school, even knowing he was going to be so far away. I don’t think I could have done that. I think I’m way too selfish.”

Bianca’s entire body relaxed as her expression softened. “I had to let him go. It was what he wanted.”

Margot smiled. “Yet more love. I admire that and I’m a little envious. My mom took off when my sister and I were still toddlers.”

“Did she really? That’s awful. How could—” Bianca’s eyes narrowed. “Wait a minute. You did that on purpose. You totally changed the subject.”

“Yes. When I did, your energy changed, too. You were able to breathe and be a part of the conversation. You weren’t defensive or angry anymore. You felt my interest and empathy. It’s something I think you could easily learn. You already have acting skills that would be a big help. When you feel stressed or nervous, energy builds up. One way or another, it’s going to dissipate. Why not help that happen