Total pages in book: 225
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 218500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1093(@200wpm)___ 874(@250wpm)___ 728(@300wpm)
I’m suddenly curious about the departed Thaddeus and how he’d factor into this strange vibe here. And maybe his absence is part of the odd dynamic today. They’re missing a member of the family and even if everyone didn’t get along with him, they must feel the absence anyway.
What’s Christmas morning like with this bunch? Were things ever normal? Derek has mental health issues, for certain, but are the others well-adjusted?
“So, my small surprise,” Mr. Steele announces, “I’ve brought in an officiant to see your mother and I renew our vows. The one you liked from that wedding we attended last month, Shan. I was just on the phone with him; he’ll be here in twenty minutes.”
Mrs. Steele’s face lights up. “Oh Michael.”
He smiles at her. And the ice in his gaze has melted. So has hers.
Conversation resumes as Naomi, Grace, and Mrs. Steele get into details about the upcoming party. Mrs. Steele lauds Grace, who has helped plan it down to the last detail with as many ruby red touches as possible.
I push my food around with my fork while they name drop local A-listers who are coming, including Michael’s old college roommate, a Hollywood director who’s coming with his third wife, an A-list actress who’s a third of his age.
The scandal of this keeps the conversation going for a while, and I note Derek doesn’t participate in any of the main conversations and while his brothers occasionally pull one another into mini side discussions, none of them do so with Derek.
Naomi asks me a few more questions about my job, about my family, and I politely tell her my mom is a CPA, my father is an oral surgeon. I answer when asked where I went to school. But I’m feeling like I’m not only out of my element but also like a huge weight is on me. I’m not myself. I feel unpoised, like I’m not well-spoken. I’m taking in this strange atmosphere while they’ve all ignored the blatant hints that I’m here against my will. While they pretend not to notice my distress.
Are these people not going to do anything about the fact that he’s made it clear he’s forcing me to be here with him? How can they be so lax about it? My heart is beating too fast. I feel like I can’t get a deep enough breath. Maybe they don’t realize how bad it really is. Maybe they think he was making a joke about maneuvering me here. Maybe my reaction to Naomi’s questions wasn’t severe enough.
Derek again tries to coax me to eat while showering me with public displays of affection. Temple kisses, touching my hair while his eyes travel my face, fingertips massaging the back of my neck or caressing my shoulder. I’m wincing at his touch, trying to shrink into myself. And they’re all ignoring it.
His mother abruptly stands.
“We’d like the final course in ten minutes, Carson. Mimosas in my morning room now, please. I’d like a word with Cleo.”
“Yes, Mrs. Steele,” Carson states, magically appearing in the doorway.
Mrs. Steele grabs her mimosa, the fourth since I’ve arrived, and she wobbles a little as she backs up, then smooths out her flamboyant, full gauzy red skirt. I woodenly rise.
“Chloe. And Grace, too?” Grace asks.
“Grace, too. And Naynay,” Mrs. Steele sings out and I nab my little handbag.
“You don’t need that,” Derek says, snatching it from my hand and placing it back on the table, making his point while sliding his glasses down his nose just enough to look me in the eyes with warning.
I fire back a dirty look, which makes him smile, wide. And this makes me stumble clumsily, but I manage to steady myself before landing flat on my butt. I follow his mom and sisters out of the room, back the way we came in, then down a different hall that takes us deeper into the cavernous house until we’re in a beautiful teal and champagne space filled with art and comfortable furniture.
Mrs. Steele sits on one of four wingback chairs in a conversation cluster. We all take one. Grace and Naomi flank her so I’m directly across, and wondering if I’m about to be cross-examined. Maybe I’m about to get some help with Derek.
Shannon Steele eyes me with concern and hope flares until she speaks, saying, “If you’re marrying into this family, there are things you need to know about, Cleo.”
Carson sets an ornate silver tray with four mimosas and a large cranberry glass jug containing at least one, if not two more rounds of the same in it on the low table between us.
“Thank you, Carson!” she exclaims like she’s dying of thirst and he’s a savior.
Her eyes pin me shrewdly and I know instantly that this is the media speech Grace forewarned about instead of concern for the fact it’s been made clear I’ve been blackmailed into my current situation with Derek.