One Step Closer(97)

“I love you too, dear.” Her hands were still in dough so she couldn’t return Wren’s embrace. “Just don’t let that pariah intimidate you.”

“I won’t.” She took one last swallow of the fresh squeezed orange juice that Jonesy had given her, and then started to walk from the kitchen. “That was delicious.”

“Caleb isn’t going to like you going alone,” Jonesy called after her retreating form.

Wren stopped and turned back around so she could answer the housekeeper from the foyer that stood between the massive kitchen and the staircase. “I know, but I’m not thirteen anymore, and Caleb gave me a solid education on sticks and stones. My mother doesn’t have the same power over me; I’m not a scared kid anymore.”

Jonesy hacked off another chunk of dough. “Okay, but he isn’t gonna like it.”

As if he had psychic ability, her phone pinged and a text came in as she climbed the stairs and went into her room. It was from Caleb.



Thank you for last night. I’m meeting Dex for lunch. I didn’t want to wake you. Jonathan wants me to meet him at Lux later. You can come along, but if you’d rather not, I can fill you in later.

You go ahead. Will I see you for dinner?

Yes. Why don’t you give Jonesy the night off and we’ll go out.

Wren smiled as warmth filled her like flowing honey, and she started to blush.

You mean, like a date?

Much more than a date.

***

WREN WALKED INTO the beautiful hotel right on time. She just wanted to get this meeting with Veronica behind her. Her conscious nagged a bit. She should have told Caleb her plans, but he would have insisted he accompany her and his day would have been ruined. No; it was time she learned how to handle her mother.

Wren had on the best dress she’d taken with her to Bali. It was an aquamarine, cobalt blue, and white sundress with a flowing skirt that dropped to mid-calf and the bodice was fitted with spaghetti straps. She bought it because the darker color reminded her of Caleb’s eyes, but walking into the elaborate lobby, she couldn’t help feeling out of place.

She found the bell stand and asked directions to the restaurant, but the hotel had two. Leave it to Veronica to make it as difficult as she possibly could.

“Which one is the most expensive?” Wren asked the uniformed man who was clearly the bell captain.

“There is a coffee and breakfast bar, and the Elway’s is right down that long hallway and to the left, ma’am,” he said pleasantly, and pointed the way.

He smiled at her admiringly, and Wren answered with a small one of her own. “Thank you.”

It wasn’t quite 11:30 am, and the restaurant was filling up for lunch. Dark wood and various shades of orange upholstery oozed elegance in the understated way that said a cup of coffee was going to cost ten dollars. Wren rolled her eyes because she couldn’t help herself.

She approached the hostess stand where a very tall and thin brunette welcomed her. “Good afternoon. Would you like the dining room or the patio?”

It was a beautiful June day, but Wren was sure her mother would not choose the breeze ruffling her hair, no matter how nice it was outside. “I’m meeting my mother, Veronica Luxon?” It came out sounding like a question.

“Oh, my gosh, yes!” she gushed. Clearly, the young woman had seen Veronica’s face in some of the Lux advertisements. “Right this way, please.” She motioned Wren to follow her through the restaurant to one of the curved booths against a far wall.

The booth looked out into the restaurant so Veronica saw her coming and waved her over. Wren was annoyed that her mother always had to take some sort of action to draw attention. She was elegantly dressed in a white suit, her hair freshly coiffed in an updo from a salon. Her fingers were dripping in diamonds, including the large rock Edison had given her for an engagement ring.

Veronica’s face turned sour as the hostess waited for Wren to slide in before she placed a leather-bound menu in front of her on the bone china bread plate. “What are you wearing, Wren? This is the Ritz for goodness sake.”

Wren slid into the booth, grateful for the size of it so she could keep a good amount of distance between herself and her mother. “Nice to see you, too, Mother.”

Veronica was sufficiently sidetracked, like a dog that drops his ball when presented with a steak. Her bright red lips curved into a broad smile, showing her perfect teeth. She reached out a hand, hoping to take Wren’s in hers but her daughter didn’t comply, instead folding both of her hands in her lap after setting her purse on the seat next to her.

Veronica looked taken aback for a split second. “Wren, dear, is that any way to greet your mummy?”

Wren cringed. Why did she insist on that insipid label? It sounded off to Wren because it was completely fake, like everything else about her mother.

“I don’t remember we ever lived in England, Mother, and I can remember years when you wanted me to call you Veronica. Nothing remotely related to mummy.” Wren kept her voice dry and her guard up. “What’s this about? Oh, besides a ride to the airport.”

Veronica sat back and glared at Wren. “No need to get nasty. That stepbrother of yours is rubbing off on you. It’s not attractive at all, Wren,” she said indignantly.

Wren’s mind screamed with hatred and a multitude of insults she wanted to hurl at her mother. “Haven’t you heard? You’re divorced. Caleb isn’t my stepbrother, anymore.”