Stanton Bliss(17)

Joshua raises a brow. “Ok then,” he mutters under his breath. The waiter turns his attention to Joshua.

“I will have an iced water with lemon.”

Hmm. I look at him, my face deadpan. Why is he so damn healthy all the time?

I see Robert first, and then Margaret. They smile as they enter and Margaret falls into the seat in front of me, placing her wallet and phone on the table. “Hello.” She smiles.

“Hi,” I force out.

Joshua smiles and turns his attention to ordering some drinks for his parents. I turn my attention onto Mrs. Shifty sitting opposite me. What the f*ck are you up to, bitch?

“Have you had a good day?” she asks.

“I have. How was shopping?”

“Oh, I didn’t really find anything. It was more your mother who wanted to go.”

I fake a smile. Is she insinuating that my mother needs to shop because she has nothing? Stop it. You are being a drama queen. That’s not what she meant and you know it.

“What time is your flight?” Joshua asks Robert.

“We have to be at the airport at 5.30 p.m.”

“We have had a wonderful time, darling,” Margaret gushes as she grabs Joshua’s hand over the table.

I watch her intently. Fuck, she is pissing me off just by breathing.

“We are so happy that things turned out the way they did.” Robert smiles and I smile my first, genuine smile since they arrived.

“How long are you kids staying?” Margaret asks.

“About another ten days or so,” Joshua replies as he puts his hand on my leg.

“Are you going back to your house in L.A.?” he asks.

“Umm, not sure yet.” Joshua’s eyes flicker to mine. “We haven’t really decided where we want to live yet, have we?”

“No, not yet.” My anxiety rises. I don’t know where I want to live, but I definitely know it’s not in Joshua’s beloved house. I have watched it through those evil cameras of Amelie’s too many times and it freaks me the hell out.

Margaret’s phone dances silently across the table and the name Deidre comes up on the screen. My fury ignites.

She holds up a pointer finger to signify she will just be a minute. “Hello, Deidre,” she answers.

I start to hear my angry heart beat in my ears.

Go time.

She holds her hand over the phone and whispers. “I won’t be a minute. I will just go outside to take this call.”

“Of course,” Joshua replies, preoccupied with his father.

She stands, walks to the front of the restaurant, then out of the front door.

What do I do? What do I do? My legs bounce as I think. What the hell is she saying to him?

That’s it.

“I’m going to the bathroom,” I mouth to Joshua, and he nods as he talks.

I walk over to the bathroom and Max frowns at me as he follows me. My eyes dart around to Joshua to check I’m not discovered before I take off out of the front door.

“What are you doing?” Max growls quietly at me.

“I’m just seeing Margaret. I won’t be a minute. Wait inside, please.”

“No.” He follows me out.

I look around frantically, spotting Margaret standing behind a pillar around the corner of the driveway. I walk over next to her to listen without being seen.

I do a shoo symbol with my hand at Max. He narrows his eyes and stands to the side.

“Yes, darling, I know,” she says gently.

She listens.

“I will be home tonight.”

She listens.

“Tomorrow.”

I frown. What the hell? She is meeting him tomorrow?

“I will ring you in the morning for the address.”

She listens.

“I can’t wait to see you, too.”

What?

“Terribly,” she replies.

Oh my God, he just asked her if she missed him. What the hell?

“I love you, too.”

My mouth drops open in shock. I don’t f*cking believe it.

She walks around the corner and runs straight into me. Her face falls. “Natasha, darling. What are you doing out here?”

I glare at her.

“I was just talking to my friend, Deidre,” she mutters nervously.

I continue to glare at her. I’m too angry to even speak. I fold my arms in front of me and narrow my eyes.

“You can cut the shit now, Margaret.”

Her face drops. “What do you mean?”

“That was James on the phone. I’m not an idiot.”

She raises her eyebrows. “James? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Shall we take your phone out and compare it to James’ number on Robert’s phone.”

Her face drops. “Why are you spying on me?” she snaps angrily.

“So, you did lie? The whole f*cking thing was a lie?” I fume.

She shakes her head. “No. No. It was all true.”

“He blackmailed you.”

She stares at me hopelessly as she tries to think of an answer.

“He never even beat you did he?”

She doesn’t answer.

“Did he?” I yell.

“Natasha, please. It’s complicated. You wouldn’t understand.”