Chasing Shadows (First Wives #3)(5)

Avery leaned in for the air kiss to the side of her cheek before the waiter tucked Margaret’s chair under her.

“My wedding, I think.”

Margaret’s fake pout was almost as bad as her phony smile. “Oh, yes. Such a shame about that divorce.”

“Oh, well. Have to get the first one out of the way sometime,” Avery said.

Adeline shot her a nasty look.

“I’m happy you’re so well adjusted with the situation. Bernie seemed like such a nice man.”

Avery was fairly certain that Margaret’s only barometer for judging Bernie’s character would have come from the two-second handshake at the receiving line during the reception. But like most of Adeline’s friends, people with money were quickly referred to as dear friends. It only took a season or two for those new friends to become old friends.

Margaret’s husband was a partner in an investment firm, and good ol’ Maggie herself was a domestic engineer that employed a housekeeper, a cook, and a driver. In short, Mags spent her time memorizing the names of the “important” people in her husband’s social circle and had high tea at the Waldorf as often as she could. The reason Avery knew so much about Margaret was because the woman was a mirror image of her mother.

Adeline had never held a job, although she did have a liberal arts degree. A piece of paper she waved over Avery repeatedly while she was in college, doing her best to flunk out. The problem was Adeline did nothing with her degree other than brag that she had one.

“I wouldn’t give up hope on Bernie. He’s still in love with Avery,” Adeline told Margaret.

“I wouldn’t bet money on that,” Avery said.

“He would take you back in a breath.”

The waiter took that moment to walk up to the table. “Ladies?”

He was tall, young, and very cute.

“Champagne,” Avery spat out before her mother could order them all tea.

“Avery, please. It’s teatime.”

The waiter kept his smile in the corner of his eye. He’d obviously seen women like her enduring tea with their mothers before.

“Fine.” Avery smiled. “I’ll take some tea with that as well.”

The waiter tried not to laugh.

As expected, her mother ordered all the fancy proper tea bullshit without asking anyone’s opinion. By the time the wine came to the table, Adeline and Margaret were deep in the gossiping world of who said and did what.

“And did you hear that Avery is the maid of honor for her dear old friend Trina Petrov and Wade Thomas’s wedding?”

“I do think I heard about that. Isn’t he someone famous?”

Avery didn’t even try to open her mouth and get a word in. Adeline felt she had a name to drop, so she did.

“Only the wealthiest country music singer out there.”

Avery wasn’t sure that was true, but again, she just sipped her champagne and let her mom gossip.

“Maybe you’ll meet the right man at the wedding,” Margaret suggested.

I’m not looking!

“Never know,” Avery said instead. The conversation about Avery’s future husband had started at birth. Men want educated wives. You’ll never find a proper husband if you continue to be outspoken. Polite women find proper husbands. That had been Adeline’s constant diatribe at every family dinner, every school visit. Howard, Avery’s dad, chimed right in with the expected “Yes, dear” and “Listen to your mother.” It was no wonder that Avery fostered temporary friends with benefits over relationships her entire adult life. The last thing she wanted to do was become what her mother wanted her to be. Polite, respectable Avery Grant were words that would never pass anyone’s lips.

The tiers of finger food arrived at the table to help soak up the liquor. She reached for the sandwiches at the same time her mother did.

“What happened to your hand?”

Avery glanced at her krav maga battle scars. Her knuckles were purple and blue after her sparring match with Leslie.

“You should have seen the other guy.”

Adeline sucked in a breath. “That isn’t funny.”

“I accidently hit it against the wall, Mother. Relax.”

“You should be more careful. Men don’t like women who are bruised and broken.” Her mother dismissed all concern for her hand with her retort.

“Good thing I’m not looking for one, then.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course you are.”

Avery bit into the tiny cucumber sandwich, which tasted a lot better than it sounded, and then washed it down. “I’m working, Mother. Making good money and have a purpose other than being another man’s possession. You might want to get used to the idea.”

“You’re working?” Margaret turned her attention toward Avery.

“It’s a silly little hobby she picked up last year,” Adeline jumped in.

“A full-time hobby that is making me six figures a year. Without being shackled to anyone.” Especially her parents.

“Grant women don’t work. This is just a season.”

“Sure, whatever you say, Mother.”

The stiffness in Adeline’s upper lip displayed her displeasure with the entire conversation.

“Are you serious about not wanting to marry again?” Margaret asked.