Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(21)

“Um-hm.” Chloe’s cautious smile broadened to a grin.

“Well?” Allison asked eagerly. “How’d it go?”

“Pretty well, I think.” Stepping away from the camera, she adjusted one of the lights.

“You think?” Allison looked confused.

“Actually”—she remembered the easy conversation over dinner and the kiss on her front porch—“it went really well.” Just saying that out loud made nerves jangle in her belly. “I think I really like this guy.”

“You do?” Eagerness brightened Allison’s eyes. “So, tell me about him.”

That quick, unconditional joy for her wrapped around Chloe’s heart.

Before she could open her mouth, however, the phone in her apron pocket filled the air with the ominous “Imperial March” from Star Wars. The warmth drained from her body. Retrieving the phone on reflex, she stared at the caller ID to confirm what she already knew. As if Darth Vader himself had entered the room, dread landed in the pit of her stomach.

“What a cheerful ring tone.” Allison scowled.

“I just installed it,” Chloe explained, her voice flat. “So I’d know who’s calling.”

“Oh?” Allison looked cautiously neutral. “Who’d you assign it to?”

Staring at the phone as it continued to emit the oppressive notes, Chloe took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Diane.”

“Your mother?” Surprise lit Allison’s voice followed by hope. “Are you two talking again?”

“Sort of.”

“Or not,” Allison added. “Since you’re not answering it.”

“I don’t need to.” Chloe muted the phone and dropped it back into the pocket. “I know why she’s calling.”

“Care to tell me about it?” Allison asked with no hint of judgment or censor.

That automatic support made Chloe’s eyes sting, but she pushed aside the stupid urge to cry. If she gave in to that useless impulse, who knew what might come tumbling out of her mouth. She couldn’t possibly tell Allison the truth without the whole family getting in an uproar. Lord knew what would happen if Scott found out about his sister’s weird obsession with the necklace, or that his father was threatening to cut off Chloe’s trust fund.

Her uncle and the St. Claires would rally around her, but at what cost? The tentative peace between Scott and his mother was already on shaky ground since his parents had reunited. The twins and Nicki could lose what little contact they had with the only grandparent they knew. Deirdre LeRoche, or DeeDee as her friends called her, might not be the most loving grandmother in the world, but she was better than no grandparent at all. Wasn’t she?

That would end if Chloe couldn’t figure out a way to defuse this latest bomb on her own. Even worse, if her grandfather really did take away her trust fund, she couldn’t afford to keep working at Pearl Island in exchange for free rent.

She had to tell Allison a little bit, however, since her aunt now knew something was up. “Either she’s calling about the necklace again, or about wanting me to come to New Orleans. Probably both.”

“The necklace from the shipwreck?” Allison frowned. “Why does she care about that?”

“It’s a long story,” Chloe sighed. “Let’s just say she’s not happy it’s on display in the museum. She thinks I should try harder to get possession of it since I’m the one who found it.”

“I thought you were happy with the judge’s ruling,” Allison said.

“I am,” Chloe reassured her. “A valuable artifact like that should be in a museum where everyone can enjoy it. Being acknowledged as the owner was enough for me.”

“I’m glad, since the necklace is going to stay put, but why does she want you to come to New Orleans?” Allison asked.

Chloe turned away. “For her engagement party.”

“Your mother’s getting married?” The word “again” hadn’t been said, but it hung in the air.

“Apparently.” Chloe tried to make light of it with a snort.

Silence followed.

When Allison spoke, her words sounded casual. “Wanna talk about it?”

“Nothing to talk about.” Chloe concentrated on adjusting the lights.

“All right…” Allison stretched the words out carefully. “I’m here, though, if you change your mind.”

“I just get so frustrated,” she said, moving to the dolls to rearrange them. Despite her insistence that she didn’t want to talk, words crowded her throat. Maybe she couldn’t reveal the threat to her trust fund, but if she didn’t release some of her irritation at her mother, she’d blow. “The last thing I want to do is meet Diane’s next emotional-train-wreck-waiting-to-happen. Do you know what it’s like listening to her gush about how fabulous some jerk is? How this time it’s for real? How he treats her like a princess? When the truth is, he’s probably already treating her like dirt. Not that she’s saying any of that this time, since I’ve made it clear I don’t want to hear it.”

“Have you met him?”

“I don’t have to.” She waved a hand through the air.

“Careful.” Allison reached out to rescue the doll Chloe still held.