Lie to Me (Pearl Island Trilogy #4)(54)
Chloe puzzled over the name, since her mother’s fiancé was named Harold. Her confusion increased as the man turned and she saw he was even older than she’d thought. His gaunt face had bony cheeks and pale, piercing eyes. No way could this be Diane’s idea of Mr. Right.
“Pleased to meet you,” she said, extending her hand for a shake. Had the future groom not arrived? No, Diane had said she wanted to introduce her to him.
“And this,” Diane said, cozying up to the stocky man with the pock-marked face, “is Harold Bradford.”
Chloe’s jaw dropped. “You’re Harold?”
“’Fraid so.” Rather than take offense at her rude blunder, he laughed as he thrust out a hand. When she accepted it, he gave hers an enthusiastic shake. “I have that same reaction every morning. I wake up, look in the mirror and think, good God, where did that ugly mug come from?”
“I-I—” she stammered, wondering what to say.
“I’m thrilled to finally meet you,” he said, ignoring her shock. “And you, my dear, didn’t exaggerate.” He draped an arm around Diane’s waist. “She’s a stunner. Just like her mama.”
Chloe watched in shock as he pressed a quick kiss to Diane’s forehead. Her mother sent her the oddest look. It was somewhere between panicked and begging not to be judged.
She looked back, silently asking: What the heck is going on?
“I’m just glad you’re here,” her mother said, her voice nearly cracking. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
“Yes.” John cleared his throat, his eyes telling Diane to watch what she said. “We weren’t sure Chloe could make it due to other obligations. As close as she and her mother are, she’s also very dedicated to helping her aunt run a quaint little gift shop in Galveston. Not that Chloe needs the money, but she’s always been one to take responsibility seriously.”
“Gotta admire that,” Harold said with the respect of a working man. Then he looked Chloe straight in the eye in a way that wasn’t the least bit threatening or calculating. It was frank but friendly, and genuinely interested. “How are your uncle and his wife doing? I was sorry to hear they couldn’t come.”
“They, uh, they...” Her mind raced. He knew about Scott? She looked to her mother for guidance, since no one was supposed to talk about Scott in front of John.
“I’m sure my brother is just fine,” Diane said with a very nervous smile. “But you know how writers are. So protective of their privacy when they’re working.”
“I can respect that.” Harold nodded. “I hope when he’s finished with this new book we can make a trip to Pearl Island so I can meet my new brother-in-law.”
“Yes, well—” Diane licked her lips. “We’ll see. Maybe when we get back from Paris I can call and ask Scott when would be a good time.” Diane turned to Chloe with her first genuine smile of the day. “Did I tell you I’m going to Paris for my honeymoon?”
Chloe just stared at her mother as the wording of that sentence sank in. Not, “We’re going to Paris for our honeymoon,” or even, “Harold’s taking me to Paris,” but “I’m going for my honeymoon.”
“Diane?” she said lightly. “Could I talk to you for just a minute?”
“Oh, honey.” Diane laughed. Her Southern accent always got heavier when she was nervous, drunk, or trying to coax someone into doing what she wanted. Since she didn’t seem drunk, Chloe knew it was either the first or the last. “You don’t have to be so formal in front of Harold. You can call me, uh, mom.”
“Okaaay. Mom. If I can tear you away for just a minute.”
“Harold, you don’t mind, do you?” Diane sent the man a flirtatious look.
“Not at all.” Harold gave her waist a squeeze. “Go spend some time with your daughter.”
Chloe turned and walked back toward the French doors, leaving her wine on a low table. She felt her mother following, but didn’t bother looking back until they were inside. After closing the doors, she turned. “What is going on?”
“Not here,” Diane said, glancing over her shoulder. The doors might block sound, but not sight, so Diane took her arm and pulled her through the atrium to the library. Being John’s domain, the room had a more masculine feel with an abundance of wood and dark fabric.
“Oh, Chloe, this is all such a disaster.” Diane covered her eyes as if on the verge of tears. “John is forcing me to do this. I keep thinking it’s all a nightmare and any minute I’ll wake up.”
“What do you mean, forcing you? Forcing you to do what?”
“Marry that man!”
“What?” Chloe pressed her hands to the top of her head as if it would explode. Bullying his daughter into behaving how he wanted her to was one thing. But forcing her into a marriage she didn’t want? “That’s ridiculous. He can’t force you to marry someone.”
“No, but he can cancel my credit cards,” Diane said. “And he did. All of them! Do you know how humiliating it is to go to lunch with friends and have the waiter announce in front of the whole table that a confiscation notice popped up when he tried to run your card? I may never live that down. This is so far beyond anything he’s ever done before. He’s taken away everything. Even my apartment.”