Replacing Gentry (16 page)

A pleased smile thinned out his full lips. “Beautiful
and
has a good eye,” he said, and I felt myself starting to blush. “The Andromeda Galaxy is a blue galaxy,” he explained. “That’s a red star. A red star is nearin’ the end of its life span at which time it will explode. And when it does, its brightness will be visible even in the daylight. You see those other stars that are congregatin’ together with Andromeda? They do that because they’re too afraid to stand alone.”

He lowered his voice like he was telling me a secret. “But in fact, they’re just jealous of the red star.”

Following his lead, I whispered as well. “Why?”

He leaned closer. “Because she’s free and they aren’t. And they know that, one day, her brightness will surpass all theirs put together.”

A bashful smile turned up my hot cheeks. I liked Johnny when he was being nice. I liked the way I felt when he was near. I didn’t know how or why, but it was like he understood me.

“Hey Miss Marlie, Mister Johnny,” said a cute strawberry blonde with braids and a freckled nose. Her eyes did a swift assessment of the splotches of guacamole on Johnny’s shirt. “You might not remember me, but I’m Emma,” she gestured to herself. “And this is Sammy,” she said, indicating the tall brunette at her side.

Both girls were very slim in skinny jeans and satiny tanks with plunging necklines. Emma had a sweetness about her while Sammy wore that teenaged the-world-should-worship-me-while-I-detest-it look.

I sent her a welcoming smile. “Of course I remember,” I said. I might have been mistaken but I think the redhead was, or had been, dating Bridger. “Are you girls having fun?”

Sammy’s eyes gave the crowd a cursory glance. “Sure, whatever,” she said, lackadaisically lifting a shoulder before turning an appraising glance over Johnny.

“Everythin’s real nice,” Emma interjected. “I really love these votives. Where did you get them? I want some for my room.”

Flattered that I’d at least gotten
one
thing right when it came to this party, I gave her a humble smile. “At this cute little place downtown,” I started, but then noticing that Johnny was returning a look of mild interest to young Sammy, I elbowed him in the side.

“Ouch!” he said, putting a hand to his ribcage. “What?”

I played like I had no idea what he was reacting to and went on. “Anyway, it’s just off Broadway in this little—”

“What is that smell?” Johnny interrupted with his nose to the air.

The two girls exchanged an awkward look, and I knew something was up. Pulling in a patch of night air, it smelled like dampness mixed with citronella as expected. Only as my breath deepened, the air began to sour with a touch of smoke. A weed I recognized but hadn’t been in the company of since college.

“I don’t smell anythin’,” Sammy said, her expression suddenly turning accommodating. “What do you call this green stuff again?”

She dipped a delicate pinky finger into the guacamole, and then sucked the dip between her lips while Johnny practically salivated.

Emma’s smile held a smidge too tight, a second too long, and my suspicions were confirmed. Turning my focus toward the origins of the offensive smell, I headed to the far end of the pool and around a tall grouping of crape myrtles. A few teens were hunkered down on the grass in a circle. Shrouded in the fading sunlight, they were enjoying a cold beer while passing around a tightly-wound, lazily smoking reefer.

I knotted my fists at my waist. “What do you guys think you’re doing?” I said and to my dismay, Bodie jerked the joint behind his back.

I rolled my eyes, feeling a sharp pain run across my forehead. “Really? Like I’m not going to figure out what you’re up to when the smoke is rising up from behind your back?” I scolded, my eyes shooting flames of reproach around the circle, and then to Bodie in particular. “And where did you get that beer?”

Shrugs rolled like an advancing wave across their shoulders. Of course, no one was talking, but then what did I expect? That they’d fight over who would give up the culprit first?

I held my hands out, palms up, fingers waving. “All right, give it to me.”

With groans and moans that resounded with variations of
“Man, Bodie, I thought you said your step-mom was cool”
they handed over the bottles and reefer and dispersed back into the party.

With bottles looped between my fingers and a smoking joint pinched between the first two fingers of my right hand, I tried not to breath too deep as I considered how best to dispose of the evidence. I’d consider the best way to handle Bridger and Bodie after the party. I’m sure my confiscation of their smuggled goods was already costing them some precious popularity points.

Upon reemerging into the pool area, I found myself on a collision course with a group of somber-looking adults. It was much too early for any of the parents to be picking up their kids. A deviously pleased look pulled Johnny’s face into a wide grin while the eyes of the others rounded on the contraband in my hands. None of them needed to speak a word for me to know what they were thinking—
Daniel’s liberal California wife is finally showing her true colors and taking these innocent children down in the process.

My gaze closed in on Daniel. I sidestepped to the nearest trashcan and released the bottles to fall in. “I know how this must look,” I said to my husband, the smoke from the reefer swirling up to form a dingy halo around my head. “But I’ve got everything under control.”

Bridger appeared from the darkness, a flushed little blonde bombshell-in-the-making in tow. “What’s goin’ on?” he asked. An overly innocent look shadowed the guilt on his face as he subtly wiped pink sparkling lip gloss from the side of his mouth. He then tucked the free tail of his shirt into the waistband of his jeans.

Cooper pushed forward, positioning herself between Daniel and Paul, her eyes stabbing Bridger’s companion. “Clearly, Marlie, you don’t.”

The teen girl sent Cooper a seductively bashful smile as she readjusted the straps of her tiny tank top.

“Cooper,” Daniel warned then peeled his serious gaze from Bridger and turned it on me. “Party’s over, Marlie. Go on now and see that all these kids get safely home.”

“Wait.” I grabbed hold of Daniel’s arm as he turned to walk away. “What happened? You can’t possibly be ending the party because of a few beers and a little weed. I said I took care of it.”

Daniel pulled away from my grip. “Someone leaked the ball park compromise to the press. So yes, I guess you’re right. I’ve got bigger problems than a few beers and some weed.”

Chapter Eighteen

A
s Daniel walked away he gave me one last look. It
 was barely a glance, but in that short instant, he conveyed the depth of his disapproval. These past months, I’d ignored the feeling that Daniel’s family, and social circle, didn’t accept me, because he was there to reassure me of
his
love and acceptance. But tonight, I was a ship without a rudder, adrift on a stormy sea.

And so, my heart wracked with disenchantment, I drove partygoers home when they couldn’t reach their parents to come and get them. If I hadn’t been wholly preoccupied with my thoughts, the uncomfortable silence in the car might have bothered me. I might have even cared. And it wasn’t just that the ballpark deal had been leaked—an idea I’d been wholly responsible for—but if it got out that there was alcohol and drugs at the boys’ party, Daniel would have two scandals to deal with. A record, I was sure, not just in politics, but for the esteemed Cannon family.

Both arguably my fault. Alternating between chewing my lip and my thumbnail, I stepped lightly through the butler’s pantry and peeked around the corner into the dining room. Standing at the head of the antique mahogany table with their heads together were Cooper, Paul, Cooper’s husband, CFO of Cannon Records, and few others I didn’t recognize.

They spoke in hushed tones, but I could hear phrases like,
Who can we count on down at the network if it comes to that?
Lose-lose situation
.
Tarnished reputation forever.
And my personal favorite:
I knew that marrying that woman would be the biggest mistake of Daniel’s life.

“Ahem,” was the only coherent sound I could muster. They stopped talking and turned their baleful stares to me. I felt like Oliver Twist holding my bowl out for more gruel. “I was wondering if any of you could tell me where my husband is?”

Cooper’s expression hardened to repugnance. If it were physically possible to shrink under someone’s stare, I would have withered to nothing.

“Where have
you
been?” she asked as if I were a traitorous captain who’d abandoned the sinking ship.

Contrary to Cooper’s misguided assumption that I had to answer to her, the only people who mattered to me right now were Daniel and the boys. “I had to drive a couple of kids home,” I explained, my gaze lighting defiantly on each of their accusatory stares.

Cooper shifted her weight. “Please tell us you got them home safely, and in
silence,
” she huffed.

Ignoring her last remark, I reiterated, “My husband?”

Cooper opened her mouth, no doubt to spew more bitterness, but then her husband laid a hand to her arm.

“He’s in the study talkin’ with the boys,” he said in the calm voice of a negotiator. He was a tall man, at least ten years Cooper’s senior, with salt and pepper hair distinguishly trimmed to accentuate a square jaw and deeply lined features.

I blinked against the wetness accumulating in the corners of my eyes. “Thank you,” I said and turned to head for the study.

“Don’t wander too far,” Paul called after me.

I looked back to his brazen expression, assuming to see more embitterment but instead I clearly caught a hint of satisfaction shining from his rat-eyes.

“Eventually, we’re going to have to deal with you as well. That is,
when
we’ve decided how best to spin these situations,” Paul said as if he too half-expected me to make a run for it.

And for about the tenth time tonight, I considered doing just that.

The heavy wooden doors to Daniel’s study were closed. The smacking of my party sandals against the checkerboard tile echoed through the vaulted expanse. I slowed to a stop. I was frustrated, angry, sad, overwhelmed, embarrassed . . . take your pick. As I reached for the handles to slide the doors apart, I pulled back when they parted on their own and Daniel emerged.

My palm slammed onto my chest. “Daniel, there you are,” I said on an abruptly inhaled breath. “Where are the boys?”

“I sent them up to their rooms,” he said curtly. “They’re on restriction until after baseball camp. No friends, no drivin’, no video games.”

My worry quickly shifted to irritation.
No friends, no video games . . . no driving?
How was I supposed to entertain them for the next couple of weeks?

“Really? So, is that their punishment or mine?”

Daniel rubbed his forehead with the tips of his fingers. “Marlie, I don’t have time to get into this with you right now,” he said, his focus shifting to Paul, Cooper, and the others now swarming through the entry, heading right for us.

Taking me by the arm, Daniel moved me out of the way so they could pass. “Excuse us,” he apologized. “It appears my wife needs a moment of my time. Go ahead and get started. I’ll be right in.”

The doors silently slid shut behind them.

Daniel said, “Look, Marlie, I’m sorry I talked to the boys without you, but as you can see I have more than one issue to deal with this evenin’.”

I took a step back. “So, you chose to deal with the boys first, get them out of the way, so you could move on to more important matters?” I asked. “Those boys are
your
sons.
Your
family.”

After throwing a glance to the tightly closed doors, Daniel took my arm and pulled me to the middle of the entryway. “Yes, I’m aware of how all this could affect
my
family. But unfortunately, right now, what is happening in my public life has to take precedence.”

I yanked my arm away from his grip. “Thanks for clarifying where the boys and I fall on your list of priorities.”

His eyes deepened, as did his tone. “Don’t overreact. I wasn’t exactly expectin’ to have to deal with the fallout from a coed teen party where the
adult
in charge allowed the children in attendance to have beer and illegal drugs,” he returned the insult with perfect aim. “What were you thinkin,’ Marlie?”

I took step away from him. “You think I gave those kids beer and weed?” I said, unable to grasp the fact that he would think, even for a second, I’d do something like that. Me, the only parent who was making an effort to do something nice for the boys’ birthday—for
his
boys’ birthday.

“Maybe if you’d been here, I wouldn’t have
been
the only ‘adult in charge,
’
” I said. Then that little voice of reason inside my head countered with,
Maybe if you’d hired a caterer like Cooper wanted you to, none of this would have happened.
I told the voice to mind its own business, and added, “It was your sons’ birthday party.”

Daniel shot back, “Yes, but as you well know,
something
came up.”

The fact that that something had been partially my doing took little bites out of my reproach. “Yes, I know,” I said, my gaze falling to the floor. “But right now I’m more concerned with the boys.”

“You think I was too hard on them?”

I reached out to lightly touch his arm. “Have you ever talked to the boys about drugs?” I asked. “Or sex?”

He moved his shoulder away from my touch. “Obviously they have the basic idea,” he said dismissively.

My tone rose to accusation again before I could stop it. “I wasn’t talking about a how-to seminar,” I said, then with the help of a steady breath, I reined my temper back in. “I know I’m new to this parenting thing, but all I’m saying is that grounding them without talking about what they did wrong does no good.”

Daniel shook his head, his expression softening. “You’re right. I wasn’t thinkin’.” His gaze met mine with an edge of sorrow, and I thought he might apologize.

I was wrong.

“But as you’re well aware, I have a bigger crisis to deal with right now.” He turned away, heading for the study.

Regret burned a hole into the center of my chest. This conversation had not gone well. He was walking away again, leaving me here with my heart in my hands, both breaking and angry at the same time. Tears sprang to my eyes, rolling free before I could sniff them back.

“I’m sorry about the ballpark thing,” I said, hoping an apology would afford me a few more minutes of his time. “I feel like it’s all my fault.”

Daniel hesitated when he got to the doors and addressed me over his shoulder. “No, it’s mine,” he said. “I’m the one who listened to you.”

The doors slid closed again, separating Daniel from my view. I stood there gazing at the spot on the floor he’d vacated only moments ago. Anger, disappointment, and embarrassment horded around me again like a desperate mob. What composure I had left crumbled.

And then, the sound of measured clapping came out of nowhere, thudding against my aching head. Reluctantly, I turned toward the sound. With one elbow supporting the weight of his body, the other arm resting across his midsection, Johnny was lounging at the bottom of the staircase.

“What are you still doing here?” I growled.

Lazily, he dropped his head to one shoulder. “Let me guess, you’re the one who gave Daniel the idea for that compromise?” he said with a sly grin.

I swept my hand out indicating a clear path to the front door. “Yes, and now that you have your answer, you’re free to go.” I was in no mood for any more of his antics.

He didn’t budge. Why was I not surprised he didn’t leap up and heed my invitation to leave?

“I’m in no hurry.” He shrugged one shoulder. “I got no problem with waitin’ around to make sure I don’t miss any more excitement,” he said, looking unreasonably pleased with himself.

“Why do you always look like you just got away with something very naughty?”

“Because, usually, I just did,” he said.

“And what did you get away with this time?” I asked, studying his eyes, the color of deceit. And then it became clear. “Wait a minute. It was you, wasn’t it? You’re the one who leaked the ballpark deal to the press.”

With a nod, he hefted himself up from the step. “I might have,” he said, descending to the floor with a few light skips.

I felt a twitch of anger jerking at my narrowed eyes. “Why do you get so much enjoyment out of watching others suffer? What did Daniel ever do to you?”

“Unlike you, my every thought and action doesn’t revolve around Daniel. He’s not half as entertainin’ to watch as you.”

“Me? You’re trying to hurt
me
? Why? What did
I
ever do to you?”

He breathed out a laugh. “Not a thing darlin’.”

Stepping across the few feet of floor between us, I jabbed my finger into his chest. “When are you going to quit playing games and just tell me what you want?”

He staggered backward like I’d delivered a significant blow to his chest. “Easy darlin’. I’m a lover not a fighter,” he joked as he reached up to trace the path of my dried tears. The touch of his finger on my cheek left a line of fire across my skin. “Everythin’ you want to know is starin’ you right in the face. All you have to do is look closer,” he said, and then pulled his finger back, curling it against his palm. “But then it’s not wise to ask a question before you’re ready to hear the answer.”

I grabbed a fistful of his shirt. “What makes you think I’m not ready?” I said, holding his gaze.

Gently, he uncurled my fingers from his shirt. “All in due time, Marlie,” he said as he stepped back and moved around me. “All in due time.”