The way Dad’s nostrils flared told me I was right. He didn’t respond, though. “So, where did we land on dinner and drinks tonight?” he prodded.
Oh, crap, why did he have to be looking at me first? Sometimes I had the worst luck. “I can’t,” I replied, knowing exactly what excuse I was going to use. “My feet are swollen—Rex calls them sausages—and being in a smoky bar isn’t going to help matters.”
Vegas was one of the few places you could still smoke out in the open. It wasn’t every bar and casino. It was enough of them, though, and I knew that was exactly the sort of casino my father was going to choose for his little soirée.
“You can’t put up with being on your feet for even an hour?” Dad challenged.
I shook my head. “I’m sorry. A few hours on my feet and I’m exhausted.” I held out my hands in “what are you going to do” fashion. I wasn’t really sorry. I was also too tired to pick a fight.
“Lovely,” Dad muttered under his breath before turning his expectant eyes to Zach. “I’m sure you’ll be there.”
“Oh, I have dinner with my in-laws tonight,” Zach replied. He didn’t look sorry in the least. “I wish I could, though.” He let loose an exaggerated “aw shucks” elbow pump that had Olivia hiding her smirk behind her hand.
“And you?” Dad asked Opal. He’d deflated enough that I almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
“Oh, I don’t want to,” Opal replied. “I have zero interest in seeing your new baby. There’s a reason I haven’t committed her name to memory. I definitely don’t want to see Claire. As for you…” She cocked her head as she regarded him. “Yeah, I’m good there too.”
I had to lower my head so Dad wouldn’t see the wide smile crossing my face. That would only make matters worse.
“And I’m guessing you’re busy too,” Dad said as his gaze fell on Pearl.
“Oh, I’m not busy.” Pearl shook her head.
Dad knew better than to get his hopes up with Pearl of all people, so he kept his expression neutral.
“I just don’t like you,” Pearl continued. “There are about a million things I would rather do than spend time with you and your mistress, including a hot sauce enema and a vaginal exam with an oversized speculum.”
Groans went around the table.
“Well, thank you forthatvisual, Pearl,” Dad said dryly.
“You’re welcome,” she replied without hesitation, her smile benign.
“If that’s all, I would like to get through this meeting,” Mom prodded. “I actually have people who want to spend time with me tonight and I don’t want to be late.”
If looks could kill, Mom would be dead. Dad’s distress was obvious. Unfortunately for him, nobody cared. He’d screwed us all so many times over the course of our lives that there was no going back for him.
“Yes, let’s get to the meeting,” Opal agreed. “The longer we have to stay in this room with Dad, the worse we’ll all feel.”
“Oh, keep it up, Opal,” Dad warned. “Just keep it up.”
I FELL ASLEEP NOT LONG INTO THEmeeting. I was jerked to consciousness when Olivia patted my elbow to wake me up.
“Sorry.” She seemed genuinely contrite. “I would’ve let you continue to sleep but I figured it wouldn’t be good for your back. You should go to your suite and take a nap.”
“What?” I was not one of those dainty nappers who could drop out for twenty minutes and wake up with no ill effects. When I napped, I went down hard. There was drool, bedhead, and twenty minutes of fuzzy brain to contend with each and every time.
“You fell asleep.” She looked apologetic even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. “You were snoring a little bit and everything.”
“Oh, well, lovely.” I’d gotten over being embarrassed about anything pregnancy related months ago. “Just tell me nobody took photos.”
Olivia shot a dark look toward Zach. “I wish I could tell you that.”
“It’s not as if I’m going to publish them in the newspaper,” Zach countered. “I am thinking of having one or two of them framed, though.”
I rolled my eyes. “Where did Dad go?”
“He stormed out as soon as Mom ended the meeting. He’s mad nobody wanted to celebrate with him.”
