“She’s got her reasons.”
“They’re dumb.”
“Not to a mother who cares about her kid.”
Maybe Dillon’s coming to dinner hadn’t been such a bad idea after all, Jade thought as she listened to the conversation that was running concurrently with their chess game. Cathy had continued to harp on inviting Dillon for dinner, so she had asked him that afternoon. She had made it sound spontaneous and casual, saying something like, “Why don’t you come over for supper tonight? Graham’s been wanting to play chess with you.”
He had hesitated for several seconds before accepting. “Sure. I’ll be there as soon as I clean up.”
“Fine. See you later.” Her attitude had been light and carefree, reducing any significance he might place upon the invitation.
Dinner had been a convivial affair. They treated one another like old family friends. As they joked and bantered, it was hard to believe that, only a few weeks ago, his mouth had plundered hers with passion, that his hand had caressed her breast, that his body had ground against hers in sexual excitement.
Nor would Jade have ever guessed that so many days later, she would recall that embrace with such stark clarity, or that the recollections would induce the same ambivalent and foreign responses in her as the actual kiss had.
“What are you doing out here in the hall?”
She jumped guilty when Cathy came up behind her and caught her eavesdropping. Whispering, she explained, “They were deep into male bonding, and I didn’t want to interrupt.”
Cathy gave her an arch look that said she knew better and preceded Jade into the living room, where the chess board had been set up on the coffee table. “There’s more peach cobbler, Dillon, whenever you want another helping.”
“Thanks, Cathy, but no. Dinner was delicious.”
“Thank you.”
“Mom, Dillon said that maybe this fall, me and him could go to a Clemson football game.”
“We’ll see.”
Graham was preparing to demand a firmer commitment from her when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it.” He shot to his feet. “One of my friends is bringing over his new Nintendo cartridge. Dillon, if you want me to, I’ll teach you how to play.”
Dillon made that slanted expression with his mouth that passed for a smile. “Not knowing how to play Kid Icarus makes me feel real old and very stupid.”
“No more than I,” Jade told him with a soft laugh. “I still haven’t developed the knack of handling a joy stick.”
A glint of mischief appeared in his eyes. “I’ve heard that all it takes is practice.”
Jade welcomed Graham’s shout from the front door.
“Mo-om! It’s that lady again.” Jade left her chair and moved toward the hall, drawing up short when Graham led Donna Dee into the living room. “She came here once before, looking for you,” Graham said.
Donna Dee’s eyes landed briefly on Dillon before finding Jade. “I probably should have called first, but… can I see you for a minute?”
Jade had made her position clear during their last conversation. She didn’t want a repeat performance, especially in front of Cathy, Graham, and their guest. “Let’s go out on the veranda.”
Once they had cleared the front door, Jade turned to Donna Dee and said, “You should have called. I could have told you not to waste your time by coming here again.”
Donna Dee dropped all pretense of civilities. “Don’t get snotty with me, Jade. I saw the spread on you in the Sunday supplement last weekend. You’re a big shot now. The way that Garrison broad wrote about you, you’d think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to the low country. But wild horses couldn’t have dragged me to your front parlor if you weren’t my last hope.”
“For what?”
“Hutch. He’s gotten worse. His condition is critical. If a kidney donor isn’t found within the next few days, I’m going to lose him.”
Jade lowered her gaze to the painted floorboards of the porch. “I’m sorry, Donna Dee, but I can’t help you.”
“You’ve got to! Graham is the only hope he’s got.”
“You don’t know that.” Jade kept her voice low, but it was taut with anger. “I resent your placing full responsibility for Hutch’s life on my son’s shoulders.”