Suddenly, Mom gasps and drops the cupcake. Her face turns white, and tremors go through her.
“Katherine…” she whispers, then looks at us—her children—for answers.
“That’s one of the babies’ names,” Ivy says tautly.
Mom’s gaze zeroes in on Jo, who stiffens next to me. Something passes between them.
My hackles rise. What the hell does Mom want?
“It’s best you leave.” Tony gestures at the door. “You aren’t welcome here, Mother. Security should’ve been notified earlier. This won’t happen again.”
Mom flinches, her cheeks reddening as if slapped. I don’t understand why she’s acting so hurt and shocked. She spent over two decades turning Tony’s life into hell. She didn’t care who else got hurt in the process, even if the collateral damage was her other children. She should’ve known her presence would be rejected—that nobody would stand up for her.
“I’m your mother,” she says, her voice trembling. Unshed tears glitter in her eyes.
Tony’s shoulders grow rigid. I move to stand next to him to let her know that whatever he does, he has my unconditional support.
“That’s the only reason security isn’t dragging you out,” he says coldly.
“Very well.” Pulling in a shaky breath, she turns and walks out, her head held high.
The door closes behind her, and everyone in the room seems to exhale.
Tony stalks toward Miss Kim and takes the present Mom brought. Then he strides to the closest window, opens it and hurls the present out into the water garden. There’s a faint splash.
Jo gasps, the sound small, but audible because I’m so close to her. I rub her tense back. A small part of me wants to take her aside and explain, but a bigger part is too embarrassed, especially when I recall how warm and close-knit her family was last Sunday.
Even if you try to tell her, she won’t understand, a voice in my head whispers. It’s best not to say anything. Maybe she won’t ask. She’s a smart girl. Discreet. She’ll know it’s not something you want to talk about.
My gut is usually right about stuff like this. And I’m trying to convince her to marry me, not repel her with scandals and the moral depravity of my mother.
Lady Min smiles. “Well. Now that that little interruption has been taken care of, why don’t we open the presents? Ivy?”
“Yes, let’s,” Ivy says.
That seems to jolt everyone back to our earlier cheery mood. The quartet starts a new piece, something light and fun.
I watch Ivy open one gift after another. And pray that Jo doesn’t ask me about Mom or what just happened.
* * *
Jo
Once Margot Blackwood is kicked out, the shower goes well. Everyone pretends like nothing ever happened. I’m wondering if I’m the only one who’s curious about her behavior. I’m still kind of stunned. And the fact that she kept looking at me like she expected me to jump to her defense…
But I don’t want to bring her up and ruin everyone’s mood again. Maybe Edgar will say something once we’re alone and on our way home.
Except he doesn’t.
My curiosity is churning, and I’m dying to know. I wonder if I should ask him, but then the memory of his expression stops me. He was staring at his mom like she was something filthy he never wanted to see again. He actually looked relieved when she left.
What could make a man behave that way toward his own mother?
My brothers would’ve been thrilled and hugged our mama if she were to show up. Even if she was interrupting, they wouldn’t be so rude or cold.
Maybe everything the gossip articles said about Edgar’s mother is true. Or maybe the reality is even worse.
All the way home, through the rest of the evening and up to when we go to bed, Edgar remains mute. I finally realize he’s going to pretend his mom never crashed the baby shower.