SYLVIE
After Spencer calms me down,we walk back out into the living area to find everyone waiting for us, somber expressions on their faces, most of them clutching glasses filled with alcohol. It’s been a stressful afternoon, not just for me but for them too, and I feel terrible.
Carolina greets me first, tugging me into a hug. “Are you okay?” she murmurs close to my ear.
I nod, squeezing her in return before I let go of her. “She…unsettles me.”
“Me too,” she whispers.
“Complete understatement of the century,” Monty says before he takes a swig of his drink, like he needs it. “I didn’t realize it was so awful between the two of you.”
“I’m sorry I posted your party on social media,” Cliff says, appearing contrite. He can barely look me in the eye and I go to him, giving him a quick hug as my sign of forgiveness.
Not that there is anything to forgive him for. He didn’t know his posts would start such a shit storm.
“I posted something too, and I’m so sorry, Sylvie-bug. I didn’t mean to start any trouble.” My father is suddenly in front of me, pulling me in for a bone crushing hug. I can’t remember the last time I’ve been hugged so much and I have to admit…
It’s nice.
“It’s okay, Daddy.” He hasn’t called me that nickname in so long. Mother always hated it, but not me.
I loved it.
My father pulls away, smiling down at me as he cups my cheek. I lean into his palm, smiling at him in return and something unspoken passes between us. Like he just asked for forgiveness and I gave it to him.
“We should meet for dinner soon,” he says, his head lifting so he can scan the room. “All of us.”
He means all of his children.
“Call my assistant and set up a time,” Whit says gruffly and I roll my eyes at my father. Such a typical Whit response.
I have to appreciate his consistency though.
Spencer never leaves my side as our guests leave one by one. We remain by the door, thanking everyone for coming as they exit. I try to apologize for what happened but none of them will hear it.
“It’s not your fault,” Summer tells me, her sincere gaze never straying from mine. “Unwanted guests always have a way of ruining the party.”
That made me laugh. But only for a minute.
I’m still to shaken up by what happened with my mother. How her mere presence rattles me. She holds a different kind of power over me now and I despise it.
I despise her. I do.
Once everyone is gone and the house is cleared of the catering staff, Spencer leads me into the massive bathroom connected to his bedroom and practically demands I take a bath. He even starts the water for me, adding some fragrant bath salts. I let him take care of me, barely moving when he unzips my dress. Lifting my arms when he tells me to do so to take it off. When I’m standing in front of him in just a pair of lacy pale pink panties, staring off into space, he kisses me. A lip-smacking loud kiss that pulls me from my stupor.
“It’s going to be okay,” he murmurs, his mouth right at my ear. “I promise.”
I watch him go, and the moment the door closes, I’m so incredibly lonely, I’m tempted to call him back into the room. Strip him naked and have him bathe with me.
We’d do more than bathe. We can’t be near each other with our clothes off without something happening. I’m surprised he used such restraint and walked away from me when I was basically naked.
He’s never really done that before.
My gaze drifts around the giant bathroom, spotting my phone on the sleek marble counter. I grab it, spotting the notifications on the screen and I tap the iMessage one.
A text from my mother.
I miss you so much. I wish you wouldn’t turn me away from you. Setting your watchdog on me won’t work forever. Nothing can keep us apart, darling. I’m as much a part of you as you are of me.