“There’s no bad news! Neal had to go out of town on business and I didn’t see any reason why I should sit home, twiddling my thumbs.”
A short pause ensued, during which Addy put on her slippers. When Helen spoke again, her voice sounded petulant.
“I don’t have to stay if you don’t want me here. I could go back.”
“Don’t talk like that. Of course we want you here.” Gran had already given up the fight. She’d never understood Helen, never been able to completely overlook her self-absorption, but she loved her. That meant Helen won every time.
Love makes you weak, Addy thought. She’d always believed it. The person who loved was the person who suffered. Helen had taught her and Gran all about that. But Addy mustered a smile as she smoothed her hair down and shuffled into the living room. “Mom, I thought that was you.”
“Hi, baby! How are you?”
“Great.”
“Is it good to be home?”
Addy loved Whiskey Creek as much as anyone, but her homecoming was getting more complicated every day. “Of course.”
Helen grasped her chin and studied her face, like she might do to a child. “This is what some bastard did to you?”
Although most of her injuries had healed, the bruise on her cheek lingered as a subtle greenish discoloration about the size of a quarter. Addy could cover it with makeup when she went out. She hardly noticed it anymore. But she wasn’t wearing any makeup at the moment and the morning sun shone brightly through the windows.
She shot an exasperated look at Gran. He’d done a lot more than give her a small bruise. But what was the point of telling her mother everything that had happened? Or even some of it... Addy had heard her careless response of a few seconds ago: If she got through it, if she’s fine, what’s the big deal? “It’s almost gone, nothing to worry about. So...how long can you stay?”
Her mother dropped her hand. “For a few days, at least.”
That was more than the weekend her husband was supposed to be out of town. Addy suspected there was trouble in paradise again.
“How’s the restaurant?” Helen asked. “In good shape?”
Addy thought of Darlene but glossed over her problems with Gran’s manager, too. “Fine. As always.”
“And your love life? Did you leave anyone special in Davis?”
“No.”
“You should never have let Clyde get away. That man was hot, wasn’t he?”
Adelaide ground her teeth. “He cheated on me, Mom.”
She shrugged. “Most men cheat. That doesn’t mean they don’t love you.”
With such low expectations, her mother could settle for just about anyone, as long as he had money. To her, that was more of a prerequisite than fidelity.
Eager to change the subject, Addy gave Helen an appraising once-over. “You look beautiful.”
She flipped her hair, dyed jet-black, over one shoulder. “How do you like my nails? I just got them done.” She flashed long, acrylic zebra stripes at them. “These are real diamonds,” she said, indicating the gems embedded in her pinky nails.
It was a good thing her mother was beautiful, because Addy couldn’t find many other redeeming qualities. “Aren’t you afraid they might fall out?”
“They’re not going anywhere. And if they did, it wouldn’t be a huge loss. They came out of a pair of hundred-dollar studs. No biggie.”
“They’re nice.” So were her expensive bag and shoes. And the obvious Botox treatments. Her mother hated aging. It impeded her ability to attract the men she wanted. “They expect us to look seventeen forever,” she often complained.
Helen cocked her head. “Have you had a boob job?”
Addy blinked in surprise. “Me? No! Trust me, I’m not one to volunteer for pain.”
“But you’re bigger than you used to be.”
“I’m the same as I was the last time you saw me.”
“I don’t believe you. Let me feel them.”
Fortunately, the doorbell rang, giving her a good excuse to swat her mother’s hands away. “I’ll get it.”
Addy wasn’t prepared for company. She’d just rolled out of bed but anything was a welcome distraction when her mother started acting like this. She loved to embarrass Addy. She always had, probably because nothing embarrassed her.
A deliveryman stood at the door with a giant bouquet of flowers. “Delivery for Adelaide Davies,” he said.
Addy felt her eyebrows go up. “I’m Adelaide Davies.”
He hefted the vase to one side, resting it against one hip so he could have her sign his clipboard. “Enjoy your flowers.”
“Wow! Where did you get those?” her mother demanded as she closed the door.
Addy shook her head, allowing Helen to take the flowers while she removed the card herself.
“‘I can’t stop thinking about you,’” she read.
Gran pressed close. “Who can’t stop thinking about you?”
Noah had signed his name, so it wasn’t as though she could lie. “They’re from Noah. He was—” she cleared her throat “—he was at the party last night.” So much for being discreet. She’d told him she didn’t want anyone to know they were dating.
“Noah who?” her mother asked.
“Rackham!” Gran supplied as if she’d really caught a big one this time.
Helen stepped back. “You’re already seeing someone here?”
“Not really,” Addy mumbled, but she doubted her mother heard because Gran spoke over her.
“Not just anyone, Helen. The mayor’s son! And he’s a lot cuter than that Clyde she was with before. I personally never cared for Clyde. He had beady eyes.”
“He had wandering eyes,” Addy said. “Anyway, Noah and I are not officially seeing each other.”
Her mother’s laugh sounded more like a cackle. “Honey, who cares whether it’s official? A man doesn’t send a woman roses unless he’s seriously interested. Those must’ve cost him a hundred bucks.”
Addy scrambled to rein in their excitement. Noah wasn’t the type to be seriously interested in anyone, not the way her mother and grandmother seemed to believe. They were enjoying each other, and they felt an attraction. That was all. “He’s just being nice, Mom, probably because he’s coming to dinner tonight. This is...his contribution to the meal.”