slipped on a pair of brown stile ttos that matched her silk blouse and modeled for the assembled crowd, which included Ame and Teddy’s partner, Stephen. “How do I look? Be honest,” she asked.
“Like a gypsy whore about to crash a country club,” Ame snarked.
Teddy shot the teenager a dirty look.
“Hey, you know why Jesus wasn’t born in Scotland?” Ame continued. Teddy sighed and resigned himself to another bad joke. “God couldn’t find three wise men or a virgin.”
Teddy and Stephen both glared at Ame, and then Teddy redirected his attention back to Gretchel. “You look absolutely lovely, darling.”
“I have a really bad feeling about this, Teddy,” Gretchel said. “And spending hours listening to Grand Mama ramble on is not my idea of fun.”
“I thought you liked Miss Poni’s stories,” Ame said, stretching her impossibly long body out on the bed.
“When I was younger, yes. When she told stories about heroes and heroines, goddesses and gods, yes. I don’t want to hear stories about a bunch of people that don’t matter.”
“Why don’t they matter? They’re our family. You’re a part of that story, and you matter.”
Gretchel looke d somberly at Ame. “No, I don’t,” she muttered.
Gretchel regretted the words when she saw the tears well up in Ame’s eyes.
“You matter to me ,” Ame said.
Gretchel was rendered speechless by her daughter’s love and shamed by her own lack of self-worth. She was saved from wallowing in the throes of self-pity by a soft rap at the bedroom door. Eli poked his head in. Gretchel gestured for him to enter, and the trio excused themselves. She pulled herself together and managed to give Eli a gentle smile.
“You look incredible, Gretchel. Very chic, but definitely not soccer mom—or volleyball mom, for that matter.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself,” she said, looking over his outfit of button down shirt, blazer and jeans. She grabbed him by the lapels and pulled him close.“Think I might cancel the whole damn thing and seduce you instead.”
Eli sh ook his head. “Please don’t tempt me now, Gretchel. My mother’s waiting in the living room, and I’m not sure which one of you scares me more.”
“Pussy,” she whispered under her breath.
“I said don’t tempt me,” he whispered into her ear, nibbling at the lobe. “I love you. Don’t ever forget that.”
She snuggled into his chest, and felt as though she might cry. “I love you too, Eli. Infinitely. Don’t ever forget that .”
Diana stood in front of the fireplace, transfixed by a photo of Carlin Fitzgerald. This was the face from her vision. There was no room for doubt. But, still… She was unsure. No, she was outraged . It simply wasn’t possible that she had been wrong. Gretchel had broken Eli’s heart! Gretchel wasn’t the one!
Diana readied herself for a fight.
Hand in hand, Gretchel and Eli walked out of the bedroom and into the living room, where Diana stood staring at the photos arranged on the mantelpiece. For a split second Gretchel felt relieved. The woman she had so dreaded meeting was practically miniature—so tiny that it was just about impossible to be afraid of her. Then Diana turned and looked Gretchel in the eye. A strange tingle worked its way down the spines of both women.
Diana had the odd feeling that this woman was going to be a huge pain in the ass, but she also felt connected to her—in a way that might possibly be a huge pain the ass.
Gretchel had the odd feeling that this woman was going to be a huge pain in the ass, but she also felt connected to her—in a way that might possibly be a huge pain in the ass.
“Gretchen, I presume?” Diana asked.
“It’s Gretch el .”
Diana locked Gretchel in her death stare. Her attitude seemed to suggest that Gretchel was the one who was confused about her name.
Gretchel took Diana’s hand, shook it , and prayed she didn’t pass out or vomit.
“You have a
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