Page 44 of The Best of Friends
Her frustration was increased by the fact that she’d actually called her daughter herself and Rebecca hadn’t picked up. Or phoned back. Which made it all the more impossible to know what her next move would be. First showing up at the brunch. Anything could be next, including a nude billboard on Sunset Boulevard. She wouldn’t put anything past Rebecca.
“Why can’t she be more like her brother?” she asked. “David is cooperative. Driven. Successful. What does she have to show for her life? And speaking of David, she completely ruined his party. The brunch was supposed to be about him, not her. But that is so like Rebecca. Stealing the spotlight for herself.”
Jayne sat in the chair by the fireplace, holding her coffee, looking trapped. Elizabeth supposed she should take pity on her, but she had to talk to someone, and she couldn’t complain to Blaine. He would simply take Rebecca’s side, as he always had. And her friends couldn’t be trusted with information as sensitive as this.
“Plus, to have her show up with Jonathan,” Elizabeth said, then pressed her lips together.
Jayne nodded sympathetically. “I know he’s a friend of yours and Blaine’s, and he’s too old for her.”
Elizabeth watched closely, but Jayne only sipped her coffee, looking as calm and patient as usual. Perhaps Rebecca hadn’t told Jayne about Elizabeth’s affair. It had been years ago, and while Elizabeth had denied everything, she had a feeling her daughter hadn’t believed her. Blaine didn’t know—Elizabeth was sure of that. And he could never find out. He was oddly old-fashioned in many ways. Yet another frustration for her to deal with. Sometimes it seemed as if the world conspired to keep her in pain.
“You didn’t know they were dating?” Elizabeth asked.
“Not at all.”
“But you did know she was back in Los Angeles.”
Jayne hesitated, then nodded slowly. “I knew.”
“I see.” Elizabeth let the two words hang in the air. “I’m extremely disappointed in you, Jayne. I expected better.”
Jayne flinched slightly. “Rebecca is my friend.”
“As am I, and let me remind you, I’ve been a much better friend. While Rebecca took off without a thought to anyone she was leaving behind, I have looked after you. Have you forgotten how I brought you into this house and made you feel at home? We came to your high school graduation, Jayne, and paid for your college. We saw you through the troubling time when a girl becomes a woman. I have always been here for you, available for advice, worrying about you. Blaine has considered you a second daughter. In return, we’ve asked for so little.”
Elizabeth was good, Jayne thought, trying not to writhe on the uncomfortable chair. She felt like a very ungrateful bug.
“I would have warned you if I’d known she was coming to the party,” she said at last. “But I couldn’t tell you she was coming home.”
Elizabeth’s stern expression tightened. “So there are limits on our relationship. That is very unfortunate.”
“I would think you’d be pleased that Rebecca has a good friend watching out for her.”
“Rebecca hardly needs anyone on her side. She’s a force of nature on her own.” She pressed her lips together. “What’s done is done. We’ll move on now. How is the house hunting going? Or does some misplaced loyalty prevent you from discussing David, too?”
Jayne felt trapped and angry, though she knew she’d done nothing wrong. This was what it was like dealing with Elizabeth. A constant dance to maintain her footing. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate all that you’ve done for me. I do. I am grateful for your kindness. I don’t know anyone else who would have taken me in.”
Some of Elizabeth’s tension eased. “I’m glad you realize that.”
“I do. As for David, he’s seen a couple of houses in Malibu. I’m not sure he’s serious about either of them. They were large, maybe too large.” Guilt was a powerful weapon, she thought grimly, wishing she were better equipped to fight it.
“It’s so inconvenient that David moved out,” Elizabeth said, then took a seat opposite Jayne. “I remember when he was little—he wanted to tell me everything. Now he keeps to himself. I don’t suppose he’s mentioned if he’s seeing anyone?”
Jayne nearly dropped her cup. “Um, no. He hasn’t said anything.” David dating? Of course he would, and wasn’t that exactly what she needed to make her day all sparkly.
He’d kissed her, but Elizabeth hadn’t asked about that, and Jayne sure wasn’t going to volunteer the information. She still didn’t know why he’d done it. To prove a point? Because, like the tall mountain, she was there? Boredom? Maybe he’d slipped, and it had all been an accident. A delicious, yummy, bone-melting accident. If he could make her all quivery inside with a chaste three-second kiss, imagine what he could do if he really put some effort into it. She sighed. Her luck was not that good.
Wait. Stop that thought. She was trying to disconnect from the Wordens, not get more involved.
“Jayne,” Elizabeth said in a tone that hinted she’d spoken her name before.
“Sorry. What?”
“You’ll let me know if he brings someone else along to see one of the houses?”
“Yes,” Jayne said. “That would mean he was getting serious and wanted her opinion on the house.”
Would he do that—kiss Jayne while he was dating someone else? Stupid question. Men like him did what they wanted.
