Page 65 of The Best of Friends
“There’s someone. I called him close to ten the other night, and he wasn’t there.”
If she’d phoned in the past two nights, Jayne knew exactly where he’d been. “Maybe he was out with friends.”
“That’s possible.” She glanced around at the patio. “I would like to have the party out here. The ambiance is better than the house, don’t you think?”
Jayne didn’t answer.
Elizabeth sighed. “I’m having comedians at the party.”
“What did you say?”
“I know. The antithesis of elegant, but I need some kind of entertainment, and this will give the women something to talk about. Also, I can watch to see if they laugh inappropriately.”
Jayne didn’t know if that meant discovering if they laughed at the wrong thing or if their laugh was wrong.Note to self: As amazing as David is, no guy is worth this.She would remind herself of that should she inadvertently get more involved than she wanted.
Elizabeth crossed to a pot of white roses and inspected the petals. “I saw Rebecca.”
“Oh.”
“She hasn’t changed at all. She’s still difficult. You kept in touch with her while she was gone.”
It wasn’t a question, but Jayne answered it anyway. “E-mail, phone calls. I saw her when I went on vacation.”
Elizabeth turned slowly and raised her eyebrows. “You never mentioned any of that.”
“I didn’t think you wanted to talk about her. After she left, you never said anything. It was like she’d never been here.”
“And you think that’s wrong.” Elizabeth’s calm expression never changed. “Perhaps I should have cried or ripped out my hair?”
“I remember how much I missed my mom when she died. It was like a part ofmewent missing. When Rebecca left, I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know how to start the conversation. It was a little like losing my mom all over again. At least for me. I wondered what it was like for you.”
Elizabeth looked away. “Of course it was difficult. I’m her mother.”
“You never said anything. I wanted to talk to you about her. I missed her.” Jayne remembered feeling torn. She knew in her head Rebecca had been looking for an excuse to run away, and the stolen necklace had given her that. But it had been Jayne who had taken it in the first place. She’d been the one to give Rebecca the means to run.
“You’re a very loyal friend,” Elizabeth said. “I hope she appreciates that.”
“She does.” Jayne drew in a breath. “I know she’s difficult and loves to make trouble, but you’re her family. Her mother. She can’t ever forget that.”
“But that’s not the question, is it? What is important is if she wants to—and I think we both know the answer to that.”
Jayne wanted to say that wasn’t true, that Rebecca didn’t want to disconnect herself from Elizabeth. Unfortunately, her friend did, and a case could be argued that she had earned the right.
Elizabeth’s cool, calm expression never flickered. “I appreciate that you want to help, Jayne, but as you said, Rebecca is family. This matter is best left between us.”
A kiss on the cheek, followed by a neatly placed slap. Jayne told herself that in less than two months she would be gone. The Wordens would be part of her past, and she would never have to deal with them again. Well, Rebecca would still be her friend, but the rest of the family could go to hell, and she wouldn’t care in the least.
“I’ll go check on the tables,” she said, and walked inside the house.
“Wow, could you look less happy?” Rebecca said with a snort. “Sullen was cute when you were eight, but now it just makes people wonder if you’re constipated.”
David ignored his sister as he stood by the window and glowered at the room. There were about sixty people milling around, with more arriving every few minutes. And while there were plenty of “friends of the family,” there were several women he didn’t know. Twentysomething women who wore elegant clothes and expensive jewelry. Who were well spoken, attractive, and constantly glancing at him.
“I’ve already been welcomed back,” he grumbled. “Why is she throwing another party?”
“You already know the answer to that, my young prince.” Rebecca waved her hand toward the guests. “Welcome to your own private marriage mart. Twenty-four-hour convenience. Yours for the choosing.”
He glanced at his sister. “You’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you?”
