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“She isn’t?” Clarice acted calm, but I didn’t miss the hint of worry in her voice. “Are you sure? What about my and Buckley’s room?”
“He’s checking at the moment, but the connecting door is locked.”
“Maybe she got hungry? They’re still serving breakfast in the dining room.”
“I’ll take a look, but you need to help us find her.”
The stylist put her head in her hands as Odette marched over to us, shedding bobby pins in her wake.
“Clarice doesn’t have time to look for anything but my blister bandages. Who’s missing?”
“Chastity.”
A normal sibling would have gasped in horror and immediately joined the search, but not Odette. No, she put her hands on her hips and glared at Clarice, which I suppose made a change from her glaring at me.
“Why didn’t you watch her? I knew she’d do something like this.”
“Something like what?” I asked.
“She didn’t want to wear her flower girl dress,” Clarice said. “She hates the ruffles.”
“She’s a little girl. Little girls are meant to wear ruffles.” Odette narrowed her eyes and turned to me. “Of course, we all know who’s to blame.”
“What? How is this my fault?”
“You always wanted to wear pants when you were younger, and so does Chastity.”
Give me strength. “I didn’t encourage her to disappear, Odette. I haven’t even seen her today.”
“Are you sure? Just because your life is dysfunctional doesn’t mean you can ruin mine too.”
I itched to slap my sister, but I also didn’t want to ruin the make-up artist’s hard work. Why did everything always have to be about Odette? Ten bucks said she’d only invited me to her wedding so she could rub my face in it by forcing me to watch how perfect her life was compared to mine.
“Oh, sure, my life is dysfunctional. I’m not the one who thinks Band-Aids are more important than a nine-year-old’s self-esteem. And for your information, I spent this morning fucking my boyfriend, not persuading your niece to wage a vendetta against her dress.”
Too late, I realised Mom had walked up behind me, and for the millionth time in my life, I wanted to sink through the floor. Actually, what was the point? I was already in hell.
“Aggie! Having relations out of wedlock is quite bad enough without us having to hear about them. And where did you get that filthy mouth? It certainly wasn’t from me or your father. Don’t you dare speak to your sister that way.”
“Tell you what, I won’t speak to her at all. I’m going to go help look for Chastity. Good luck with the blisters.”
I stormed out, my blood boiling. This. This was why I hated spending time with my family. Their priorities were messed up, and so were their attitudes. Didn’t they realise that Chastity’s whereabouts was the most important issue right now? Where would a ruffle-hating nine-year-old hide?
“I’ll help, okay?” Clarice ran up behind me. “I’ll check the dining room.”
She strode in that direction as Hawk caught hold of my hand. I’d almost walked right past him.
“Babe, what’s happening? You didn’t find Chastity?”
“Not yet.”
“Did anyone try calling her? That kid always has a phone in her hand.”
Of course. Of course she did. And I’d been so busy fuming at Odette that I couldn’t think straight.
“Nobody called her, and I don’t have her number. I’ll need to ask Clarice.” Or Odette, although chewing my own arm off would have been more fun than going back to the bridal suite.
But Buckley chose that moment to step out of the elevator. “She’s not in our room.”
