Accidental Love (20 page)

Susan and Jack arrived almost an hour later than expected. The redhead joined her mother and sister while her husband headed for the bar. "What a crowd," she said joyously as she approached.

"Yes, it does appear to be shaping up to be a success," Beatrice replied. "Your brother isn't here yet, though."

"What a shame," Ronnie muttered before taking a sip from her long stemmed champagne glass.

"What was that, dear?"

"Nothing, Mother." She scanned the room. "Excuse me, I have to go tend to my guests. Susan, you can help greet the new arrivals." Long legs carried her away before they could respond.

The corner opposite the tree seemed to be a good place for Rose to hide out. People stopped by, inquired about what had happened to her, gave sympathetic looks and moved on. She had been eavesdropping on a nearby conversation about the history of a particular ornament when she saw Ronnie moving through the crowd. Blue eyes smiled warmly at her as the tall hostess headed in her direction. "How are you?"

"Fine. Is that your sister?" She pointed at the redhead standing next to Beatrice.

"Mmm." Ronnie took a sip, letting the tiny bubbles tickle her nose, and looked around.

"Everyone seems to be having a good time. I've heard more than one compliment on the decorations. Putting the old ornaments out along the streamers really was a good idea."

"Thank you." Rose smiled shyly and looked around the room. "Quite the crowd."

"Yeah, and some of them were actually invited. Susan said there would be close to forty and we are well past that figure now." Ronnie tasted the champagne again. "Where's yours?"

Rose lowered her voice and looked around, not wanting to be overheard. "I didn't think I should…you know, with the Percocet and all." She felt alone enough being in a room full of strangers, but not being able to even join them in a simple toast made her feel even more isolated.

"Oh…I didn't think of that." Ronnie looked around and waved a serving person over, taking a step away from her in the process. The din of the crowd and the holiday music made it impossible for Rose to hear what was said. A few whispers later and the elegant hostess returned to her side.

I've seen that look from you before. What are you up to?
Aloud she asked, "Is everything okay?"

"Fine. I just had to take care of something." She retrieved her glass. "So have you met everyone?"

"I think so. It seems like I've been saying 'hit by a car' all night long." The injured woman gave a short laugh. "There's a little boy running around…"

"Tyler."

"Yeah, he's a cutie. Anyway, he was over here earlier. Stepped up on the coffee table before I could stop him and asked me if my stitches hurt."

"Stepped…" Ronnie looked past her to check if there were any scuff marks. "He walked on my table?"

Rose smiled at her friend. "Don't worry, I made him get down, but before I did, he leaned over and kissed my cheek."

"He what?"

"He kissed my cheek. Said his mother did that to his boo-boos."

"Tyler did that?"

"Yeah, isn't that sweet?" She watched as Ronnie's expression changed from one of annoyance to one of pleasure at the kind act.

The serving person arrived with a long stemmed glass filled with amber liquid. "Here's your drink, Miss."

"I didn't…" Rose stopped when she saw the look on Ronnie's face. "I mean, thank you."
Maybe
she wants another drink without anyone knowing about it,
she thought as she took the glass. The server smiled and walked away to take care of the other guests.

"It's ginger ale. I thought you'd like something to drink that looked like the champagne," the older woman said, taking a sip from her own.

"Yes, this is perfect," Rose replied, bringing the glass to her lips. The tiny bubbles from the soda tickled her nose much like she supposed the champagne would. The color match was almost perfect. The ginger ale was so light in color that no one would suspect it was anything different from what they were drinking.

An older woman in a blue dress stopped by to talk with the hostess, giving Rose the opportunity to watch her friend. Ronnie smiled and appeared friendly enough but her body language told a different story. The executive shifted from one foot to another and her eyes darted about as if looking for an escape. Obviously, there was something about this particular person Ronnie did not like. The older woman continued to talk, keeping Ronnie trapped for the moment. Rose decided she liked the way that particular shade of lipstick looked on Ronnie. The discreet slit in the black velvet dress revealed that the tall woman chose to wear a garter and stockings for the evening instead of pantyhose.
I bet those didn't come from a plastic egg,
she thought to herself. Expertly manicured nails tapped the champagne glass in a nameless rhythm as the conversation between Ronnie and the woman in blue dragged on. Looking around the room, Rose could not help but ask herself again why she was here.
It's not like someone like her lacks for company.
Rose knew one of the reasons for the large crowd was Ronnie's presence. She had listened in on enough of the conversations throughout evening to know that.
So why would someone like you
want someone like me around?
she asked silently.

The woman in blue finally found someone else to talk to and Ronnie was once again standing by Rose's side. "That's Agnes, Frank's wife."

"And Frank is…" She tried, but there were just too many Cartwrights to remember.

"Cousin, car wash."

"Oh, right. Is he the one who cheated on his taxes?"

"They probably all do that, but he has it down to an art form." Ronnie gave her a quizzical look.

"How'd you know that?"

She smiled. "The man with the toupee and the one with the cigar were talking and I heard one of them comment on it." She gave a sheepish grin. "I was just sitting here and they were right there. I couldn't miss it."

"So you're the one to go to when I want information, huh?"

"I guess it depends on the information," she replied with a smile.

"Okay," Ronnie put her hands on the arm of the wheelchair and knelt down so only Rose could hear her. "So, what are they saying about the party? I know what they've said to me, but what are they saying to each other?"

Rose's smile grew even wider. "Everyone is raving about how nice it is, saying it reminds them of parties from years ago. You're getting lots of compliments." She did not miss the look of pride that crossed Ronnie's face.

"So they're really having a good time?"

"Yes, a fabulous time, actually. I heard more than one person say they wished you would do it every year."

Ronnie looked around. "You know, it is nice to see the whole family here again. It's like when Dad was alive."

Rose put her hand on the older woman's. "You really miss him, don't you?" Blue eyes regarded her seriously before she received an almost imperceptible nod.

"He enjoyed these parties." Ronnie pivoted and looked at the tree. "Christmas was his favorite time. He'd get such a kick out of reminiscing with everyone or seeing the kids opening their presents." Her face took on a faraway look. "He used to drag out the projector and screen and show the old home movies." There was a long pause and Rose patted her friend's hand in silent support. "Yeah, I miss him." Ronnie stood up, withdrawing her hand from under the smaller one.

"He would have liked this."

A commotion near the door drew their attention. "Damn."

Rose watched the transformation before her. Lips pressed tight, eyes narrowed to intimidating slits, jaw muscles clenching…everything about Ronnie's appearance spoke of being ready for trouble.

Turning her head, Rose saw what had captured her friend's attention. "Is that Tommy?" At Ronnie's nod, she studied the man who dared to return after the fiasco the evening before. Good looks ran in the family, she decided, taking in his sandy hair, piercing blue eyes, and athletic body. It was hard for her to reconcile the image before her with the screaming maniac who had flipped over the mahogany coffee table.

"I can't believe he showed up," she finally said after a minute.

"It's an act, you know," Ronnie said. "Him smiling and being all nice-nice like that. He's just charming Mother and Susan…and anyone else who is foolish enough to fall for it."

"What are you going to do?" She could not imagine Ronnie confronting him in front of the whole family at the Christmas party but Rose also could not see her putting up with his presence all night long.

"I guess I'd better get over there and say hello to my brother." She held her glass out. "Keep an eye on this for me. I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Ronnie…" she said, taking the crystal. "You okay?"

"Part of being in my position is having to be nice to people I can't stand. If I don't get over there, Mother will think that I'm snubbing him."

Rose watched her walk away, thinking how hard it had to be for Ronnie to be pleasant to her brother after last night's antics. She said a silent prayer for the evening to go well.

As Ronnie headed toward her siblings, she felt a tugging on her dress. She turned and looked down to see a round face smiling up at her.

"Hi cussin Ronnie."

"Hi Tyler," she replied, kneeling down to his level. "How are you? Are you having a good time?"

"Yeah." He held out a little cookie covered with red sprinkles. "There's lots of stuff to eat."

"So you like the cookies, huh?" She reached out and wrapped one long arm around him. "That was very nice of you to give Rose a kiss." Tyler smiled shyly and put the holiday treat in his mouth.

"Iff you kith the boo-boos, they get better," he mumbled, spewing cookie crumbs with each syllable.

Ronnie pulled him close and gave him a hug. "I hope so." She stood up and tousled his hair.

"You're a good boy, Tyler." She turned to go but he tugged on the velvet again. "What is it?"

"Do you know where the baffroom is?" He grabbed himself to stress his urgency.

"Yup, come on, you." She picked him up and quickly moved across the room, not stopping until she was in the office. "In that room." She pointed at the other door.

While she was waiting to take him back out she noticed the Percocet sitting on the table next to the bed.
Oh, I don't think that's a good idea
, she thought to herself, snatching the brown plastic bottle. Once Tyler was finished, she sent him back out into the living room and put the prescription on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet, certain it would be well out of reach of any curious little hands up there. That task finished, she stepped into the living room and steeled herself to greet her brother.

"Oh, here comes Ronnie," Susan said.

"Good. I don't know where she's been all this time," the matriarch said in a disapproving tone.

"Sorry. I had to help Tyler find the bathroom," Ronnie said as she approached. She nodded at her brother. "Hello Tommy."

"Hi Sis, how are you?" He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "
Bitch
!" he hissed before stepping back. "That dress looks wonderful on you, doesn't it Mother?"

"It's very nice, but too dark." She reached out and tugged on the velvet sleeve. "You should wear lighter colors, Veronica."

"Well, I think she looks lovely," he said, sounding totally supportive of his oldest sister. "Ronnie looks good no matter what she wears."

Oh that's right, lay it on thick, you son of a bitch
, she thought to herself. "You look nice tonight too, Tommy. New suit?"

"Actually, it is. I didn't think anything I had was good enough for tonight."

"I'm sure of that." Blue eyes shot daggers at the sandy haired man.

"After all, I do believe this is the first time that you've allowed the family in here since you took it over." He gave her a sinister grin, daring her to push it.

"Well, I think it looks very nice here tonight," Susan chirped. "I like the way you hung all the ornaments around. Everyone's stopping to look at them. I want to see the one I made in the third grade. Ronnie, can you help me find it?"

"Yeah. I think it's over here," she said, grateful for the escape offered to her.

They walked through the crowd until a flash of golden hair caught Susan's eye. Immediately the redhead's direction changed. "Where are you going?" Ronnie asked.

"To meet the infamous Rose Grayson," she replied. "Aunt Elaine said she was in a car accident."

"Susan…"

"Now what kind of hostess would I be if I didn't stop by and meet everyone?" Her eyes twinkled with mischief.

"I thought I was the one hosting the party. It is my home."

"Whatever," the redhead replied, obviously not interested in silly technical details like that.

"Either way, I really should meet her." She felt a firm hand grab her upper arm.

"Don't you dare put her through one of your famous inquisitions." Ronnie lessened her grip, but only slightly. "I mean, she's kinda shy."

"How am I supposed to learn anything about a person if I don't ask them questions?" Susan teased, but the serious look on her sister's face made her reconsider. "I just want to say hello, I'm not going to ask her for every personal detail of her life."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

The injured woman was finishing her ginger ale when she saw the sisters approach. "Rose, I'd like to introduce you to my sister, Susan Cartwright."

"Younger sister," the redhead corrected. She held her hand out. "I've heard a lot about you, Rose. It's nice to finally meet you." Truth be told, Susan had grilled both her mother and aunt in search of information about the mysterious woman. She looked at the row of stitches and tsked. "Such a shame, such a pretty face."

"Susan, I think Alexandra is around here somewhere. You haven't seen her in a while."

Ronnie's attempt to get her sister away failed. "No, you go ahead, Sis. I'll stay here and chat with Rose." She picked up the empty glass that Rose had set down on the coffee table. "That's going to leave a ring. Ronnie, don't you have any coasters?"

"Of c…" Out of the corner of her eye she caught the ashamed look on her guest's face. It was only then that it occurred to Ronnie Rose might not be used to using coasters. "Actually, I think they're all being used."