Blood of Innocence (Sloan Skye) (27 page)

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Authors: Tami Dane

BOOK: Blood of Innocence (Sloan Skye)
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Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.
—James A. Baldwin
 
25
 
Mom was crying.
I was crying.
The lady we didn’t know, who happened to be in the country club’s powder room with us, was crying too.
Talk about estrogen overload.
“Your mascara’s running,” my mother pointed out to me. “You have the world’s worst raccoon eyes.”
“I’m pretty sure yours are worse,” I said, leaning into the mirror, a tissue at the ready. I blotted at the black smudges.
Mom checked her makeup. “Damn, you’re right.”
We both cried some more.
Finally I said, “Enough of this damn crying. What are we bawling about, anyway?”
“I’m hormonal,” Mom said. “What’s your excuse?”
“I’m menopausal,” the strange lady said as she dabbed at her eyes.
“I don’t have an excuse,” I said. “Other than exhaustion. And frustration. And ...” I did a strange little laugh-sob thing. It sounded like I was choking. “We spent all night waiting for that damned”—my gaze shot to the stranger—“bird to come back.”
“You’ll catch it, Sloan. I believe in you.” Mom took a few deep breaths. “Okay, I think I’m done. I’m ready. How do I look?”
“You look beautiful,” I told her. That wasn’t a lie. I swear, she was radiant. Unlike me. Her face was flushed a pretty shade of pink. My face was a blotchy red mess. Her dress was absolutely gorgeous. Mine, a yellow-and-black disaster. She looked happy. Full of life. I looked half dead.
“You look lovely,” the strange lady said.
“Thank you.” Mom preened. I think she was surprised by how fabulous she looked. “Maybe it’s the hormones,” she said, checking her face more closely. “My skin looks smoother.” She ran her fingers down her neck. “My jaw seems firmer.” She raised an arm and shook it. “And look, no more triceps flop.”
I was wearing a sleeveless dress. Wouldn’t hurt to check my arms. Not floppy yet. But I could see some signs of future flop.
I made a mental note to renew my gym membership at the end of the summer. I hadn’t stepped foot in the place since my first day with the PBAU, and I had a feeling I’d be too busy to work out until September.
“Whatever it is you’ve been using, can I buy some?” the lady asked. “Is it a cream? Or have you been exercising?”
“No, it’s not exercise. I’m pregnant,” Mom told the lady.
“You’re pregnant?” the lady said, failing miserably at hiding her surprise.
“Yes, I’m five weeks today.” Mom ran her hand down her flat stomach. “I haven’t been exercising much since I found out. I don’t think I should be.”
“Congratulations.” The lady took one last look at my mother, in her white wedding gown, then at me, and left.
Abandoning my efforts at fixing my makeup, I threw away the tissue and stepped back from the mirror. “Mom, pregnant women work out all the time.”
“Really?” She looked shocked. “Back when I was pregnant with you, the doctor told me no running, no lifting, no jumping ... pretty much no doing anything.”
I fluffed my hair. It was humid today. Humidity did nothing for my hair. “At my gym, there’s a water aerobics class for pregnant moms. They all seem to like it.”
Mom’s brows scrunched. “Are you trying to tell me I need to exercise?”
I fluffed harder. “No, of course not. You look amazing.”
“Then why would you say such a thing?”
Allegra Love came into the powder room, saving my butt. I’d have to thank her later. She had excellent timing. “Are we ready?” Dressed head to toe in gauzy purple material that was both translucent and opaque at the same time, her hair adorned with pink and purple feathers, Allegra Love gave Mom an exaggerated up-and-down look. “My, don’t you look lovely! Something looks different. Did you do something with your hair?”
Mom flushed. “No, actually, I didn’t. But thank you.” She glanced at me. “Ready?”
“Sure.”
Allegra Love said, “We didn’t have a rehearsal. There was no time. But your future husband assured me you would know what to do.”
Mom fussed with her dress. “Yes, we’ve been through this once before.”
“Very good. Then I’ll head out.” After a quick mirror check, Allegra Love swooped out like a Broadway starlet preparing to take her place on the stage.
“That is one bizarre woman,” I said, watching her grand exit. “Where did you find her?”
“Your father. Don’t ask. I have no idea.” Mom took another deep breath and gave me a slightly strained look as she brushed past me, heading for the exit.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, grabbing her arm to stop her.
“Nothing.”
“Mom, are you sure you want to go through with this wedding?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” She glanced down at my hand.
I let go of her arm. “You don’t have to get married today. I mean, I know I sort of forced you to meet with Dad because ... well, I felt you loved him. And that whole Frankie Goes to Hollywood thing was super romantic. But I don’t want you to feel pressured to go this far so soon. Maybe you two should take some time to—”
Her gaze jerked to the floor. “I don’t feel pressured. Not at all.” Mom lifted her chin and took another step toward the door.
Liar.
I intentionally put my body between my mother and the exit. “We can leave right now. I promise I won’t complain about your wandering around in the middle of the night, chasing away shape-shifting vampire birds. Or testing your inventions and short-circuiting my apartment building—”
“No. I should be with the father of my child. I don’t want your little brother or sister to grow up ...” Her words trailed off.
“Like I did?” I finished for her. “Without a father?”
Mom gave me a sad nod.
“I had a great upbringing. A wonderful childhood.”
Mom’s eyes started leaking again. Of course, mine did too. We hugged. She sniffled and snuffled. Someone knocked on the door.
“Yes?” I poked my head out.
“They’re waiting for you.” Katie shoved two bouquets of flowers into my hands. “The white one’s for your mother.”
“Thanks.” I handed Mom her flowers and out we went. Through the clubhouse and out into a pretty courtyard that had, by some miracle, been turned into the prettiest setting for a wedding that I’d ever seen.
I walked down the aisle while a small string quartet played Pachelbel’s
Canon in D Major
. My father gave me a happy grin at the front. The music changed as I curved to the left to take my place. I turned and watched my mother walk down the aisle, and I couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful she looked, and how happy. I saw her gaze lock on my father. They exchanged a look of utter love.
Would I ever know what it was like to be that much in love? So much in love that everyone could see the sparkle in my eyes?
So much in love that some man would be willing to give up what meant the most to him to be with me?
It seemed impossible. Or, at least, improbable.
Certainly, I didn’t have anything that special with JT. Nor did I have it with Gabe.
Would there be that once-in-a-lifetime love for me?
This whole wedding thing was turning me into a girly, mushy romantic. That was so not me.
As the sun hung low over the western horizon, the sky stained pink and blue, I watched my parents say their vows, exchange rings, and, eventually, kiss. The guests, including the woman I surmised was Her Majesty, all applauded politely. And as the new Mr. and Mrs. James Irvine pranced back down the makeshift aisle, the guests tossed white daisy petals into the air.
I gotta say, it was quite an event. Especially considering the fact that we hadn’t had time to make any of the arrangements. My father had handled every detail. I never would have thought any man capable of planning such a pretty, elegant event. I was impressed.
“Hopefully, that’ll be me very soon,” Elmer said as he
poofed
in front of me. He moved to the side, so I could continue to watch the crowd slowly file toward the building, where a reception dinner was being set up.
“Yes, hopefully soon,” I echoed.
“Who is this?” Allegra Love said, eyeballing Elmer and me.
“A friend,” I told her. To Elmer, I said, “This is Allegra Love. She has a very unique way of determining which couples should be married.”
She was staring at us. I’d seen her look at me like that before. “Remarkable.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. In the interest of avoiding a calamity, I tried to steer Elmer away from her.
“Are you hungry?” I asked him.
“Your energies resonate so beautifully!” Allegra Love shouted.
“What’s that mean?” Elmer asked, looking at me for an explanation.
“I told you, she has a very unique way of determining which couples are compatible. Resonating energies are bad. Very bad.” I gave him a nudge forward.
“No, it’s quite the opposite!” Allegra Love corrected from a widening distance.
Elmer stopped dead in his tracks, turned, and then asked Allegra Love, “You mean we’re compatible?” Elmer motioned between us. “Sloan and me?”
“Very compatible. Perfectly compatible.”
“Perfectly?” he echoed.
I groaned. “She said the same thing about me and JT.”
She seemed to float toward us. “It’s very unusual for one person’s energy to match more than one other person’s.”
“Yeah, it seems mine matches every man I know,” I told Elmer.
Elmer gave me a second look. “Why’s that?”
I gave him a confused shrug.
Allegra Love motioned to me. “Sloan does seem to be unique.”
“Too bad none of them are perfect for me,” I mumbled.
“What was that?” Elmer asked.
“Nothing. This is all nonsense. We both know we’re not compatible.” I gave Allegra Love a warning glare and escorted Elmer to the clubhouse. “Let’s go inside. I’m willing to bet there are some single elf bachelorettes in there, just waiting to meet you.”
Katie waved me down when we stepped into the ballroom. She had a drink in her hand and a great big smile on her face ... until she saw who was standing next to me.
“Look who popped in for some cake,” I told her, motioning to Elmer.
“You know me, never one to turn down free food
I can’t eat
,” he said. “Sloan and I need to have a little chat. About a certain favor ...”
“Elmer.” Katie gave him the kind of empty smile someone does when she’s trying her damnedest to be nice but failing. “Good to see you again.”
“Thanks. What’re you drinking?” His little squinty eyes settled on her glass.
“Champagne. You can get some over there.” Katie pointed at the bar set up along the far wall.
“Great. I don’t care for champagne.” Elmer rubbed his hands together. “But I’d be happy to get you some, Sloan. What about it?”
“No thanks—I mean, sure, I’ll take some champagne, thanks.”
The minute Elmer was out of earshot, Katie said, “What is
he
doing here?”
“Being a pest, like usual.”
“Why don’t you tell him to go away, then?” Katie motioned to a pack of handsome, available-looking young men huddled on the opposite side of the room. “Check that out. Men. Single. There’s not an ugly one in the bunch. But you’re not going to get anywhere with any of them with Elmer here. They’re going to think he’s your date.”
Doing my best not to be too conspicuous, I gave the man pack a second glance. Katie was right. Those were some promising-looking men. Especially the one on the end, in the corner, reading a book. The fact that he was reading at a wedding reception made the geek in me swoon. “I need to ditch the
Sluagh.”
“Bribery usually works,” Katie suggested.
“See, that’s the problem. I already owe him for one favor.” While trying to think up a proper bribe for a desperate
Sluagh,
I took a roundabout way to the bar to find him, figuring I’d avoid being seen with him any more than possible.
I located him standing next to the bar, chatting with my mother.
Mom beamed. “Sloan, there you are. Wasn’t the wedding lovely?”
“It was. But I should get going. We’re still working the case—”
“Sloan, there’s someone I’d like you to meet.” My father stepped up from behind me and took my arm. “Your Royal Highness, Elmer, come with us.”

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