On The Dotted Line (29 page)

A
quick scan of the table only showed four chairs. Willow checked the table, all
the evidence pointed to the fact she only invited four people.

“Calm
down Millie, I’m the one who invited the woman I love.” Vincent lifted Nan’s
hand to his chest. “I thought since we would have everyone from both sides here
we would make our announcement.”

He
froze and the color left Willow’s face.

“What
would that be?” Millicent growled.

Vincent
held out Nan’s hand with a new diamond rivaling Willow’s on her finger. “I
thought we would turn tonight into an engagement party.”

“What?”
Willow reached out.

Instinct
took over and Randolph hurried to his wife, but he was too late. In an
unprecedented move, Millicent took Willow’s arm and pulled her close.

A
waiter came over and set the glass of Scotch in on the table.

He
pushed the glass of Scotch toward the women. “Will you please bring us the
bottle?” As soon as they got home he was throwing the calendar away.

* * * *

“So
for two weeks I have been walking around with the ring in my pocket wondering
when the right time would be to pop the question.” Vincent told the story for
the third time and waved his fork around like a flag.

Willow
stared down at her steak cooked to perfection. She managed to get a few bites
down, but the steak, along with Nan and Vincent’s announcement, swirled in her
stomach creating a wave of nausea. “Is this over yet?” She leaned into Randolph.

“I
suppose you decided right before a business meeting was a good time to make a life-long
decision. Poor Willow and I were completely blindsided.” Millicent downed her
wine.

“Are
you all right?” Randolph whispered in her ear.

“As
long as I don’t have to plan dinner ever again.” Heat took over her body and
she broke out into a sweat. She tried, really tried, to plan a magnificent
dinner. Since they returned from their weekend, she wanted to show Randolph
what she could do, especially for the man she loved. She researched and planned
and had everything perfect, and he was supposed to be proud of her. Instead,
she would be forever known as the woman with the planning disasters. They would
have been better off in a sports bar. On the plus side, Millicent seemed to
take a liking to her which was a good thing since they were going to be sort of
related.

“You
really did an incredible job if it wasn’t for—” Randolph paused. “for—”

“Just
say it.” Not caring anymore about appearances, she took her napkin, dipped the
corner in her water glass and dabbed it on her neck to alleviate the heat
overtaking her.

“It’s
about time I lived my own life. You’ve lived it enough for both of us. I am
finally in love and when the right moment struck, it struck.” Vincent shot his
words at his sister.

“Except
for this.” Randolph mumbled under his breath and pressed the back of his hand
to her cheek. “What’s wrong?”

“Willow
understands that,” Nan said.

At
the sound of her name, Willow turned to her. “What?”

“You
understand that sometimes things happen and you make quick decisions because
that’s what the universe tells you is right.” Nan touched her chin.

Not
appreciating the reference to her and Randolph, she pressed her lips together.

“My
Chiquita also understands that no matter what, certain souls were meant to be
together even if things change, because change is inevitable, not changing is
not living.” Nan took the wet napkin, pressed it on her wrist and motioned for
Randolph. “Your instinct was right, she’s clammy. Hold the napkin here, it will
cool her down faster.”

Randolph
took over.

“You
understand, right, Chiquita? You’re not alone.” Nan smiled, the one that told
her everything would be all right even if she didn’t believe her.

The
soothing coolness pulsed through her with her heartbeat. Not alone. No, even
with her mother’s passing she was never alone. Nan had already passed the torch
to Randolph. She looked from Nan to Vincent.

“I
wanted to ask your permission.” Vincent leaned over. “But I couldn’t stop
myself from asking when I did.”

She
needed to pass the torch as well and took a breath. “I make medicinal teas for
a living. I don’t need to tell you what will happen if you hurt my Nan.”

A
smile crossed Vincent’s face. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Chiquita,
I love him, I really do.” Nan took her hand and Vincent’s hand and held both
together.

“I
will do everything in my power to keep your Nan in the Van Ayers lifestyle.” Vincent
kissed Nan on the cheek.

“Just
keep her happy.” Too much of her husband’s life had been spent trying to keep
in the lifestyle. Though grateful because it brought them together, part of her
wondered what would have happened if Randolph didn’t continue to search. An
overwhelming exhaustion replaced the heat and she rested her head on Randolph’s
shoulder.

“I
will do that, I promise.” Vincent lowered his voice. “I think everyone should
want their family to be happy.”

“I’m
perfectly fine, and to ensure I stay that way have no doubt that I will be
meeting with my attorney and the man who manages
my
money first thing
Monday morning.” Millicent stood from the table and faced them. “Willow, I look
forward to dining with you again. Randolph, be ready on Monday. I just don’t
have any appetite tonight and I refuse to talk business until the matter is
settled.” Without another word, she grabbed her purse, spun on her heel and
stomped out.

Willow
shut her eyes. She craved their mattress and wanted to sink into the sheets.

“Although
I think she saw this coming, I think she chose to remain blind.” Nan took a
deep breath.

“As
usual, my love, you’re right.” Vincent put his arm around Nan and kissed her
lips.

Willow
lurched and dug her nails into Randolph’s leg.

“Willow!”
Randolph grabbed her shoulders and tried to turn her.

She
held up her hand.

“What’s
wrong?” He tightened his hold.

“I
don’t feel well.” She forced the words out.

“I
think this evening may have been a bit too dramatic, we have to remember Willow
is a newlywed herself,” Vincent said.

“I
think Vincent is right, we need to go home.” Randolph pulled her over to him.

“I
am going to pick up the tab on this meal, and I think Nan and I will stay for a
bit and finish off the wine.”

The
mention of wine made her stomach churn, as did Randolph helping her up.

“Thank
you for dinner.” Randolph put his arm around her.

“I
won’t be home tonight, Chiquita.” Nan gave her a kiss. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Feel
better.” Vincent patted her.

Before
she responded, Randolph took charge and led her out of the restaurant.

She
exhaled at the sight of Dimitri and the car at the front of the restaurant.

Dimitri
opened the car door. “Is Mrs. Van Ayers all right?”

“I
think the meal didn’t settle well with her.” Randolph kept her in his arms as
he got them both in the back seat. “Would you mind rolling down the windows for
her?”

The
windows slid down part way and the car took off. As the cool air wafted her
over her and the heat dissipated, the nausea ebbed and she sat up.

“How
are you doing?” Randolph combed his fingers through her hair.

“Nan
is getting married to Mr. Hartford.” The news still seemed unreal.

“It’s
a bizarre turn of events. I thought they were just sleeping together.” He
wrinkled his nose.

“Please,
I’m starting to feel better.” She shuddered. “Is that how you feel when you
think about your parents having sex? Your mother told me—”

“Stop!”
He put his hand over her mouth. “Yes that’s how I feel.”

“Oh
well.” She laid her head on his shoulder. “At least he seems like he wants to
take care of her.” There was no point fighting change.

“He’s
a very wealthy man, so she’ll never want for anything.”

She
shrugged. Wealth didn’t mean everything. All she wanted was for Nan to be
happy. After all she did for her, Nan deserved to have some fun and a life free
of worry.

“Speaking
of which, in my effort to take care of my own spouse, I will deposit your
allowance tomorrow.”

Money
again? She pushed away from him and stared out the window.

Randolph
put his hand on her shoulder. “Willow?”

“Is
it still about the money?” The lights flickered by the window of the car in
little starbursts.

“What
do you mean?”

She
turned back to him. “I don’t care about the money, I have you.”

“How
did I get you?” He shook his head.

“Well,
you tried to buy me.” She couldn’t help but laugh.

“But
you, Mrs. Van Ayers, are priceless.” He leaned down and gave her a light kiss.

Dimitri
drove through the gateway to the house, stopped the car and opened the door for
her. An unfamiliar blue car was parked ahead of them. “Someone’s here.” She
didn’t remember Lillian having guests. Normally, if she entertained the house
was abuzz with activity.

Randolph
joined her, but didn’t speak. Instead, he simply stared at the car and his
complexion paled.

“Are
you getting sick?” She hoped they hadn’t caught some bug.

“I’m
not sure.” He took a firm hold of her hand and led her into the house.

The
moment she entered an awful feeling of dread consumed her. Two staff members
stood in the main foyer with wide eyes, and everything stood deathly quiet.

“Where
are they?” Randolph’s voice came out hard, demanding and angry.

Rosa
pointed toward the library.

“Go
upstairs to our suite, Willow.” He let go of her hand.

“Randolph
what is it?” Her heart pounded loud enough that she was sure she would never
hear his answer.

Before
he got the chance to answer, the door to the library opened.

“I
told you I heard someone enter the house.” A young brunette woman in a tan
skirt suit similar to what Lillian would wear rushed out of the room. She
stopped and tilted her head. “Randy, I came to see you.”

“Stephanie.”
Randolph crossed his arms.

Randy?
Stephanie? The stomachache returned full force. What was Randolph’s ex doing
here?

Mr.
Van Ayers stormed out of the room, followed by Lillian holding Jeb to her
chest.

“I
waited for you.” Stephanie stepped toward him.

Willow
bit the inside of her mouth. She never put a face with the girl Randolph was
supposed to marry, but the woman fit the bill as to what she expected him to be
with. Beautiful, made up, perfectly coiffed. She bet if Stephanie planned the
dinner tonight nothing would have gone wrong.

“Last
time I checked, it was you who kept me waiting.”

“It
looks like everything worked out though.” At last the woman dared to glance in
her direction. “I heard you got married. Did you make it on time?”

“What
does that mean?” Lillian leaned over to her husband.

A
lump of anxiety formed in Willow’s throat.

“That’s
none of your business.”

“I
didn’t want to leave you, I was forced to.” Stephanie came closer still.

Lillian
shook her head.

“I
hardly think that anyone could force you to do anything.” The anger in Randolph’s
words came through with every syllable.

“Someone
can when he is the one person more powerful than you.” She turned toward Mr.
Van Ayers.

“What
do you mean?” Randolph lowered his arms.

“Stephanie,
I told you we would talk privately.” Mr. Van Ayers stepped forward.

A
spectator in her own life, Willow wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

“I
told you, I was forced to leave in the only way the Van Ayers know how to make
everyone do what they want.” The woman lifted her chin.

Wanting
to run, but needing to stay, Willow put her hand over her mouth.

Randolph’s
face turned absolutely red. “So Father, how much did you pay her to leave?”

Lillian
gasped. “What do you mean?”

“I
did you a favor.” His father shot back.

“It
was the last step, the very last thing on the very last day! What you call a
favor I call a conspiracy for me to fail!”

“Is
this about Randolph’s goals?” Lillian rushed over, her heels clicking on the
marble floor. “He finished that.”

Rather
than addressing Lillian, Stephanie walked over to her. “Right. As long as he
got married on or by his thirty-third birthday.”