Caught in the Frame (4 page)

“Great minds think alike.” EV smirked.

The red-eye flight had them leaving Boston at midnight, and arriving in Dublin at 5pm local time. Thankfully, Lila had sprung for a non-stop flight, allowing them time to sleep and avoid excessive jet-lag. Twelve hours in the air was enough to jangle anyone’s nerves, but the first-class accommodations made it much more pleasurable than any flight Nate had ever taken. When the stewardess asked if anyone wanted a hot towel, Nate accepted, although he didn’t know exactly what he was supposed to do with it.

The only thing to tarnish the experience of flying in style was a scene caused by a minor celebrity, who thought his fifteen minutes of boy band fame required him to drink excessively and shout, “Show me your boobs,” at random intervals and to no one in particular. When an aging comedian finally stood up and flashed an impressive set of the male variety, half the cabin cheered while the other half exchanged scandalized glances. EV and Chloe indulged in quiet speculation over whether he was a B or a C-cup. After that, the trip was uneventful.

EV spent the beginning of the flight playing peek-a-boo with the adorable and incredibly well-behaved five-year-old girl, Lizette, who occupied the seat ahead of her. By the time sleep overtook the tot, she had scaled her seat and was firmly ensconced on EV’s lap, where they both snoozed for a good few hours.

In Dublin, the transfer from plane to train almost went off without a hitch. Little Lizette had decided EV was her new best friend, and pitched a tantrum of epic proportions when she discovered they would be parting ways. Screams shriller than a whistling teakettle echoed through baggage claim, while Lizette’s mother, chagrined and apologetic, finally carried her outside.

Twice in the airport—once in customs, and once as they were leaving—EV felt a tingling twitch at the base of her spine signaling that someone was watching her. Remaining casual, she let her gaze roam over the crowd. Seeing nothing, she decided it was just the after-effects of a long flight. And they still had a train ride ahead of them. At this point, all she wanted was a hot shower and a few hours in a soft bed.

* * *

Chloe spotted Lila the moment their train pulled into the station. A white silk couture jumpsuit hung across her slim hips, tapering at the ankle just above a pair of exquisite, cobalt blue Louboutin suede booties. The ruffled, plunging neckline left room for a diamond necklace that would have sparkled enough to blind a person had the sun not already begun to set. It matched the engagement ring on Lila’s left hand perfectly, and even more baubles dangled from her wrists and ears. Her handbag screamed Louis Vuitton, and the black cashmere peacoat draped across her arm probably cost more than Chloe’s entire wardrobe combined. Lila’s striking appearance was so out of place against the dingy platform, it would have been hard
not
to notice her.

The look of anticipation on Lila’s face softened the severity of her outfit. She liked pretty, expensive things, but there was a Piniac in there somewhere; if she had seen someone in need, the coat would have gone home with them without a second thought. Chloe had always considered her mother a woman of contradictions. To some, she was a pleasant surprise—those people were usually expecting a hard, unfeeling snob—to others, particularly those in her social sphere who
were
genuine snobs, she was an oddity. Love her or hate her—there was no in-between when it came to Lila LaRue.

“Go, I’ll get our things.” Nate gestured for Chloe to move on ahead, having watched her excitement grow exponentially the closer they got to their destination. She kissed him on the cheek and made a beeline for the exit before anyone else had moved from their seat, nearly flying from the bottom step into her mother’s waiting arms.

“Oh, darling, I’ve missed you so much!” Lila enveloped Chloe in a fierce hug, inhaling her daughter’s familiar scent with a beatific expression on her face—a face so similar to Chloe’s it was a little bit creepy. Blond hair hung in perfectly-coiffed ringlets, just skimming a pronounced collar bone, and wide almond-colored eyes shone bright above a button nose. EV and Nate watched through the train windows, in no hurry to interrupt the reunion between mother and child.

EV’s stomach rumbled with nervous energy; it had been ten years since she and Lila set eyes on one another, and their relationship had wandered into stasis somewhere between acquaintance and friend. Why Lila had chosen her to be in the wedding at all was a mystery EV planned to solve. Until now, the thought of seeing her long-lost friend had been more abstract than concrete, so she avoided dwelling on it.

With Nate bringing up the rear, EV exited the train and stepped tentatively toward Lila, who rushed forward to greet her with no trace of hesitation. Apparently Lila had chosen to ignore the emotional distance that stretched between them after years of physical distance. If her impressions were correct, Lila harbored a touch of resentment over EV’s close friendship with Chloe, while, at the same time, feeling gratitude that someone was there to look out for her daughter.

On the flip side, EV thought Lila’s moratorium on visiting her daughter harsh, and had not been shy in speaking her feelings. Still, she was more than willing to let it all go, especially if Lila had done the same.

“Look at us! We’re old!” Lila laughed, though neither looked anywhere close to their actual ages. Lila’s good humor was infectious, and EV felt the tension release from her shoulders.

“I’m not old, I’m travel-worn.” EV arched an eyebrow and matched it with a sardonic smile.

Nate approached the three women, looking to Chloe for support. “Mother, you remember Nate.”

“Hello Mrs.—Ms. LaRue.” He stammered. “It’s nice to see you again. Congratulations, and thank you for inviting me.” Nate reached out as if to shake Lila’s hand.

“Hello, Nathaniel.” She replied, ignoring his hand and letting go of Chloe long enough to give him a short, but reassuring hug. “Call me Lila. It’s much easier. And you’re very welcome. We’re happy to have you all here.” Nate detected the hint of an edge to the words. The feeling solidified as Lila donned her coat and slung her arms around Chloe and EV’s necks, leading them toward a black limousine idling in the parking lot, while he was left to help the driver handle the luggage. The speculative look she tossed back at him over her shoulder told him the move was intentional.

Once they were en route, Lila pulled a bottle of champagne out of the limousine’s built-in chiller and proposed a toast. “To family, friends who are considered family, and those who may someday become family.”

Nate toasted, wondering again if Lila placed intentional emphasis on a particular phrase; it sounded almost as if she’d be betting against him becoming a permanent fixture in Chloe’s life. He shook his head, wondering if the stress of travel had him imagining things.

“You’re all just going to love this venue. Chloe knows, since we’ve visited the castle before, and it just seemed like serendipity when Javier suggested it. The whole event came into focus, and I could picture the four of us gliding down that staircase in the Rose Room. You remember my cousin Faith, don’t you? She’ll be my third attendant, but she can’t make it until next week. I just hope it’s enough time to get her dress altered.” Lila prattled on, but Chloe interrupted her, having latched onto a nugget of information she didn’t want to let pass.

“So Javier is the one responsible for choosing one of the most remote locations in your repertoire. You couldn’t find anywhere more out of the way, could you? Where is his family from? Are they all flying in for the ceremony?”

“Of course, dear. You don’t think they’d miss the wedding, do you?” Lila’s didn’t elaborate on the details, but instead launched into another monologue about the wedding.

“Sounds like we’ll be busy little bees for the next two weeks.” EV intoned with an internal sigh. It was beginning to sound like she wouldn’t have time to explore the countryside as planned, and resigned herself to being bored to tears by centerpiece arrangements and debates about proper garter placement.
If I survive two weeks of this, I should get a prize,
she thought.
If I haven’t done away with Lila by then, I’ll be eligible for sainthood.

* * *

Pulling up to the place, Nate, wide eyes staring out the window, let loose a whistle. EV concurred.

Some genius of an architect had gone to a lot of trouble extending the existing structure with enough new construction to almost triple the original square footage. From the outside, it looked like a scene from a fairy tale. Turrets soared into the sky, castellated battlements ranged like gapped teeth across walls of ancient stone. EV’s imagination ran wild trying to picture what lurked behind ponderous arched doors of aged wood and hinges beaten from bars of iron.

Despite living humbly in Ponderosa Pines, EV was no stranger to opulence. Her family was every bit as wealthy as Lila’s. She had just chosen a simpler life, knowing full well what the alternatives were. Still, EV goggled when she got her first glimpse inside. Instead of a great hall, dank in the corners where flickering torchlight couldn’t reach, the doors opened into a gleaming interior of polished stone sparkling under soft lighting provided by fixture after swanky fixture. Burnished bronze and alabaster-shaded sconces lined the walls, while a crystal-bedecked chandelier dominated half the ceiling area.

To her right, the concierge desk, clad in pretty pink marble, rested next to a bank of elevators. On one corner, a sleek white cat surveyed the new arrivals with eyes the color of polished jade. Of its own volition, her hand lifted to give the regal beast a scratch behind the ears. He rewarded her efforts with a loud purr while her eyes took in the rest of the lobby. Just ahead, a sculptural sweep of gleaming granite stairs gracefully curved toward what looked like a second-floor balcony running around three sides of the foyer. EV knew from the website that a hair salon, several boutiques, and a five star restaurant resided there. Just past the concierge area, propped-open glass doors provided access to a gift shop. Nearly anything you might need for your vacation could be found somewhere in the castle.

An impeccably crafted sign reading
Pub and Cafe
swung from a wrought iron hanger on her left, and another, smaller sign indicated that the entrance to the spa was somewhere behind a huge staircase opposite the eatery.

As though reading the thoughts running through EV’s mind, Chloe nudged her with an elbow and whispered, “Low voltage LEDs. Trust me.”

That was all she had time to say before the concierge, a gentleman who bore an uncanny resemblance to Dame Christie’s description of Hercule Poirot, spied Chloe.

“Miss LaRue, it’s so good to see you.” EV stifled a smile when the man’s deep southern American accent and exaggerated lisp drove the good detective right out of her head. “And Miss Lila, just look at the two of you, together again. Such beauty in one place, why, it’s a sight for these sore eyes.” His eyes didn’t look particularly sore, but they did slide ever-so-subtly toward Lila, as though searching for approval. “Leave your bags right here; I’ll see they’re taken up to your rooms. Now, I’m sure Miss Lila would prefer to show you the way, since your suite adjoins with hers. She wanted to keep all her ladies close during this time of preparation.”

“Thank you Antoine.” Lila, leaving Nate no choice but to follow, latched onto Chloe’s arm on one side, and EV’s on the other, practically dragging them toward the grand staircase. EV raised an eyebrow at the name. To be sure, he looked like an Antoine, but he sounded more like a Billy Bob. The cat spilled from the desk to prance along behind the three women, all the way up into the lofty reaches of the castle. It seemed EV had made a new friend.

When Nate moved to follow Chloe, Antoine called him back, “Mr. Harper, if you could come with me, please. I’ll show you to your rooms.”

“He’s with me, Antoine,” Chloe pulled away from Lila, turned back to tuck her hand into the crook of Nate’s elbow.

“Miss Lila chose special accommodations for Mr. Harper.”

Chloe treated her mother to a questioning glare.

“It’s fine Chlo. I’ll find you later.” He dropped a peck on her cheek while keeping his eyes trained on Lila, who regarded the scene with equanimity. “Go. Spend time with your mother. It’s been awhile since you’ve seen
her
.” Whether he was meant to be the referee in some private mother-daughter war, or a pawn to be sacrificed on the playing field, Nate sensed no overt personal hostility from Lila. This was a power struggle that probably had nothing to do with him, and he would only involve himself in if it looked like Chloe needed the extra support—though he saw no harm in letting Lila know his position, which was firmly seated on Chloe’s side.

* * *

Made it safe, jet-lagged and sleepy. Kiss the kittens for me.
Chloe’s text to Talia was preemptive; she knew Tallie would worry if she didn’t check in, and hoped she’d spread the word and spare Chloe a few panicked calls from other friends, neighbors, and general busybodies.

Deciding to complete the task to the fullest extent, she sent a group message to Veronica and Mindy as well:
Touched down, safe and sound in my room—far away from Nate, thanks to my mother. Apparently my dry spell is destined to resume.

Moments later, her phone dinged with three replies.

Glad to hear it, have fun, kittens are fat and happy.—Tallie.