Playing All the Angles (25 page)

Alora and Doyle had been waiting outside for a familiar face before venturing in. Already miffed at the “no children” feel of the invitation—“Who has a party that starts at nine?” she had asked angrily. “My children are in bed by seven!”—she was very unhappy when she realized there were actual celebrities at the event.

Isabelle liked it, though. “It’s an excuse to dress up, Lora. Come on. Are Mum and Dad here yet?”

“No. Mother had a bad headache, so she was slow to get going. But I do think they’ll come.”

Isabelle frowned. “They’d better.” She sighed, then she nodded toward the main table. “C’mon, you have to meet Eve’s husband!”

She led the way, with Dominic in tow and Alora right behind him, though her sister kept protesting that she didn’t really want to go up there. Isabelle looked at Dominic, and they both rolled their eyes, knowing that Alora would rather swallow her tongue than miss the chance to see who Eve was married to. Isabelle was looking forward to seeing her eldest sister’s face when she finally laid eyes on Tad.

It was priceless. Whatever Alora had been expecting, Tad was not it. He was wearing a tuxedo, but he had already undone the tie and the top two buttons on his shirt, so the martini in his hand only completed the effect of James Bond just after finishing off a villain.

“Uh-huh-hello. Huh-hello,” Alora stuttered at the sight of him.

Just beside him, his mother chuckled, catching Isabelle’s eye. “Never gets old.”

“I’m Isabelle, Eve’s younger sister. We’re so happy to meet you.”

Doyle’s crestfallen face warmed as Tad complimented his tie, and Isabelle could have hugged him, because Doyle had seemed as disappointed to see the walking art Eve had married as Alora had been, but for entirely different reasons.

Then, Tad turned to Dominic and shook his hand. “Nice to see you again, Dom. I hear you’re racing again?”

“Yeah.” Dominic’s chin was up at an odd angle. “I like the fast life; what can I say?”

Tad responded, but Isabelle’s mind was rewinding. Nice to see him again? When had Dominic met Tad?

Her attention was drawn away by Eve, who had leaned forward slightly to welcome her. “I’m so glad you came, Issie.”

Isabelle smiled and hugged her very pregnant sister as best she could. “You look fantastic, Evie. Not that I expected any less. This is a wonderful party.”

“So far, so good.” Eve gave her a nervous smile. “Mum and Dad haven’t shown up yet.”

“They’re just running late. They’ll be here,” she assured her.

“Mum probably wants to make a grand entrance.”

“That won’t happen in this place, no matter how late she arrives,” Isabelle said, gesturing to the decorations. “This is beautiful.”

“Marcus is amazing.”

The group stood talking for a while before Tad was pulled away by one of his friends to go meet a television actor, taking his parents with him.

Eve chuckled. “You know, he’s really used to celebs because his company is so high profile, but Marcus’s clientele is a little different.”

Alora was checking her phone and laughed a bit before saying, “Oh, Eve, sweetie. I’m so sorry. Mother and Dad won’t be making it tonight. Mother doesn’t feel well and thinks this is all too much of a do for her. Here…” She held up the phone and shot a picture of Eve’s stony face. “I’ll just get a photo of how pretty you look and send it along to her. She’ll be thrilled you’re so happy.”

Isabelle felt her jaw drop. That was utterly unexpected, and she glanced to Dominic to share her horror. His cheeks were flush and his nostrils flared, the expression that always came just before an outburst, but he wasn’t looking at Alora. Rather, his eyes were locked on Eve’s.

Eve shook her head at him, eyes narrowed in warning. Then, her wide, full lips curved up into a carefully engineered smile, the corners going up as if lifted by lines. She lowered her heavy lashes and turned her gaze to Alora. “Thank you, darling,” she said. “I suppose there’s no reason for you to stay now, is there? You and Doyle were lovely to come. Tad and I so appreciate your effort.”

Alora’s glee disappeared as her sister leaned in to kiss Doyle’s cheek, and she looked indignant as Eve turned her back and walked away. “Can you believe her?” she huffed. “Dismissing us like that?”

“I can’t believe
you
,” Isabelle said, giving her eldest sister a scornful look. “That was a terrible thing you just tried to do.”

“I didn’t do anything but pass on the message.”

“You didn’t do anything,” Dominic said, his voice coming from behind Isabelle, “but behave like the spiteful, ugly cow you are. You know damn well that the only reason you turned up was to get a chance to tear Eve down. Well, you missed your chance, so why don’t you do us all a favor and leave.”

“Just who do you think you are?” Alora’s back went up. “Must I say once more that you have no idea how Eve has humiliated Mum and Dad time and time again? There isn’t any reason for them to come here and face that tonight. Look around! Everything is just to show them up. She can’t just throw a nice party like Mum and Dad had for Issie; no, she has to rent out the Taj Mahal. Where are the elephants? I’m sure she’s got some here somewhere.”

A deeper, more nasally voice cut through Alora’s, and Marcus stepped onto the scene, dapper in a plum-colored silk suit. “Hello. Hello, darlings.” He bobbed his head to each of them with an easy air, two muscular men in tight black turtlenecks and dark trousers flanking him. “Alora, Doyle. Eve said you were leaving. Dean and Chuck here will show you out…unless you already remember the way.”

“Are we being tossed?” Doyle asked, eyebrows shooting up.

“Of course not!” Marcus laughed off the question. “Heavens no. I would never toss any of Eve’s family. I just want to be certain you get off all right. Can’t have you getting lost on your way back to the door.”

Doyle’s face collapsed in on itself in confusion. “But we’re not heading out. Are we?”

“Yes, you oaf. We’re being bounced. Well, you can’t tell us to leave because we’re leaving,” Alora huffed, turning to Dominic. “You see? Because that’s what Mother and Dad could’ve expected.”

“Oh, fuck you. Go home.”

Dean and Chuck took up position on either side of Doyle and Alora, and though she continued to protest loudly, yelling at her husband for failing once again to defend her, they left without further resistance. Isabelle watched them go, boiling with anger over the entire situation and not entirely sure what had just passed between Eve and Dominic or why Dominic was so staunch, yet again, in Eve’s defense.
Not that Alora didn’t deserve it,
Isabelle conceded mentally.

She pulled out her phone and moved away from Dominic, back through the garden by one of the marquees, and dialed her father’s number. When he answered, Isabelle asked him if it was true they weren’t coming, and when he confirmed it, she started defending Eve and trying to convince him that it was only right for them to come to the party, even if they didn’t stay very long. “You owe it to Eve, Dad,” she insisted.

“Your mother’s got a terrible headache, Isabelle.”

“Then come without her! It’s the least you can do.”

“Sweetheart…” Her father tried to laugh. “It’s just a party.”

“It is not just a party! It’s her wedding reception…you know, like mine was? The one Mum told her not to attend?”

“Hold on. Your mother is on the phone with Alora.”

“Oh great! Just great.” Isabelle held the line until her father spoke again, listening to her mother’s voice pitching high in the background.

“We aren’t coming,” he said firmly. “But you have a nice time.”

“Alora was positively evil when she was here, Dad! Eve didn’t do anything to her, and she was dreadful!”

“Isabelle—”

“No! It’s not fair! Eve doesn’t deserve to be shunned! She’s your daughter!”

“No one is shunning Eve, Isabelle. Your mother is sick, and I cannot leave her alone. And now that she knows your sister had Alora escorted from the premises, there is no way she’s stepping foot in the door. Really? What could she say to that boy’s parents? What on earth could either of us say to them to make them feel confident in their son’s choice? We aren’t even confident of it. Frankly, we feel for them. It would be like one of you marrying some…I don’t know what. But we wouldn’t like it. Goodnight, Isabelle. We’ll speak with you tomorrow.”

He hung up then, and Isabelle gave a little cry, nearly chucking her phone. Instead, she stalked around to a secluded little area and stopped when she heard voices.

“Well, what did you expect, dumb fuck?” Dominic snorted. “Alora would sooner see you burn to death than admit you aren’t entirely evil.”

“I’m only mostly evil.” Eve sighed. “God, I want a cigarette, and I want a drink. I should have waited to have this party till after the baby so I could be flying when all this happened.”

“I’d give them to you, but I think everyone would know.”

She sighed again. “Okay, I’ve got to go back in. I think I’m good now.”

“Eve…”

Isabelle held her breath as she listened.

“After the baby…why don’t we get together sometime?”

“No. Those days are over, Phillips. I’m happily married now. You married my sister, and I’ve had my fill of incest, thanks. You and Isabelle can come visit anytime you like, but it’s never going to be you and me alone ever again.”

Dominic snorted. “Afraid your husband might find out?”

“No, I’m just not interested,” she replied, and Isabelle could hear her walking away.

Dominic didn’t emerge immediately, but Isabelle didn’t wait for when he might. Instead, she turned in the opposite direction and went back the way she had come, grabbing the first glass that she saw from a passing tray and taking a deep swallow, her hand shaking. She felt sick, her stomach in knots over what she’d just heard, and she couldn’t think straight.

She was three more drinks in before she saw Eve again. This time, her sister was dancing with Tad, looking relaxed and happy again, but a glance to her left revealed Dominic leaning against the bar, watching the same scene with crossed arms and a dark expression.

What if Eve had said yes?

She stumbled forward, thinking she would go to her car, but felt a hand on her elbow and mutely accepted the help Marcus offered and allowed herself to be steered into a quiet sitting area. She waited there until Eve appeared, kneeling beside her to peer up into Isabelle’s face.

“What’s wrong? Are you still upset about earlier?”

“I-I called Dad,” Isabelle said, not willing to bring up what she’d overheard. Not here. “I told him that he should come without Mum. That he owes you that much. But Alora called Mother, and they were both set against it. I tried to tell him how Alora had behaved, but he wouldn’t listen. I’m sorry, Eve.”

“Baby…” She smiled sympathetically, rubbing Isabelle’s arm. “It’s okay. You’re not responsible for them. Besides, if I couldn’t have them here, I got the next best thing: kicking Alora out. I’m good.”

Isabelle tried to laugh, but found herself crying instead.

Eve moved up to sit beside her, holding her while she sobbed.

“My life is so messed up,” she choked out. “I just don’t know what to do.”

“Do you really want my advice?”

“Yes.”

“Get a divorce. Get an annulment. Whatever. Just get out of this relationship with Dominic. It isn’t healthy, and he isn’t good for you. Issie, are you happy? You don’t seem happy. Just…I want you to be happy.”

Isabelle looked at her, then down at her hands. “I heard you talking with him,” she whispered. There was no point trying to keep the peace now. “I heard him ask you…about getting together after the baby.”

Eve cursed and shook her head. “It’s not going to happen, Isabelle.”

“I heard you tell him no. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. Oh, Isabelle. Issie, I’m going to get Marcus to arrange a room for you at the Ritz and a ride there. And I want you to phone Patrick and tell him to meet you there in an hour. Stay right here. Do what I told you. Then I’m coming back, and I need to tell you something. Okay?”

“I—”

“Isabelle, do what I tell you.” Eve’s voice was stern, and Isabelle felt herself going for the telephone automatically.

She had the conversation with Patrick as instructed and had just hung up when Eve returned. She noticed that there was mascara all over the bust of her sister’s gorgeous dress, and that made her start to cry again.

“Don’t cry over that,” she said darkly. “Now, I’m going to preface this with…I love you, Issie. I can’t always explain why I do things or why I am the way I am, but sometimes I make spectacular mistakes. Spectacular. And I’ve made one recently. I’ve been doing everything within my power to make it right, but it’s something I can’t hide anymore and something I can’t ever make right. All I can do is tell you what I’ve done, so you can do what needs to be done now.”

“What?”

“Just listen to me. Listen carefully. I haven’t slept with Dominic since the two of you got engaged, because apparently my ethical cutoff is an engagement ring, but prior to that, we were having sex at least once a month, sometimes much more than that. Dominic is the only man I was with in the last year, before Tad. Have you drunk too much to do that math?”