Sweet Valley Confidential: Ten Years Later (28 page)

And she was in love with him. He was certain of that. She’d sacrificed her sister for him, a thought that tortured him when he couldn’t sweep it out of his mind. But every day that he was with her was glorious despite the family troubles. Maybe he was a shit for feeling that way, but the heart wants what the heart wants. About the worst excuse you could ever conceive of. Until it’s yours.

*   *   *

Walking up to the front entrance, something Elizabeth had done hundreds of times over the years her parents had belonged to the country club, was almost relaxing in its familiarity. She remembered with warmth that first time, just after her parents had joined when she was twelve, how her eyes had practically popped out of her head at the gorgeous pool and tennis courts and the clubhouse itself, with its extravagant bouquets of flowers in the lobby.

It had been spring and the apple blossoms and forsythia stood tall in their glass vases, almost like small trees. And she thought in her little-girl way, Wouldn’t it be so fun to live here? Like this would be her home. She turned to poke Jessica to share her fantasy, but Jessica poked her first and pointed out a cute boy on the other side of the room. And Elizabeth forgot the flowers and the fantasy and went with her first reaction: He’s not as cute as Todd.

Even then it was Todd.

What if she cried when she saw them today? Totally pathetic thinking for a twenty-seven-year-old. But no matter how she tried to rationalize the ways she should behave, the truth was that she was deeply wounded and still bleeding. Eight months of healing had been wiped out in an instant, and it was today’s raw wound the minute she got off the plane.

As horrible as it would be, it would be better to shout at them than to cry. Anything would be better than tears.

“If this were a play,” Liam said, “and I had to walk into this group and see the two people who had betrayed me, I would rev myself up to rage. Then I would put a lid on it but know the heat was always there, bubbling underneath. Like a weapon, ready to be used. That thought would fortify me enough to keep me from showing any kind of pain. Then I would say my lines, and maybe they’d be benign, but if I was good, really good, no one would miss the fury underneath.”

“You have to be a trained actor for that.”

“No, just hurt and angry.”

“What are my benign lines?”

“‘Hi, everyone!’ And then ‘Happy birthday’ to your grandmother.”

“‘Hi, everyone, including you asshole shitheads, you liar cheaters! Happy birthday, Grandmommy.’ How’s that?”

“You’re letting a little too much of the bubbling stuff show.”

By now they were at the front door, which was being held open by Jose, one of the staff who had been working at the club long enough that his son and daughter-in-law now ran the kitchen. His grandson, whom Elizabeth remembered as a small boy, spent his college vacations collecting balls from the driving range.

Too late to run.

“Is that you, Elizabeth? Or is it Jessica? Whichever, welcome. Good to see you. They’re all there in the small dining room.”

“It’s Elizabeth and thanks, Jose. It’s good to see you, too.”

Elizabeth directed Liam toward the small dining room on the far side of the lobby, which still looked as perfect as the first day she’d seen it. Only she was different, no longer that sweet little twelve-year-old, that nice little girl who didn’t hate.

“I’m not an actor. I’m just going to do whatever hits me.”

“That’s the best. When in doubt, play it honest.”

They walked across the lobby to the private dining room. The double doors were closed, but they could hear the buzz of people inside. Elizabeth’s people.

She was back to claim them.

*   *   *

Jessica kept glancing over to the door. She hadn’t touched her champagne or the little salmon hors d’oeuvres. She could barely respond to Todd or anyone else who talked to her. All she could do was wait, watching the door for her sister. She couldn’t ever remember being afraid of Elizabeth. But she was now.

She had decided that no matter what Elizabeth said, she would stay calm and say hello and try to look welcoming. That meant a small smile, not a big greeting, very subdued.

What if Elizabeth ignored her? She would still say hello.

Of course, everyone would get up to welcome Elizabeth, and there would be kisses and hugs and all that. Jessica had decided that she would hang back and let Elizabeth take the lead.

She and Todd hadn’t really talked about it too much. It was too painful and so neither had told the other how they were going to handle this first meeting.

She could see that Todd was watching the door as intently as she was.

They weren’t the only ones who were nervous. Her grandmother didn’t know Elizabeth was coming, so she was cool, but her parents were keeping a sharp eye on her and the door. Darting back and forth. Jessica could see how nervous her dad was. He did a lot of tie straightening when he was nervous. Tonight he had straightened his tie so much it was halfway around his neck. Her mother was certainly just as nervous, but she knew she had to be the calm one, and so she forced herself to look the perfect hostess.

Even though it was her own family, Jessica felt as if she were in hostile territory. Steven still hadn’t forgiven her for the business with Cara; his friend, Aaron Dallas, absolutely hated her; Bruce Patman, a close friend of Elizabeth’s, certainly hated her, too.

Out of seven guests so far, she could only count on her parents and her grandmother, Marjorie Robertson, to be in her corner. And soon Elizabeth would come and that would add to the hate list. Her parents and grandmother loved her, of course. Or so she hoped. But the only one she knew truly loved her was Todd. And he was the most important. Without his love, she would have nothing left. Pretty bad for the girl who used to have everything; the one who always got the window seat.

Maybe her sister didn’t hate her.

Why in hell not?

Then the double doors opened and Jessica could see instantly from Elizabeth’s face, from the hard stretch of her mouth and the way she avoided looking in Jessica’s direction, that it was going to be the worst scenario. Her sister did, indeed, detest her.

Eight months. The longest they had ever been separated. Elizabeth looked different, Jessica thought, older, more beautiful, with a sophistication she hadn’t had before. A New York look—whatever that was. But it was a look. She wore a black empire dress that caught tight just under her breasts, shoestring straps slightly rounded to soften the neckline, which was a bit low for Elizabeth. Even her jewelry was black. Definitely not L.A. Not like Jessica’s own Betsey Johnson little-girl pink. Elizabeth’s hair was different. Shorter, with a center part giving way to a gentle sweep that cascaded along the sides of her face.

Weird, Jessica thought. Exactly the same cut as mine.

Jessica was so concentrated on Elizabeth that for the moment she didn’t see the man behind her. And then she did, and he was gorgeous. He had to be Elizabeth’s boyfriend. Who else would she bring all the way out here? If she had someone, maybe there was a chance. Maybe it wouldn’t be so terrible.

For Bruce Patman, standing there with adoration in his eyes, it was terrible already. He and Elizabeth had never lost their closeness; they were on the phone all the time. In fact, he had flown to New York five times on some business excuse just to see Elizabeth. In all the conversations they’d had, she never mentioned another man—until the phone call the other day when she’d said she was bringing someone to the dinner.

“Someone you’re dating?” Bruce had asked Elizabeth, digging for any information. But she was not forthcoming. Instead, she said it was a long story. He said he had time, but she wasn’t talking. He practically hung up on her. And now, here he was, the boyfriend.

She was introducing him, and Bruce felt sick.

Elizabeth said to Liam, “I’d like you to meet my great friend, Bruce Patman. Bruce, this is Liam O’Connor.”

They shook hands. Bruce wanted to know only one thing, but there was no way to ask, so he just backed away and made room for everyone else.

Elizabeth’s grandmother, Marjorie Robertson, the only one who was truly surprised, let out a little yelp and fairly leaped from her chair, her arms outstretched, ready to hug Elizabeth.

“Oh, my darling, what a marvelous birthday gift! No one told me.” She and Elizabeth hugged, and then Ned and Alice Wakefield greeted their daughter, and everyone else took turns hugging and kissing Elizabeth, simultaneously being introduced to her friend, Liam.

Jessica and Todd stood back, just outside the excited, fussing circle. It was obvious that everyone, save them, was delighted to see Elizabeth.

Despite her nervousness, her guilt and apprehension, there was a part deep inside Jessica that tingled with the thrill of seeing her sister again. It was an involuntary response deep in her DNA. But that thrill was well hidden; she didn’t dare show even a hint of it.

Finally, the chattering, loving group began to drift back to the table, and then there was no one but Todd and Jessica left standing with Elizabeth and Liam.

Some of the awkwardness was deflected by the need to introduce Liam. Meeting a new person gave everyone a chance for a moment’s normal behavior.

“Nice to meet you.” Todd shook Liam’s hand.

Elizabeth introduced Jessica without looking at her. In fact, she hadn’t looked straight at her since she walked in the room. But when Jessica said, “Hi,” and put out her hand to Liam, Elizabeth looked, watched to see her reaction. There was no noticeable Jessica response to this gorgeous man.

Relief washed over her. Jessica appeared to be passing the test. And that made Elizabeth’s heart sink involuntarily, because it meant that maybe Jessica’s love for Todd had changed her.

Okay, Will Connolly, you were wrong.

But when the gorgeous man, Liam, touched Jessica’s hand, he almost lost his breath.

Elizabeth was stunned. For a moment it took her mind off the betrayers and a sick feeling greased around in her stomach. This was something she had never expected. It was not possible. Jessica was her identical twin. You’re not turned on by one, you’re certainly not turned on by the identical other. Right?

Wrong. Fortunately (or unfortunately), it didn’t seem to register with Jessica, who smiled politely and backed off toward the table where the other guests, essentially the audience who had been silently watching the action and holding their breath, were able to turn back to the dinner table with an almost audible sigh of relief.

The twins’ parents visibly relaxed, too. The first hurdle had been surmounted.

There was a little more awkward shuffling, and the four went to their assigned seats at the table. And well assigned they were, thanks to Alice Wakefield, who knew just how far apart to seat the principals—not easy with only ten people.

The easiest one, Liam, was between Steven and Aaron Dallas, Steven’s now-accepted partner. Elizabeth was between her grandmother and Bruce. Jessica was tucked safely beside her father and her brother and Todd was on the other side of Alice Wakefield.

For a moment no one sat. Then Ned Wakefield held out the chair for his mother-in-law and everyone took his or her seat.

But when Elizabeth looked up at Liam, he had switched seats with Steven and was sitting next to Jessica.

Elizabeth looked away. Oh, shit.

It was a small dinner party, and the only way not to see each other was by purposely not looking. There was a lot of purposely not looking going on.

Oblivious, Marjorie Robertson took her granddaughter’s hand and kissed it. “I couldn’t be more delighted,” she smiled. “I know they say time flies by when you’re older, but these eight months away from you took forever. We all missed you terribly.”

“I’m sorry, Grandmommy, but I had to get away. Had to get started on my life, and I think I did.”

“Liam?”

“Oh no, he’s just a friend who happened to be out in L.A. this week, so I invited him.”

Jessica heard Elizabeth’s words because her mind was programmed to pick up only Elizabeth’s voice. Liam was only a friend. With those words her expectations collapsed. There wasn’t going to be any easy way.

Todd too picked up on it and shared Jessica’s disappointment.

But from across the table Bruce inhaled the information and suddenly the dinner was beautiful.

“Tell us about
Show Survey,
Elizabeth,” Steven said. “We’re dying to know.”

“Well, it’s really not that big a deal. I mean it’s sort of a blog with a throwaway print component, kind of like Zagat for restaurants, only this is for the theater. Off Broadway mainly.”

“Elizabeth is being modest,” Liam said. “It’s new, but it’s catching on, and Elizabeth is the star writer. She’s doing a piece on a new author whose play is opening next month.”

“Who’s that?” her grandmother asked.

“His name is Will Connolly. You don’t know it now, but you will in about a month.”

“Liz, that’s awesome,” said Bruce, still in the throes of delight from learning that Liam was not competition.

“I guess,” said the slightly embarrassed Elizabeth. “But what’s been happening here in Sweet Valley? That’s what I want to know. What’s the gossip?”