Page 27 of Shiny Things

“We do?”

“We do. I just contracted a luncheon for Felicity Dean, a garden party for my Aunt Ginny, and I just landed the reception for the future Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery.”

“Scott and Terry’s wedding?”

“Exactly.”

“That’s great, G.”

“I know. I still have no clue why they insist on getting married when they’re already happily mated, but whatever. I’lltake it. This will really help to keep us afloat until the diner is back up and operational.”

“I really hate to be a downer and all, but in order to cater, we still need a kitchen. And as much as I love offering up my house, it may be a bit small for this big of an undertaking.”

“I know. My mom has offered to let us use hers.”

Helena Dean Davenport? I was going to be spending time at Elias’s mother’s house? The place he grew up and still calls home?

“Relax, Kim. It’ll be fine. Trust me.”

She had no idea why I was freaking out because I hadn’t shared with my best friend the fact that I was sleeping with her brother.

“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be fine?” I asked like a psycho.

“Good, because if you grab those pans, we’re heading over there now.”

I gulped. “Right now?”

“Right now. Come on.”

There was no way for me to get out of this short of a life and death scenario or quitting my job. I couldn’t fathom either, so I packed up the things she requested and loaded up Gia’s car.

I was quiet on the drive over and she was unusually so too.

“This is going to work,” she said aloud.

I sighed. It was perfectly normal for Gia to be stressed out with everything going on.

I patted her shoulder. “It’s all going to be fine. You’ll see.”

I just wished I could be as certain in that with my own life.

The Davenport estate was the largest in all of Ravenden. We turned just as the large looming iron gates opened as if by magic, or maybe because Gia had the remote and had tapped it while I was gawking over the place.

She drove down the long drive and stopped in front of the house. It was enormous. And I stared up at it in wonder.

It wasn’t like this was the first time I’d ever been to the house, but somehow it just felt different this time. I tried desperately to imagine myself here, not as the help, but as a legitimate guest walking in on Elias’s arm.

I was still daydreaming as we walked inside, and it all came to a screeching halt as the perfectly dressed, poignant Helena Davenport stood three steps up on the ornate staircase looking down her nose at me.

As her gaze brushed over me to her daughter, she softened and didn’t look quite so intimidating, though she still terrified me.

“Darling!”

Closing the gap between us, she swept Gia up into her arms and kissed one cheek and then the next. My brother, Andrew, would be holding his gut laughing at the sight. He called that a rich person welcome.

I grinned thinking about it.

Helena tilted her head towards me.

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