Page 16 of Trick of Light

“That’s ridiculous,” Bethany said. “You know you’re good. You know how smart you are. These people are jealous.” She laughed gently. “You were born into the kingdom, yes. But that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve your status.”

Nick smiled and kissed her cheek. They shared a moment of quiet intimacy that spoke of the tremendous years they’d spent together and the babies sleeping upstairs.

“Are you still up for the party this weekend?”

Bethany racked her mind for the memory of the party.

“You know. Win’s engagement party.”

“Right! Sure,” Bethany said. “I just have to check with the nanny.”

“Already taken care of,” Nick said. “Mom agreed to watch them.”

“I don’t want to overuse your mother,” Bethany said.

“She’s a grandmother for the first time! She loves it,” Nick said.

Bethany chewed her lower lip, then immediately stopped, remembering when Amanda had belittled her for doing that.

“It’ll be fun,” Nick urged. “Everyone will be there. When was the last time you saw some of them? Our wedding?”

It was true that Bethany hadn’t had a lot of “fun,” per se, in the past few years. She’d pushed herself through her residency with ravenous intensity and secured a top surgical position at the other Savannah hospital—the one that Nick’s father did not control. It was important to her to keep her distance. To earn her place. Nick, of course, had been hired to work under his father.

Saturday night, Bethany dressed in a flowing blue dress and a pair of flats. Of the outfit, Amanda said, “It hides the baby weight wonderfully,” which made Bethany wince with shame. “Twins!” she wanted to cry out. “My body wasn’t ready!”

But as she and Nick entered the night, Bethany allowed herself to flow through time, drink champagne, eat ridiculously expensive appetizers slathered in reductions and sauces, and laugh with some of her nearest and dearest friends from med school. Or—if not her nearest and dearest friends, Nick’s.

One of them, Austin, wrapped an arm around Bethany’s shoulders later, his breath heavy with whiskey, and said, “Y’all remember when she was a nobody?”

They were in a circle in the middle of Win’s living room, and the air was warm and sparkling. Bethany felt her smile falter.

“What are you talking about?” This was a girl from med school named Quinn. “She was always Bethany Sutton, the best student in our class.”

“Yeah, but she didn’t hang out with anyone,” Austin said. “She acted like she was so far above all of us. Nick was obsessed with her. Remember, Nick? You were like, ‘Who does she think she is?’” Austin’s eyes sparkled with drink.

Bethany’s heart banged against her ribs. Nick separated Austin and Bethany and wrapped his arm around her lower back. “She was intriguing to me, that’s for sure,” he said. “You good on drinks, honey?”

Bethany’s cheeks were warm with embarrassment.

“Seems like Bethany’s having the last laugh,” another friend said. “Married to Nick Waterstone with twins. High up at her hospital. A revered surgeon. Most of us can’t say that about ourselves.”

“That’s true. When I asked Nick to marry me, he said no,” Austin joked.

Bethany cackled and swatted Austin on the shoulder.

“All in good fun, my love,” Austin said.

The night went on. Bethany drank a glass of water, knowing the twins wouldn’t care if she was hungover tomorrow. They would scream as much as they pleased regardless. Nick went out on the balcony with Win and Austin to smoke cigars, and she found herself in the corner with another of Nick’s colleagues from Dr. Bob Waterstone’s hospital. Mel was in his forties with a comfortable beer belly.

“How’s the kid holding up?” Mel asked, raising his beer toward Nick, whom they could see through the window.

“With the twins? Oh, great. He’s a good father,” Bethany said.

Mel shook his head. “No. I mean, after the incident.” He wagged his eyebrows.

Bethany’s stomach curdled. She had the horrible sensation that he was referring to something she didn’t know about.

“I mean, the guy didn’t die, right?” Mel asked. “So it’s not the end of the world.”

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