Page 84 of Wasted On You

“I don’t like crowds. What’s your excuse?”

“I needed some space to think.”

“Anything I can help you with?”

“No. I’ve got to figure this one out on my own.”

Cole finished the glass of whiskey in his hand. “I’ll leave you to it.” He left, and the sadness she’d felt earlier intensified. It pushed on her chest and made it hard to breathe. Ivy hung her head and closed her eyes.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“I’ve been looking all over for you. And if it weren’t for that nice gentleman from Texas, I wouldn’t have known you were out here.” Diedre Wilkens’s voice cut through the quiet.

Ivy held her eyes closed for a few seconds longer and then turned around. She didn’t have it in her to fight. And that’s what they did, she and Diedre. If Ivy said white, her mother said black. If Ivy found something funny, her mother thought it was in bad taste. On and on it went. But it hadn’t always been like that.

She was a beautiful woman, her trim figure nicely dressed in a cream silk top and dark green slacks. Her hair was pulled into a loose knot, her makeup flawless, and for once, her eyes didn’t spit fire at Ivy. For once, she looked almost human.

“I needed a moment,” Ivy replied, attempting a smile.

“Don’t do that,” her mother said, taking a step forward. “Don’t lie. What is going on with you? Why aren’t you inside with your fiancé and his family? It’s odd, and everyone is asking after you.”

The knot in her throat gave way, and Ivy swallowed it whole. It was like a dam broke wide open, and she couldn’t stop the flow of words.

“I remember when you were happy,” Ivy said softly.

If her mother was shocked by her statement, she didn’t show it.

“Have you been drinking?” Diedre asked sharply.

“No.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed, and she walked over to Ivy. “Are you high?”

Ivy smiled at that. “No.”

“Then you need to snap out of whatever this is and go back inside. Lord knows what your fiancé is thinking.

“When did you stop being happy?”

Diedre looked confused. “What are you talking about? Are you sure you’re not high?”

“Did Daddy always cheat?”

The blood slowly left her mother’s face, and Diedre’s small hands fisted at her side. “What did you say?” she whispered so fiercely her words dropped like stones.

“I’ve known for a long time.”

“Why are you bringing this up now?” Diedre’s chest rose and fell. “I don’t want to talk about it Ivy Lynn.”

“You have a choice, you know.”

“A choice?” Her mother’s voice rose. “This is...not the time.” She smoothed out the top of her pants. “You’re being silly, and you need to come inside.”

“You have a choice to be happy. Why aren’t you taking it? Why does he still have all the power?”

“What are you going on about, Ivy? I am happy. I have a nice house, and I don’t want for anything. I have more money in my bank account than I need. It was the least your father could do.”

“Those are things.”

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