Page 27 of True Hearts

Montclair pivots toward the small podium and then grows pale. “Um, where did you get this?”

“It showed up at the donation site today. Very generous of you, I might add.”

”Mrs. Dassault, let me give you something else to auction off.” He reaches for the ring.

“What’s happening here?” Aunt Jackie glides up. She lays a chip on the black velvet covering the podium. “Did someone already bid on this? I wanted it. Oh, hello, Montclair. Are you bidding?”

“No, I’m actually taking this?—“

”I brought Van Kirk over to look at the ring.” Aunt Maeve appears next. “Duncan, take a look at this diamond so that Jackie bids the right amount.”

Duncan Van Kirk pulls out a flashlight and shines it on the ring. Rainbows dance against the black velvet. Montclair snatches the ring. “I’ll pay for it. How much?”

“Ten million sounds right,” Mom says.

“Ten what?” Montclair nearly shouts. “This ring wouldn’t be worth more than fifty thousand if it was real, and it’s?—“

He snaps his mouth shut and wild-eyed, runs for the door. Duncan points the light at Luna’s ring. “Real diamonds give off white reflections. Fake ones cast rainbows.”

We all look at the white refractions in silence. Duncan tucks his light away. “That was amusing. Can’t wait to share this story with others.” He winks and heads into the crowd.

“Same,” chorus my aunts, who nearly skip away to spread the story that Michael Montclair donated a fake diamond to the charity event.

“I think your lawsuit will go away,” Mom says with a smile. “So, wedding tomorrow?”

ChapterTwenty-Two

LUNA

Iburst into laughter, but neither Graham nor his mom join me. “Oh, you’re serious.”

“Unless you want the baby bump to show in your wedding dress.” His mom keeps going. I don’t know why I keep waiting for her to crack a smile like she’s joking. I should really know at this point that the Dassaults don’t do anything half-ass. They are crazy all-in with everything. All things are over the top.

I mean, Graham gifted a baby a sports car.

“Maybe not tomorrow.”

“But soon,” Graham is quick to add.

“But soon,” I say in agreement. How can I not? The Dassaults might be intense, but it flows through everything in their lives. Even the way they care for and love one another. It's endearing, and I'll count myself lucky to call them family and be a part of it, and so will any children I have.

"Did I hear something about there being a wedding tomorrow?" Frankie asks, cutting right in.

"Hey." I turn to give her a hug. She returns it, but in Frankie fashion, it's extra tight. She might roll her eyes at the idea of love and romance, but the girl is a softie inside if you're lucky enough to get there. She just hasn’t met her match yet. Well, not that she’s willing to admit, anyway.

“We have a lot to catch up on,” she whispers into my ear before releasing her hold on me. I introduce her to Graham and his mom.

“How about you, darling? Are you single?” Graham's mom asks Frankie.

“I am and very much like it that way.”

“Is that so?” I can see the mischievous glint in her eyes. “And nothing is going on with you and a certain football player who hasn’t taken his eyes off you?”

“He’s here?” Frankie spins around, searching the crowd. Busted. I guess Kaden hasn't made much progress with her. Then again, she might be feisty, but there is something about Kaden that works her up more than anyone.

"She can't date him. He's a State Raider, I'm told, and we hate those."

"A State Raider?" Graham's mom asks.

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