Page 57 of Return to Us
“Of course.” She clears her throat, obviously hoping I would’ve given her a different answer. I use her momentary discomfort for my benefit. “You look lovely, Mrs. Parkerson. Truly. As does the inn. I’m sure you’ll raise a lot of money for the charity.”
My mother always said the best way to beat a bully was with kindness. We’ll find out here.
Her eyelashes bat a few times, and she takes a sip of her champagne. “Yes, well, I appreciate the compliment. It’s a great organization.”
Stella approaches, looking like a younger version of the woman in front of me. How she’s single is a mystery to me. “Mother, I was looking for you.” Her smile is there, but her eyes are apologetic as they dart my way. “Dad is in the office and really needs to make an appearance.”
Eveline shakes her head and then straightens her back. “I’ll handle him.”
“Thank you,” Stella says with a grin. Without another word, Eveline leaves. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t see her near you or I would’ve gotten here faster.”
I always loved Stella. “You’re fine. It wasn’t a big deal.”
She grabs my arm and steps back, looking over my dress. “Please tell me that is not your prom dress.”
I groan. “You remember my prom dress?”
Stella covers her mouth, smothering a laugh. “That photo of you and Gray was in his room. Of course I remember.”
“I promise, it was not by choice.”
“Stop it, you look amazing. I’m more impressed that you fit in it.”
“Anyway,” I say, hoping we can stop talking about it. “Have you seen Delia?”
Stella’s eyes move over to another side of the room. “Yeah, she’s doing her best to ignore Josh. Last I saw she was out by the lookout.”
“I’m going to find her. Thank you for saving me.”
“Any time.”
The air is a little cooler than when we arrived, and I rub my hands up and down my arms to create some warmth. It was stupid of me not to bring a coat.
I somehow navigate my way to the lookout without breaking an ankle, but Delia isn’t here.
But I don’t turn to leave, too caught up in gazing at the moon that shines so big and bright. It’s incredible, and I can’t look away.
“There you are!” Delia’s voice breaks the silence of the night.
“Hey. I was looking for you.”
Her head drops back, and she drains the entire glass of wine in one gulp. Oh, God. This is what I was afraid of. “Why would you care about me? He doesn’t.”
“You saw Josh?”
She laughs once and tosses the glass off the side of the cliff. “I sure did. Bastard pretends like we’re nothing.”
“Did more happen that you never told me about?” I ask, suddenly feeling like I’m missing something because one kiss almost twenty years ago doesn’t really scream committed relationship.
She laughs. “You mean did we have sex? No. We’ve gotten close, but in the last two years, he’s done nothing but push me away.”
Oh, this is bad. “Delia, you guys . . .”
Her eyes are filled with tears. “I’ve been in love with him my entire life, and all he does is look at me like I’m some stupid little girl. Do I look like a little girl anymore?”
“No,” I say carefully. “But you are getting a bit too close to the edge there.”
Her eyes dart to the side, and she steps toward me. That’s at least a good sign. “All he cares about is work and . . . he doesn’t care. He doesn’t see that I love him. I love him, Jess. Not like you love Grayson, but like, I would die for him.”
