Page 15 of Waiting for Devon
“So the ladies have told me on more than one occasion.” Reed flashed a wolfish grin.
Throughout the evening meal, Devon was far more worried about Blair than she was about matching wits with Reed. She noted with concern how many times Blair refilled her wine glass, even though she was drunk out of her mind. She giggled uncontrollably, slurred her speech, and dropped her food. The only visible signs of her father’s displeasure were his tight-lipped silence and the darkening of his cold blue eyes.
During dessert, Jasper made a startling announcement. “Shane, I’ve planned an engagement party for you and Miss Brooks on Saturday evening.”
Devon almost choked on her coffee while Shane exclaimed, “Dad, that’s only two days away! Devon hasn’t even had time to see Dallas or Barrington Industries. Why not wait another week, at least?”
“The arrangements have already been made. There is no better time to introduce Miss Brooks into Dallas society than at your engagement party.”
Before Shane could argue, Blair jumped up from her chair, swayed for a moment, then muttered, “I’m going to be sick.”
She fled to the nearest bathroom, followed by Devon. After she retched for several minutes, Devon took a cool washcloth and bathed Blair’s face.
“Do you feel better now?” Devon asked with concern.
“A little.” Blair slumped against the toilet.
“Blair,” Devon began in her “doctor” tone of voice, “you can’t continue to drink as much alcohol as you did today. As thin as you are, the alcohol gets absorbed quickly into your bloodstream. I’m afraid you’re doing irreparable damage to your liver and other vital organs. Have you ever heard of alcohol poisoning?”
“Yes. It happened to me earlier this year.”
“Then you know you can die from it.”
“I’m aware of the signs. I know my limit.”
Devon inclined her head. “I’ve heard those words many times. It’s the classic response of an alcoholic. I’ve treated hundreds of injured children whose irresponsible parents believed they knew their limits, too.” She paused. If she pushed too hard, Blair would not respond to her in any way. In a gentler voice, she continued, “Let me help you upstairs. I want to check your pulse and your heart rate just to make sure you’re all right.”
Without protesting, Blair allowed Devon to help her. As they reached the second-floor landing, Devon glanced down and caught Reed watching them. He stood, hands jammed deeply into the pockets of his dress pants, with an expression of gratitude on his face.
After checking Blair’s vital signs, Devon wasn’t pleased with them. Perching on the side of the bed, she said, “I know your pain. I feel it, too. Masking it with alcohol isn’t making it disappear. You lost your mother when you were only five years old, and I lost both my parents within three months of each other. Shortly after my mother died in an accident, I had a miscarriage. I lost my baby, my husband, and my marriage. Sometimes I can go for days and think I’ve finally recovered, and then I’ll wake up one morning and burst into tears. The pain never completely goes away, but we move on and do the best we can. I don’t believe your mother would want this kind of life for you, and while Jasper isn’t the most demonstrative man I’ve ever met, he must love you. I know your brothers do. It’s time for you to decide, Blair. You can either choose life or you can choose death.”
Tears slipped down Blair’s cheeks. “Tomorrow we’ll go shopping for evening gowns to wear at your engagement party.”
Devon patted Blair’s hand. “I’d like that.”
An hour later Shane met Devon as she came downstairs and pulled her into the music room where they could talk in private. “How’s my sister?”
“She’s not so well,” Devon answered with a trace of censure in her tone. “I know you told me Blair often drank too much, but I never imagined it had gone this far. Why haven’t any of you intervened?”
“We’ve tried. Blair won’t listen to us. Look, there’s something else we need to discuss.”
Shane’s casual dismissal of his sister annoyed Devon, but she held her tongue. “What?”
“It’s that damn engagement party Dad has planned for Saturday. I wanted to tell you I’m on my way to see Alana tonight in order to explain my relationship with you. If she hears about us from anyone else but me, she’ll be devastated. I can’t lose her, Devon. I love her too much.”
“Good luck, Shane. I hope for your sake she’ll understand you’re doing this for her.”
“We’ll talk tomorrow.” Shane kissed her on the cheek and hurried out of the room.
Chapter Five
Brilliant stars twinkledin the evening sky. A light summer breeze stirred Devon’s hair as she stood on the front porch of the Barringtons’ Georgian home. She gripped a whitewashed railing and wished she could be anywhere else on earth but here with them.
I have to get out of this somehow. I must find a way. What if I just leave? I could find another job with little difficulty, and Shane is clever enough to explain my sudden disappearance. Yes, that’s it. I’ll leave. Tomorrow I’ll…
Her thoughts trailed away when Reed came out of the house and started down the steps. He paused a moment and turned to look at her. “Good evening, Miss Brooks.”
“Good evening, Mr. Barrington.”
