Page 74 of The Deception: Hercules Valentine and I
My eyebrows shoot up. “Tell you what?”
“You look totally different. I swear, I’m looking at Heart forty years ago. Are you seeing someone?”
Oh shit.I’m panicking on the inside as I glance at my mom, who takes a sip of red wine. I think she’s waiting for my answer too.
I would love to mention Hercules, but I can’t. “I’m single,” I say. Technically, I am.
“She certainly resembles me, but I think she looks a lot like Treasure too.”
“Your niece, Treasure, who just wrapped up that god-awful reality show now that she’s marrying Quinton Long.”
My mom grunts cynically as she rolls her eyes. “Yes. But my daughter is prettier, and I'm not just saying that because she's my daughter. The proof is in the mirror.”
Caroline laughs.
Here we go.My mom and Aunt Londyn will always be competitive with each other. However, Treasure and I made a pact not to let them make us participate in their pettiness. I can never understand why the two sisters-in-law can't just get along. I think it has a lot to do with my uncle Leo, who was once in love with my mom.
“Mom, be nice.”
“I’m not being mean, Paisley. It’s the truth. And beauty isn’t the be-all and end-all. She could make herself smarter.
“Mom,” I chastise. “And that show’s been on the air for eight years. Treasure not only stars in it, but she produces it too. Therefore, she can’t be stupid. The proof is in her accomplishments.”
“Ahh…” Caroline says as if she’s just received insight from on high. “They’re close.”
“Very,” Mom and I say at the same time.
Suddenly, an idea pops in my mind. “Plus, I don’t think Treasure really loves Quinton Long. She’s still in love with Orion Valentine.”
I'm watching my mother's every response. She angles her gaze down to her plate and then picks up her fork and slowly starts eating the cracked glazed duck breast that's so tender she doesn't need a knife to cut into it.
“Oh, the Valentines.” Caroline takes a sip of wine.
“If she’s in love with him, then I think she should be with him,” I say.
“That’s never going to happen,” my mom says. However, it’s not her words that I find alarming—it’s the hostile trembling in her voice.
I set my fork down. I’ve just lost my appetite. “Why not?” If looks could sting, I’d be withering in pain right now. “She’s an adult, and he’s an adult.”
“Cut it out,” my mom snaps.
I jerk my head back. Rarely does she take that tone with me. All sorts of emotions have been stirred up inside of me. I don't want to cut it out. I want her to be straight with me for once and tell me exactly why the Valentines are equivalent to cyanide.
“What’s wrong with Orion?”
Her eyes narrow to slits. “Why are you asking me about Orion Valentine?”
“Okay, ladies, let's take a beat,” Caroline says as if she's refereeing a couple quarreling in therapy.
I throw my hands up. “You would’ve thought I said Treasure is in love with the devil. I just think it's wrong that she can't be with who she actually loves because of you all. She really thinks her mom and dad will cut her off if she chooses Orion. I mean, is that true?”
My mom is so angry that I can almost see smoke rising out of her ears. “We are not talking about the Valentines anymore,” she says, punctuating her statement by slicing the air in front of her with her hand.
* * *
On the way home,I close my eyes, pretending I’m asleep so that Greg won’t engage me in conversation. He’s too intuitive. He would know dinner with my mom went south.
After my mom shut down discussion about Orion and Treasure, I didn’t want to be there anymore. I took a few more bites and made an excuse to leave. “I have to work tomorrow.” I pushed my chair back.
