Page 85 of Marry Me, Right Now

She examined me oddly, her perfectly arched eyebrow raising slightly. “You’re a clever thing, aren’t you?”

I grinned. “I try.”

Her expression became unreadable. “Doesn’t Jacob get worried though, with you dealing with these sorts of people all the time?”

All of the acting I’d be doing over the past several weeks had somewhat prepared me for this, but it was still unexpected. I felt my shoulders tighten and tried to take a deep breath to keep my face relaxed. “What precisely do you mean, these sorts of people? They are all friends and acquaintances, or have been highly recommended by close friends.”

“Well, yes, dear. But they’re nightlife types. You know. The drinkers and the druggies.”

“I assure you, most of them drink less than some,” I snapped.

“Well, I hope at least you stay here safe in your office. You don’t go to those sorts of events, I assume.” She looked up to the ceiling. “Where are the security cameras?”

“I don’t have any.”

“Don’t you need to feel safe, dear?”

“I feel perfectly safe. I work with good people.” I willed my phone to ring, or something to happen to cease this awkward conversation before I said something regrettable.

“I don’t mean to upset you, Mia, but George expressed some reservations about some of your friends after chatting with them at the wedding. He said that there were some rather unsavory characters there.”

“George was smashed on scotch before the ceremony even began,” I said flatly. “He was acting strange all evening, and I don’t think he spoke to a single one of my friends.” Suddenly I realized how blind she was to the dynamic between her sons. “You do realize that George is incredibly jealous of Jacob, don’t you?”

She stared at me, aghast. “Whatever do you mean? The boys get along just fine.”

It was tricky to suppress my smirk. “George exhibits classic first sibling syndrome. When the firstborn isn’t the most successful, there is usually resentment and many sorts of lashing out.”

Rosalind laughed lightly. “You sound like you’re trying to be a psychologist.”

“I read a lot.”

She shook her perfectly styled hair, then turned for the door. “Please do be careful discussing things you don’t understand. We wouldn’t want to cause a rift between the boys. And I do hope you’ll be cautious with your little business here, dear. I know that Jacob is concerned about the people you’re working with, and we certainly wouldn’t want there to be problems with your marriage so soon.”

My back teeth were ground together while I counted to three before responding with a bright smile. “I appreciate your concern, Rosalind, and I’ll certainly discuss this with Jacob. I know that you all just want what is best for me.” I felt like a hypocrite and a weakling backing down like this, but I had to play my part no matter wrong and ignorant she was.

She disappeared down the stairs, and I was left fuming. Then worried. Although part of me knew she was likely lying, had Jacob expressed concern to her? Was that even possible?

JAC OB

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DINNER CHAT

I managed to make it home before Mia, and with the help of Carol’s precooking, had dinner on the table and the wine poured just as she walked in.

“Hi, honey, how was your day?” I asked in a cheesy sitcom voice. She laughed, but I could see that she was tense. “What’s wrong?”

Mia kicked off her shoes, then came over to chug half of her wine before answering. “Your mother dropped by today.”

“Sit. Tell me what happened.”

“She insulted me left and right, said that my friends were drug users and drunks, implied that my clients were low-lifes, and that you were concerned for my safety working with such people.”

“I’ve never said any such thing.”

She visibly relaxed a little. “I didn’t think so, and I hope that you’d talk to me before talking to her. But still, it was a bit rattling.”

Mia drained her glass and I topped her up immediately. She looked up at me, genuinely disturbed. “Do you not like that I’ve started a business?”

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