Page 22 of Beyond Reach

Garner flushed.

“Stop, his head will get bigger than it already is.”

“Garner, baby, where are you?” Marcella called. “Oh! More of our guests have arrived. Cuz, welcome to our home.”

Chanda’s cousin was feeling gracious, playing the kind hostess as she made her way toward them on crutches.

“Weren’t you supposed to be sitting down?” Garner asked her.

“Don’t be silly. I’m the woman of the house. I have to attend to my guests. Where’s that maid with the drinks. You should get a butler so he can take coats.”

“It’s a thousand degrees outside,” Steven snapped at her. His obvious dislike of Marcella took Chanda by surprise. She figured Marcella wasn’t on his friend list, but to see the open hostility shocked her. “We don’t have coats. And when did you get a maid, Garner?”

“I don’t have a maid. She’s a fri

end of Marcella’s. She felt like she needed help, which she does. And she should sit down.”

Marcella glowed, looking up into Garner’s eyes. She held onto his arm and stretched on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “You’re so sweet to take care of me. Isn’t he great, Chanda?”

“Um…”

“Girl, if he hadn’t left you, I wouldn’t be the happiest woman alive right now.”

The entire group in the hall grew quiet. Like Chanda, Garner and Steven probably felt awkward at Marcella’s words. When she kissed Garner on the cheek, Chanda could have sworn her cousin peeked at her for her reaction.

Surely, Marcella wasn’t showing off her conquest to get to Chanda, was she? Marcella genuinely loved Garner, didn’t she? Chanda wasn’t sure. Although she didn’t like to question her cousin’s character, she did so anyway.

You’re looking for ugliness because of what’s in your own heart.

She moved away from Steven and headed toward the gentle music playing somewhere in the house. A large open-space family room was jam-packed with guests. The dark wood furniture looked like good quality, but Chanda would have chosen less clunky styles and colors to bring more light to the space.

“Hello, everyone.” She nodded to the group. Some people nodded, others spoke, and a few ignored her altogether to go back to their conversations.

The woman Chanda assumed was Marcella’s friend zipped over with a tray of glasses filled with champagne. A few almost toppled over. Good help was hard to find.

“Would you like a drink?” the ‘maid’ offered.

“Thanks.” Chanda took one of the glasses and drank a few sips of the beverage. The bubbles tickled her throat, but the flavor was good and refreshing.

Lanae joined her. “You show your face tonight?”

“I was invited. Back off.”

Marcella’s best friend glared. “You know what you did.”

“No, I don’t, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

Lanae settled a hand on her rounded hip. Tonight she’d dressed in an outfit that hugged her generous curves a bit too much. Her boobs looked like they fought each other for position. She probably thought she looked hot.

“You made Marcella look bad by getting her fiancé to fight for you.”

“I don’t remember asking my uncle to manhandle me.”

“I bet you did.”

“Woman, you are crazy. You see this bandage, right? I’m not a masochist.”

Lanae sniffed in disgust. “It’s probably fake.”

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