Page 55 of DeLucas After Dark

The server shifts uncomfortably from one foot to the next, glances at me and then the Chambers before clearing his throat.

“Bring them a sampler platter of everything.”

“We don’t—” Mrs. Chambers begins.

“Tell Chef Girard Mr. DeLuca requested it.”

“Will do, sir,” the server says, stuttering briefly before bowing and quickly leaving our table.

Mrs. Chambers lifts her eyebrows and rolls her eyes.

“Look, Mr. DeLuca, I don’t want to waste your time or ours. Whatever you have to say, we’re not interested. We came here today because we thought we were meeting Ms. Sims,” Mr. Chambers says.

“Now that you’re here, you may as well hear me out.”

“I’d like to leave now,” Mrs. Chambers says, grabbing her purse and turning to her husband.

“Come on, baby,” Mr. Chambers says, preparing to stand.

“If you get up and walk out of that door, you’ll probably never see your daughter again. We are getting married whether you like it or not. I won’t place her in a position to choose, and neither will you. I won’t tolerate her being stressed the fuck out the way she’s been these last few months since you pushed her out of your lives.”

“What?”

“Piper told me about how you have distanced yourselves from her since I proposed to her this summer on her birthday.”

“We’re trying to keep our daughter from making a grave mistake,” Mrs. Chambers says, glaring at me as if I were a piece of shit on the side of the road.

Shrugging, I reply, “I’m not here to argue with you. I’m here to say that Piper and I are going to marry whether you agree or not. I know this season is a special time for her. She loves spending the holidays with you. As much as I don’t want her to miss out on that this year, it looks like it’s going to happen. I’m not going anywhere.”

“We’re not suggesting you do. It’s simple. Piper will come to visit us for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day the way she always does. I’m sure you have something or someone to keep you busy,” Mrs. Chambers says.

“We won’t be here for the holidays.”

They both slowly sit back in their seats, Mr. Chambers looking disappointed and Mrs. Chambers staring daggers at me.

“Where are you going?”

“To a little town in the North Georgia mountains called Tinsel Falls. With the entire Edoardo DeLuca clan.”

Mrs. Chambers laughs, and then she narrows her eyes. “Are you joking?”

I lean forward and say, “Mrs. Chambers, there isn’t a funny fucking bone in my body.”

“You’re taking our daughter away for the holidays,” she hisses.

“Holidays to which you’re invited.”

They both look at me again as if I’ve grown a second head. I glance at my watch with boredom.

“We’re leaving today. Here’s the deal: my assistant, Nora, has made the arrangements, including ones for you all if you’d like. The place that we’re staying in is a log cabin with enough room to accommodate you if you’d like to join us, but if you don’t want to stay there, she’s made reservations for you at a local B and B. She’s also reserved a rental car in your name if you’d like to take advantage of that. The trip is an all-expenses paid one. It will cost you nothing to be there for your daughter.”

“Except our dignity and values,” Mrs. Chambers mutters.

“How long is the trip?” Mr. Chambers asks.

“A few days.”

“Our daughter deserves to have the Christmases she’s accustomed to,” Mrs. Chambers says smartly.

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