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“Sutton?” Candice repeated my name for the second time, and I blushed with embarrassment.
“I am so terribly sorry,” I said to her and then turned an apologetic look to Mandy.
Before I could open my mouth, she waved a hand and spoke.
“Something is clearly on your mind.” Her voice was soft and sweet just like she was.
Tiny and blonde with deep blue eyes, she looked nothing like me. My obvious curves and thick black hair made a strong statement. Mandy looked delicate like a porcelain doll.
I was my father’s daughter—bold, strong, and independent. I may not have been tall, but my personality often made me seem larger than life. Mama was like Mandy, and for some reason, it really bothered me.
Mandy’s tone held the perfect blend of compassion and empathy. “Sutton, I know that you are new here to the city.”
Everyone who wasn’t living under a rock knew that. There had been interviews, magazine exclusives, and television appearances. The love child of Hollingsworth Sutton, heiress to billions, kept the media in a frenzy for weeks.
She ran her hand nervously over her skirt. “I don’t often talk about this. But when I met Elliot, I was living in a dramatically different environment than I do now. I was jobless, pregnant, and I would have been homeless if my parents hadn’t taken me in.”
I was shocked at her level of transparency. Most people that I had met since coming to the city were overly concerned about how others perceived them. I was learning that Mandy Brand wasn’t like most people.
“It was kind of your parents,” I replied, and immediately she flinched.
“My parents, they were often cruel to my sister and me.” Mandy twisted her hands in her lap. “They had a pretty severe substance abuse problem.”
This was something I understood. “That must have been very difficult for you both.”
She nodded jerkily. “My parents were murdered in a drug deal gone wrong about a year ago. I am sure you are wondering why I would be telling you about all of this.”
She was right. As much as it humanized this amazing woman, I couldn’t see how any of it applied to me. I glanced at Candice, who was looking on with wide eyes. When I brought my gaze back to Mandy, she continued.
“Forgive me if I am overstepping here. But I cannot help but see that you are troubled. If there is anything that you ever need—a shoulder to cry on, someone to vent to, or even just a friendly face, I am here.”
I cleared my throat to help dislodge the emotion that had settled there. I wasn’t ready to break down and share all the gory details of my life. But I was touched that this woman would extend the hand of friendship to me—a stranger.
Candice leaned forward to fill the gap, and I realized too late that I had been silent a hair too long.
“I know just what we need to do.” Her dark eyes sparkled.
“What is that?” I asked.
“Girls’ night!” she exclaimed with enthusiasm.
A wide smile split across Mandy’s face. “That is a brilliant idea.”
Candice clapped her hands excitedly. “We can put on our fanciest clothes and go to a swanky club that serves frou-frou cocktails.”
I felt myself crumbling. “I have never been to a club before. How different is it from a bar?”
Mandy laughed, and I found myself answering with an embarrassed grin.
“Week from Friday I am free. Will that work for you ladies?” Mandy asked.
I looked at Candice with only a hint of trepidation. She answered for the both of us, “That will be perfect!”
“Do you care if I ask my sister Kim along?” Mandy asked as she stood to leave.
I shook my head. “The more the merrier. We would love to have her.”
We said our goodbyes and I walked Mandy to the elevator. When I returned Candice was looking at me rather sheepishly.