Page 55 of Single Mom's Undoing

“I thought Jodie didn’t invite any other Lockwoods besides you, Carter,” Jace mutters. “What gives, brother?”

“Damned if I know,” Carter replies, just as confused.

Margot smiles as she approaches. “Gentlemen. Clara. I just stopped by for a glass of bubbly and to drop off a check,” she says. “Jodie seemed surprised to see me. Apparently, my invitation got lost in the mail.”

At least Jodie had the common sense to offer a decent lie. I scour the crowd until I see my friend looking back at me, her eyes wide with concern. I respond with a slow blink, if only to ease her nerves. She’s got enough on her plate with this event already. I can handle Margot on my own.

“Thank you for the donation,” I say to Margot. “It was very kind of you.”

“I will always support education. A good education helps young people make better decisions for their lives. Wouldn’t you agree, Clara?” There’s an undertone there that deeply unsettles me.

I feel as though I’m walking barefoot across a minefield. One wrong step and BOOM!

“Absolutely,” I reply.

Carter gives his sister a deep frown. “Does anyone else know you’re here?”

“You mean Daddy? No, I figured I’d get a feel for the situation myself before I bring it up to him,” she says.

“What situation is that?” he asks.

Margot looks at him, then at Damon, Jace, and finally at me. The realization strikes me like a hammer on the head. She’s his sister; Carter’s personal life isn’t that big of a secret for her. Stephan knew they shared their women. It stands to reason that Margot is aware, too.

“I think you know precisely what situation it is,” she says. “How long have you been in town, Clara, over a month?”

“What business is it of yours?” Carter snaps, getting protective. I feel his reaction could lead to something worse.

“We’re all family here in a way, aren’t we? Might as well come out in the open with it,” Margot replies. “This town lives off rumors; why not be honest with one another for once?”

I give Margot a warning look and shake my head.

I know she’s thinking about it. I am the only one aware of her relationship with Stephan aside from Jace.

“Margot, if you’re here to stir up trouble, don’t,” Carter says. “I have no tolerance at this point.”

“Oh, yeah, I ran into Elizabeth on the way out,” she says. “She’s a bitter plum, isn’t she? For what it’s worth, Damon, she’s the one who missed out. You dodged a bullet, buddy.”

“Didn’t exactly dodge it,” Damon mutters.

She laughs. “Fair enough. But it was a through and through. That’s what you guys call it, right, when the bullet goes in one way and exits cleanly out another?”

“Margot,” I try to stop her, though I have a hard time finding my words.

“You got a beautiful child out of that nightmare,” Margot tells Damon. “And Shiloh got a great daddy. So, yes, through and through. Speaking of children, I met Matty the other day.”

“You did?” Carter asks, surprised, his gaze moving from Margot to me.

“At the cemetery,” I mumble. “We were visiting Stephan’s grave.”

“What were you doing there?” Jace asks her. I know it’s on purpose. Dammit, he’s adding fuel to the fire, and it’s going to blow up in myface, not his, though I understand why he’s asking. He’s trying to get the truth out in the open without hurting me.

That’s not going to happen, unfortunately.

“Stephan wasn’t just your friend,” Margot says, raising her chin in defiance. “I stop by, every once in a while.”

“We all grieve his passing,” I cut in. “Can we just leave it at that and move on?”

Jace gives me a hard look, then looks at Margot. “She’s right. We’re all still grieving. Stephan’s death is clearly still a sensitive topic.”