Page 91 of The Best of Friends

“Part of my charm.”

A faint bell sounded.

Rebecca stood. “Doorbell. I hope that’s the dessert sampler I ordered. Six flavors of crème brûlée. Could you just die, or what?”

“Are you insane? Six desserts?”

“I need a sugar fix.”

Which meant Rebecca would take a single bite of each and try to hand the rest off to Jayne. Just what she needed. Fourteen thousand calories taunting her from her refrigerator.

There was the sound of conversation behind her, but Jayne didn’t bother turning until she recognized a voice she didn’t want to hear.

Elizabeth.

Jayne’s first thought was to go over the balcony, but it was a three-story drop to the sand. Not exactly smart. Besides, she hadn’t done anything wrong. She could face Elizabeth with her head held high—and then run really, really fast to her car.

She rose and walked into the house. Elizabeth stood with her back to the balcony. Rebecca shrugged as if to apologize.

“Who are you speaking with?” Elizabeth asked, then turned. “Oh, it’s you.”

Her tone implied that a cockroach would be more welcome.

“Hello, Elizabeth.” Jayne grabbed her purse. “I’ll leave you two to talk.”

“Don’t go,” Rebecca said. “Please, don’t go.”

“Jayne should leave,” Elizabeth said. “I want to discuss a family matter. There’s no need for her to be a part of that.”

“But we’re not speaking,” Rebecca whined. “We had a big fight. Remember?”

“This is more important than any small disagreement you and I might have had.”

Jayne made her escape into the hallway, but before she could reach the stairs and the path to freedom, Elizabeth followed her and called her name.

She hesitated. Common sense said to run, but her mother had always pressed her to be polite. She could be civil to Elizabeth for ten or fifteen seconds. Just long enough for the other woman to get off an insult or two.

She turned back. “Yes?”

“I’m here to speak with Rebecca about her brother, but it occurs to me you might have the information I need. I’ve had reports that he’s been seen dining with a young woman twice this week. No one knows who she is, which is troubling. Now, I realize you have your own issues and misunderstandings about how you were treated in the warm embrace of my family. However, I will still ask you, as someone I once considered a friend. Do you know who she is?”

There were a dozen things she could say, Jayne thought. But she was tired of hiding, tired of trying to make things right when they never would be.

She slipped her purse over her shoulder. “It’s me, Elizabeth. David was having dinner with me.”

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “But that’s not possible. David was on a date. He was seen kissing…” Her hand covered her mouth.

Jayne nodded. “All me. I’m the mystery girl. Rebecca will confirm it.”

“No,” Elizabeth breathed. “Anyone but you.”

Jayne hesitated, but what was there to say? She walked down the three flights of stairs without once looking back.

Sixteen

DAVID RETURNED FROM A very fruitful meeting with marketing only to find his mother pacing in his office. She saw him before he could make his escape. Talk about bad timing.

“I need to speak with you,” she said. “It’s important.”