Part 13 (2/2)
Gloria glanced at a pa.s.sing tray. ”I have a delicate stomach.”
The insult was so blatant, it was almost funny. Almost. Penny wasn't surprised to hear she wasn't Gloria's first choice. For some reason, the old bat had never liked her and it was hard to feel affection for someone so determined to keep her on the outside.
”Too bad,” Penny said. ”We're getting rave reviews.”
”The food is free, dear. What did you expect?”
Sort of what Penny had thought. Not that she was going to admit it.
”Well, this has been great,” she said. ”Nice to see you again, but I have to-”
Gloria grabbed her arm. ”You won't get him back, you know.”
”What?”
”Callister. He's over you. I'm not sure what he ever saw in you.”
”Yes, I know. You made that very clear.” Penny pulled her arm free and wished her mother had been just a little less insistent on one being polite to one's elders.
Cal might have let her go without a whimper, but Gloria had practically had a party to celebrate the divorce. At least that's what Reid had told her.
”You were never right for him,” Gloria said. ”You never cared enough. What kind of woman walks out on her marriage?”
The unfairness of the accusation caused Penny to abruptly excuse herself. As she walked away, she found herself wanting to turn around and announce that she had cared. She'd loved Cal with her whole heart. She would have done anything for him-anything but not have a child. Having a family of her own was the one thing she wouldn't compromise on.
”Stupid old woman,” she muttered, then grabbed a cup of bisque from a pa.s.sing waiter and drank it down.
”I saw the smoke so I came running.”
Penny turned and saw Reid behind her. She leaned against him. ”Your grandmother is horrible. I'd forgotten how bad.”
”No one ever really forgets about her. You just repressed the memory. We all do. It's how we survive.”
He wrapped both arms around her and kissed the top of her head. ”The party is great. People are raving about the food. I think you're a hit.”
”I hope so.”
”How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice low.
”I have a horrible craving for orange sherbet. I'm surrounded by all this amazing food and that's all I can think about.”
”Pretty sick.”
”That's what I'm thinking.”
Cal walked up, dragging Naomi behind him.
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