Part 14 (1/2)
”Axel, son, how are you? And your lovely bride-to-be!” We all know she doesn't approve of Angel, and I'll never be her son.
I smile back. ”I wasn't sure if Dad was going to bring you or my actual mother. I see he chose you. Too bad.”
Angel sucks in a sharp breath as I pull out a chair for her and then push it in once she's seated. I get the distinct impression that Dad's trying not to chuckle. ”No one's as surprised to see her as I am,” is all he says.
Interesting. If I'm understanding right, he didn't expect Vanessa to be here; she just showed up because she couldn't bear the thought of not being on his arm at the event of the year. Maybe this is the last time I'll have to suffer through her presence.
”Where's Chelsea? Are she and Warren here?”
I glance back at the door, but there's no sign of either one of them. I ignore Vanessa's question and pull out my phone, shooting off a text to Dougie.
I wouldn't ask this if it wasn't important. Chelsea's been stood up at the Horseman's Gala. Get your a.s.s over here.
I doubt it will be enough to get her to give him another chance, but that will be between them, and at the very least if he hurries she won't have to come in alone.
I breathe a little easier when I get a response from him.
On my way.
The social hour is nearly over, and dinner is about to be served, when I finally see Chelsea on the threshold of the ballroom. The steady murmur of the crowd quiets as everyone peers toward the door at the sound of the microphone opening. I'm sure everyone is wondering who showed up this late.
”Ms. Chelsea Randall,” is announced and the crowd begins to whisper.
For a moment, Chelsea is standing there alone, looking far more composed than I would have expected. And then, just when I'm about to propel myself out of my seat to go to her side, Dougie appears, lightly gripping her elbow.
Chelsea tosses him a smile, but I'm not sure if it's filled more with grat.i.tude or surprise. They're talking as they walk, but I can't hear what they're saying. They're almost to our table when I hear her ask, ”What are you doing here?”
”Axel texted me, told me to get my a.s.s over here.”
”I'm sorry,” she says. ”That wasn't fair to you.”
She's right, and I should feel guilty for bringing him into this, but being stood up wasn't fair to Chelsea, either.
”Don't apologize. I jumped at the chance to see you, even if only for a moment. I miss you, Chelsea.” Dougie's long, dirty blond hair is slightly mussed as usual, but his tux is pristine. He's accompanied Chelsea to enough of these events in the past that he probably keeps it ready at all times. Thank G.o.d he wasn't busy tonight, and he was able to get here so fast.
Chelsea stares at Dougie sadly. ”I know, Dougie. But nothing has changed.”
Vanessa is glaring at Chelsea, and I have to fight the urge to kick her under the table as Chelsea sits and Dougie pushes in her chair.
”Don't be mad, Chel. I didn't want you to have to walk in alone, since my worthless brother couldn't be bothered to show.” I don't want to fight with her, but I'm more than a little p.i.s.sed at Ware.
Dad frowns, and I think he's about to scold me for saying that about Ware, but then he pulls his phone out of his pocket. Vanessa gasps. Taking phone calls, for work or pleasure, is highly discouraged during the gala. ”Pardon me.” Dad flashes an apologetic smile around the table before pressing the phone to his ear. ”Joyce?”
Vanessa's lips pucker into a childish pout.
Dad isn't paying her any attention as he listens raptly to whatever my mother is saying through the phone. Even sitting beside him, I can't make out her words, just that she's speaking uncharacteristically fast. I don't know what, but something is gravely wrong. Dad's brow is furrowing deeper by the moment, and his lips turn down into a heavy frown.
”I'm on my way.” Dad stands abruptly, ignoring the chaplain at the front of the room as he instructs us to bow our heads. ”Please excuse me, but there's been an emergency. I don't know what, but Joyce insisted I come immediately.” His eyes find Chelsea's, and she stands too.
I reach over Angel, trying to grab Chelsea's arm, but she twists away. ”I'm going.” Her tone is firm, and there will be no arguing with her, not that she waits to see if anyone tries. Almost as an afterthought, she calls an apology to Dougie over her shoulder as she strides away from the table, right on my father's heels.
Chapter Twenty-Eight.
a-aa- After Chelsea and my father leave, the thought of staying at the gala turns my stomach sour. It just doesn't feel right. ”Do you need a ride home?” I ask Vanessa, not knowing if she rode with my father or not.
Vanessa looks positively crestfallen at my father's departure. She shakes her head miserably. ”I drove myself.”
”I think Angel and I are going to take off, then. Dougie?”
”Yeah. No reason for me to stay.” There's an edge to his voice.
Vanessa's horror only grows. ”But what will people say? You can't leave now! It's bad enough your father and my daughter already made a spectacle.”
I study her face, sure she can't be serious, but she actually f.u.c.king is. The worst part is, I don't get the sense that it's malicious; she's just trying to hold onto the little bit she has, her pride. I've never been one of those people who care more about what others think than the way things really are, but Vanessa has always been infatuated with appearances. ”I think they'll say that the Chadwells know how to put family first.”
I stand without another word, offering Angel my arm.
Angel's eyes are dark, and as she stands, she leans over and whispers something in Vanessa's ear. Then she turns to me. ”Okay, I'm ready.”
It's killing me not to ask Angel what she said, but I should wait until we get outside. A butler retrieves our coats, and Dougie follows us to the front steps to wait for the valet to bring around our cars. When we got out here the valet was leaning against a pillar having a smoke, clearly not expecting anyone to be departing just yet. I wonder if my dad and Chelsea even waited for him to retrieve Dad's BMW or if they just went and got it themselves.
”What did you say to Vanessa?” I ask Angel, my arm around her shoulder to try to keep her warm.
Angel flashes me a brilliant smile. ”I told her that she needed to readjust her priorities, and that I hoped she'd choke on her fake smile when she finally decides to swallow her pride and be the mother Chelsea needs.”
I nearly choke myself. ”I hope Ware's okay,” I find myself saying.
”She really cares about him, doesn't she?” Dougie s.h.i.+fts his weight from one foot to the other.
I clasp him on the shoulder. ”I think so, man.”
He looks uncomfortable. ”Listen, I feel like an a.s.s, and you're going to maybe hate me for this, but not telling you is eating me alive. It was me who smashed Warren's window outside Tuck's. I came to talk to you about something and saw them together, and just snapped. I thought he was trying to put the moves on her, and was sure that she couldn't welcome them, so I left him a note to stay away from her. Then I just sort of lost it, and smashed up the other cars as well. I've never done something like that before, and I honestly don't know what I was thinking.”
”Clearly, you weren't,” I growl, taking a menacing step toward him.
”No. I guess not.” His eyes meet mine, and I search behind his repentant expression, looking for any sign of the kid I grew up with, finding none.
I want to beat the s.h.i.+t out of him, but that won't help. ”Get the f.u.c.k out of my sight,” I say, letting go of Angel to ball my fists at my side, trying to control myself.
”Axel...”
Angel steps in front of me. ”You should go, Dougie. Because if you don't, even if Axel doesn't kick your a.s.s, I will.”
Dougie turns without another word. The valet pulls up with his car, and he starts to turn his head back to look at us, then stops. He keeps his head down as he walks around to the driver's side and takes the key from the valet, shoving cash into his hand. Then he's gone, leaving me alone with my fiancee and my fury.
Angel is silent most of the drive home, and the morose mood clings in the air as we go get Molly from Mrs. Peters and I take her out to potty.