Enrique came in with a tray of drinks and as he handed them around, Valerie wiped a non-existent tear of laughter from her eye and belatedly replied, “I fear, Faye, as interesting as my son is, if he explained ballistics, I would find it outside the realm of exciting dinner conversation to the point I’d fall asleep.”
“Luckily your furniture is comfortable because I probably would too. Though I’d be worried I’d get my makeup on it if I stretched out to take a ballistics induced nap,” I told her.
“Then we’ll retire to the less formal family room when Chace tells us about ballistics,” she told me. “I don’t mind makeup on my furniture but the furniture in there is much more comfortable.”
“Two sleeping women in cocktail dresses. Terrific. Let’s do that. You can sleep, I can put on the game,” Chace muttered and my eyes shot to Valerie.
“See!” I cried.
“I do indeed,” she replied, grinning at me.
I took a sip of my wine, swallowed and lifted the glass to her. “This is delicious, Valerie.”
“Do you know wine?” she asked.
“Not even a little,” I admitted. “Just what I like to drink.”
“Then you must go to Napa. You don’t have to know wine to go to Napa. You just have to like it,” she told me.
“Sounds the perfect vacation destination,” I replied, she grinned again, seeming relaxed and looked at Chace.
“Lovely, darling. Faye enjoys wine like I do.” She lifted her own wineglass. “Such a bother, Misty and all her cocktails. I never quite –”
Chace got tight at my side. Valerie got visibly tight across from us, her face paled and fear filled it again.
I instantly forged into the awkwardness and did it gently.
“I grew up in Carnal, Valerie, I knew Misty and that was very sad. But Chace and I are up front about things.” For the most part, I thought but did not say, and went on, “But that was a while ago and Misty’s not here to drink cocktails and although that’s upsetting, we’re here to enjoy wine and each other’s company so we should learn from the loss of a young vital woman and do that.”
“Of course,” she muttered, looking uncomfortably at her knees.
“Valerie,” I called and her eyes skittered to me. I leaned forward when I got them and continued, “We don’t know each other but we already have something important in common and that is we both care a lot about Chace. Please don’t think you have to handle me with care. He thinks the world of you and shares it. So I knew I would too. I hope I win you over tonight so we can find out if we have more in common than Chace and Carly Phillips. But we should start that being open with each other and letting it shine through. Don’t you agree?”
“You’re very forthright,” she said softly.
I wasn’t really. I was just being forthright then for her and Chace.
“I hope you don’t mind that,” I said softly back.
“Not at all, Faye,” she whispered.
“Good,” I whispered back then carried on. “Just so you know, I’m normally very shy and quiet. But when the town’s most handsome cop turned his eye my way, I got a little sassy.”
She gave me a small grin and kept whispering to say, “I can imagine that happens.”
I gestured to myself with my wineglass. “Living proof right here.”
“Uh… do I exist in this conversation?” Chace asked, Valerie sat back, I sat back and Chace’s arm on the back of the couch instantly moved to curve around my shoulders.
“Sorry, we were having a moment,” I muttered, suddenly kind of embarrassed.
His arm curled me toward him so my eyes were forced to lift to his and when they did he murmured, “Yeah.” But it was a “yeah” filled with approval.
He followed this with a lip touch.
I squirmed at his side and when his mouth left mine, I whispered super soft, “Your Mom.”
“Don’t mind me,” she chimed in and Chace didn’t uncurl me even though we both looked to Valerie to see her again beaming. “I think a man who’s confident in displaying affection is very attractive, even and especially my son. Therefore this is something I taught him.”
So I had her to thank.
I’d find another time to do that.
Instead, I just grinned.
Chace uncurled me and asked his mother, “Are we gonna eat in this millennium?”
“Chace, so impatient!” she snapped without any rancor whatsoever but on a doting smile.
“Not impatient. Hungry. I’ve been in an SUV for two hours and it’s eight o’clock.”
“You should have had a snack,” Valerie admonished.
“Ma, Donatta doesn’t serve anything less than three courses and her shit’s the shit. I was not gonna have a snack and ruin it. But I am gonna gnaw off my own arm in about two seconds if Enrique doesn’t show with some crackers and cheese.”
“You shouldn’t say the s-word,” she told him.
“Does you tellin’ me not to curse mean Enrique’s not on his way with crackers and cheese?”
“Foie gras,” she muttered.
“Well, clap or somethin’ and get him to get a move on,” Chace ordered, his lips tipped up, meaning he was teasing and Valerie looked to me.
“Have you noticed he can be annoying?”
“Um…” I mumbled then shut up.