“I’m so glad you could be here today, Lorelei, especially after everything that happened between us. It means so much to me.”
I can tell he’s getting choked up. I don’t want him to have any regrets. This is his day and he should be ecstatic. A waiter passes by with a tray full of champagne and I quickly grab two glasses, handing one to Doug.
“Now is not the time to be maudlin. Drink up and be happy.”
We clink our glasses together. Doug takes a sip and I down my entire glass in three swallows. Setting my glass on the bar, I grab the arm of another waiter and snatch a second glass off of his tray.
Doug’s jaw drops as I chug this one as well.
“Lorelei Warner, are you going to get drunk tonight?” he asks with a laugh.
I nod my head. “I was thinking about it. Gary’s cousin hasn’t left me alone the entire evening. I thought I told you not to seat him anywhere near me?”
Doug laughs and has the decency to look guilty. “Sorry, darling. Gary was sure you and Niles would hit it off.”
“Five minutes after he met me, he asked if I wanted to go out to his car and smoke pot. Then he told me I reminded him of his mother and immediately asked if we could make out.”
Niles is the reason why I’ve had three glasses of champagne so far. Wait, no, make that five.
Doug laughs again and pats me on the arm. “I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, Niles’s mother is stunning.”
“It does NOT make me feel any better, thank you very much. You’re lucky this wedding is open bar,” I scold.
“It’s about time you let loose. How is that new case you’re working on? I’m seething with jealousy that this is your life now. So exciting.”
It makes me feel good to hear this from Doug. While it’s true that my parents have always adored him and he played the part of son-in-law to a T, he’s always had my back and been a good friend.
“It’s hard work, but it’s exhilarating. I don’t know how close we are to figuring things out, but hopefully something will develop soon,” I tell him.
“Gay men are never good at keeping secrets, so I’m sure Richard would have told someone something that will help you,” Doug says, looking away from me to wave and smile at a guest.
“Wait, what? Richard was gay?”
Doug turns back to me. “Well, that’s the rumor I heard from a few people. I myself always wondered about him. According to some people, he was the most homophobic man they’ve ever met. He doth protest too much . . .” Doug trails off.
“Since you seem to be in the know, did you ever hear anything about Miles Harper being gay? You remember him, right? He went to school with us and is practicing law at my father’s old firm.”
It’s a long shot, but who knows? I’m willing to try anything at this point. Maybe that’s the secret Miles was trying to blackmail Richard with—the fact that Richard was gay. Maybe the two of them were lovers. Could Miles have killed Richard in anger because Richard wouldn’t give him more?
“Oh, I definitely remember him. If only it were true. That man is gorgeous. I haven’t heard anything, but I could ask around for you,” he tells me.
“I’ve never seen such magnificent flower arrangements. I always knew Doug could do anything.”
I whip my head around at the sound of my mother’s voice.
“Mother, what are you doing here?” I turn to Doug. “What is she doing here?”
Considering how adamant she was that the two of us should work things out and how she wouldn’t hear a word of it whenever I tried to explain about Doug being gay, her being at this wedding right now is nothing short of astonishing.
“Doug invited me. I must say I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I’m having a wonderful time.”
“Where’s Dad? Did he come with you?” I ask.
Not that I want to see him, but he might be able to shed some light on why in the world my mother would ever step foot in a gay wedding celebration.
“Your father is at home with . . . how do you say it? A stick up his ass. Actually, he’s been sleeping in the guest house since your visit,” she informs me.
I’m stunned into silence. I don’t know if it’s the champagne or not, but my head is spinning.
“Breathe, Lorelei,” Doug tells me with a laugh. “Your mother called and told me the three of you had a very unpleasant dinner a week ago. I gave her some advice on how to handle things, but I didn’t expect she’d go at it so wholeheartedly.”
My mother smiles at me and grabs both of my hands. “Lorelei, I would just like to apologize for the way I’ve behaved. I realized after you left that you’re doing something I’ve always wanted to do—be my own person. I’m envious of you. So I told your father where to stick it and kicked him out of the house.”
“Oh, my God!” I exclaim in shock.
“Do you know I’ve never had an orgasm with your father? And I signed up for a pole-dancing class. You should go with me.”
“Mom!” I scold in embarrassment, glancing around to make sure no one heard her.
Doug is too busy laughing to care.
It’s impossible for me to even try to say anything more. Turning away from her in a daze, I signal to the bartender. “Bourbon, straight up. And keep them coming.”