“Have you checked our Facebook and Instagram pages?” Gentry stalled. “They’re getting nice engagement. I’ll post pictures tonight, too. How are reservations for the opening shaping up?”
“They’re coming in.” Colby smiled because Gentry had become invested in this job, after all. She’d have to give her sister a little more responsibility to keep her motivated. “You’re doing a great job.”
“Don’t sound so shocked.” Gentry crossed her arms. “When the newspaper interview comes out on Sunday, you should get lots of interest.”
Colby recoiled from the memory of Melissa’s shifty eyes. “That reporter was extremely insensitive about Joe and Mark. Honestly, I don’t think any of that should’ve been part of the discussion.”
“Sorry, but giving a personal angle helped pique her interest in doing a story. Voyeurism sells. Look at the Kardashians.” Gentry patted Colby’s shoulder. “It worked. Now we’re getting free publicity in a major paper.”
“At a personal cost to Alec and me. I’m not interested in being like a Kardashian.” Colby practically shivered at the comparison. “Next time, let’s not do that.”
“Okay.” Gentry shrugged, dismissive of the wounds she’d probed.
Colby realized her pampered sister had no clue about that kind of pain.
“Guess I’ll go hang with Jake.”
Colby did a last-minute sweep of the dining room, spoke with the waitstaff captain, tended to the floral arrangements and, when no one was looking, shook her hands out to dispel her nerves.
“There’s my baby!” Her mom’s voice rang out from the hostess station, where she stood proudly wearing the bias-cut black silk dress Colby had bought her for the occasion. Chunky turquoise jewelry added a bit of flair to the ensemble and set off her eyes.
Beside her stood a barrel-chested blond man who bore no resemblance to how Colby had imagined Richard. His cherubic face looked younger than her mom’s. Like Jake, he sported an earring, but his shirt had a collar, and he wore a linen blazer.
“Mom, thanks for coming.” Colby kissed her hello.
“I wouldn’t miss it.” She beamed. “Dear, this is Richard.”
His warm, topaz eyes sparkled. Quite dashing for a man of his age. Perhaps her mom meant to prove something to Colby’s dad and Jenna by bringing him. Colby then chastised herself for suspecting everyone had hidden agendas. Maybe her mom and Richard actually liked each other, despite having met under false pretenses.
“Welcome, Richard. It’s nice to finally meet you.” Colby shook his hand. “I hope you enjoy the evening.”
“How could I not when I have such wonderful company?” He squeezed her mother’s shoulder, earning her wide smile. Then he looked at Colby. “You two look like sisters. She’s very proud of you, you know.”
“Thank you.” Colby looked like her father, but she appreciated Richard’s attempt to flatter her mom’s youthful mien.
“Isn’t he a darling man? I’m getting smarter, aren’t I?” Her mom beamed. “Speaking of your father, seems that he’s late.”
“You’re early,” Colby replied.
“I’m eager to support you and Alec.” Her mother’s face lit. “Did he tell you about our little rendezvous last night?”
“No.” Alec and her mother had another rendezvous?
“Stitch had sneaked off on a walkabout. Alec found him half a mile from my house around ten. When he brought him to me, he visited for a while. So interesting to hear all about that commune. I think I might like to try that one day.”
Commune? Is that where he’d vanished to last year? “Why’d he tell you about that?”
Colby didn’t like that her mom knew something about Alec that she didn’t. And she really didn’t like how much that bothered her.
“I asked him where he’d been, and then I had so many questions. He went on and on about the small community in Virginia. Even passed on some gardening tips. Wait until next year!” Her mother smiled and thrust her thumb toward Richard. “Between this one and Alec, life’s been a whole lot more interesting lately.”
Richard said something to her mother, but Colby’s attention had turned toward Alec. Perhaps I can help you fill that so-called black hole of neediness, he’d said. Two baked goods and one cat delivery later, Colby had realized something wonderful about him. He did kind things for the sake of doing them, without showboating. In that way, they had something in common.
“Will your brother be sitting with Richard and me?” Her mother interrupted her thoughts with that unnecessary question. As if Colby would ever seat Hunter with Jenna when any other option existed.
“Yes, I put him and Sara with you. Why don’t you go to the bar and have a cocktail?”
Her mom noted Gentry and Jake in the bar area and adjusted her dress. “I see your sister has a new man. She runs through them like paper towels.”
“Leslie, let’s let your daughter get back to work.” Richard winked at Colby, who smiled appreciatively at his attempt to distract her mother from more nitpicking. “What would you like to drink?”
“A fancy champagne cocktail, please.” She squeezed Colby’s hand. “See you later.”
Within thirty minutes almost everyone had arrived, including Mrs. Morgan with three friends in tow. Colby hadn’t seen her up close in a while. She looked about the same as Colby remembered, but her eyes weren’t quite as merry. Hair styled in a neat bob. Dressed in an ecru A-line dress with cap sleeves. Reserved, like Alec. Of course, Colby had seen beneath Alec’s reserve.
“Mrs. Morgan, welcome.” Colby didn’t know whether to hug her or just offer her hand, so she ended up in an awkward kind of half embrace. “You must be so proud tonight.
“I am.” With a prim smile, she introduced her friends. After a few pleasantries, she said, “Alec didn’t exaggerate. This is a beautiful restaurant.”
“Thanks. We’re so lucky to have Alec in the kitchen. He’s like a fine wine, getting better with age.”
“I agree.” Mrs. Morgan smiled, and her eyes finally shone with some of their old merriment.
“I’m so glad you came.” Truthfully, Colby was grateful not to be confronted by Mr. Morgan’s glare tonight, until she stopped to consider Alec’s feelings. Being ignored by his father must sting, no matter how much he pretended it didn’t. Did that buried disappointment drive him? Was it what fed his temper? That possibility planted a thorny ache in her chest. “My mother’s in the bar if you’d like to say hello.”
If Mrs. Morgan didn’t want to, she faked it pretty well. “Who’s the gentleman friend?”
“Richard.” Colby considered mentioning the Snickers lie, but why inflame her mother’s already ridiculous reputation? There shouldn’t be any reason for Snickers to come up tonight. Let sleeping dogs lie. Colby chuckled to herself at that thought. “Enjoy the night.”