Chapter Four

Annabelle

The Fourth Avenue Café where Elizabeth wants to meet is locally owned. The name doesn’t make any sense—the place isn’t on Fourth Avenue—but that doesn’t matter. According to online reviews, they serve good coffee and scones.

The interior is bright with recessed lights and sunshine coming in through glass walls. The dark ceiling fans create a lovely breeze, and the rich smell of brewing coffee permeates everything.

I grab a hot herbal tea and spot Elizabeth in a corner booth sipping coffee. She’s in a pink dress so pale it almost looks white. Her expertly applied makeup is nude, making her appear even more ethereal. She’s let her hair curl around her shoulders and cascade down her slim back. She’s such a natural beauty that I don’t understand why she hasn’t become a model or an actress like her brother Ryder. Those cheekbones alone would bring her millions.

She waves. “Hey, you made it. Was traffic bad?”

“Not really,” I say, sitting across from her. I smile, hoping she can’t sense the tension from my meeting with Dennis less than half an hour ago. “I had to be downtown anyway.”

“Well, then. Perfect.” Her brown eyes warm. “You look good.”

“So do you.”

“I’m relieved.”

“Oh?”

“I was worried about you and your sister after Tiffany dumped champagne into the punch.” The corners of her mouth turn down. “None of us had any idea she’d do anything like that. If I had, I would’ve kept an eye on her.”

Elizabeth’s words stun me. It’s the last thing I expected her to say when she asked me to meet. “Oh. Well, um… Don’t worry about it. I was the hostess, so that should’ve been my job.” I think. I really don’t know much about high society protocol.

“But she’s our stepmother.” Elizabeth sighs. “Sorry. It’s a little embarrassing.”

“Please, don’t. I’m the one who owes you an apology.”

“For what?”

“The scene.” I flush. “I should’ve controlled myself better.”

“You absolutely did not overreact. I would’ve done exactly the same. Maybe worse.”

Her voice is so understanding, it almost brings tears to my eyes. “Thank you. I’m so relieved you feel that way.”

“Oh, it isn’t just me. You should’ve heard Ryder and Blake talking about it.”

The tight knot in my chest eases. I’m absurdly grateful for her kindness. No wonder Elliot is so sweet with her. You’d have to enjoy running over ducklings to be mean to someone like her. “I’m actually thinking about redoing the dinner.”

“Really?” She blinks. “Are you sure?”

“Well, yeah. I mean…” I clear my throat. “It’s a good way for us to get to know each other, right?”

“I see. Is this your idea or Elliot’s?”

“Mine. I haven’t talked to him about it.”

“Mmm. You know, you should do what makes you feel comfortable. Don’t try to act a certain way just for him or us. You guys could have the dinner at a restaurant rather than trying to do everything at home. All of us would be perfectly content with that.”

“I just thought…” I focus on the steam rising from my tea. “It was supposed to be sort of like a post-wedding reception because, you know…we never had a real, like, wedding wedding.”

“Right.”

I squirm. “And I wanted it to be perfect.”

“Of course.” Elizabeth reaches over and squeezes my hand. The gesture is gentle, yet so unexpected I almost flinch.

“If you like, I’d be happy to help you plan it,” she continues in that same soothing tone, the smile never leaving her face. “I forgot about your not having a proper ceremony.” She shakes her head slightly. “I’m sure this whole situation wasn’t like anything you imagined. Elliot can be a bit…obtuse sometimes, but he means well. He’ll do his best to be a good husband for as long as it lasts, Gigi.”

My skin crawls at the name. Maybe it’s seeing how hiding his identity has come back to bite Dennis in the butt, or maybe it’s because I’m feeling like a fraud. Elizabeth is so sincere that I can’t bring myself to let her go on, for her not to know who I really am. “Elizabeth…that’s not my name. It’s really Annabelle. Annabelle Key.”

“Oh. I thought… Did I mishear at La Mer?”

“No. It’s just…Elliot decided he’d rather call me Gigi.”

“He’d rather—? Lord in heaven, what is he thinking?”

I force a smile even as my eyes prickle. Sympathy pours out of her, and it only makes me tear up more despite my best effort to hold it back. Then something she said strikes me.

For as long as it lasts.

My head snaps up. “Wait. Did you know?”

Elizabeth’s expression is one of complete bafflement. “Annabelle, I have no idea why he would call you Gigi. The only Gigi we know is our previous gardener’s wife, and—sweet as she was—well…she wasn’t the sort of woman who inspired male admiration.”

“No,” I say. “About…Elliot’s and my marriage…” I can’t continue. What if Elizabeth merely meant that not all marriages last forever, given the statistics?

“Oh.” She looks away, then uncrosses and re-crosses her legs. “You mean the one year part? Yes. I know.”

Humiliation flushes my body. “So you know about the million dollars, too?”

Elizabeth gets a pensive frown on her face.

Oh my god. “Does everyone know?”

She turns toward me. “The family knows about the one year part.” She fidgets. “But whatever arrangement you and Elliot may have beyond that is your business.”

Arrangement. Elizabeth is as smooth as a politician and so nice it almost hurts…but she knew that there was money involved.

It’s too much. Tears start to roll down my cheeks, and I can’t stop them. It’s bad enough that Elliot and I are in a sham marriage where he’s giving me money for my body. It’s infinitely worse for everyone in his family to know. I lower my head, biting my lower lip so I don’t make any noise.

“Oh sweetie, don’t.” Elizabeth pushes a white handkerchief at me, but I don’t take it. “Please. Don’t cry. My brother is such an ass.”

“Why did Elliot want to have a dinner with the family, like it was some kind of real event…when you all know it’s not?” I wipe at the tears impatiently. My nose runs, and I need a tissue. “Were you planning to laugh at me behind my back?”

Her jaw slackens, her eyes wide. “Of course not! I’m sorry if I gave you that impression. All of—Annabelle, he has to marry for a year.”

“What?” There’s no way I heard that right.

“It’s complicated, but he has to do it in order to inherit something that’s very important to him.”

“I see.” Suddenly, the whole situation makes sense. No wonder he asked me to marry him in that ridiculously unromantic way. It didn’t matter who he married.

“Here.” Elizabeth offers the handkerchief again, and this time I accept it. Her initials are embroidered in one corner. “I’m sorry,” she continues. “I didn’t mean to cause you any distress. I thought you knew.”

I shake my head. “The only thing he told me is that he wanted to marry me for a year. He…offered money.” Talking about it makes me feel cheap. Like some plastic toy you can buy from a dollar store. Or a whore, like I told Elliot after the disastrous non-dinner.

“Well I would’ve taken it too, if I were in your situation. Especially with a younger sister to care for. There’s nothing wrong with what you’ve done.” She leans closer. “Everyone sneers at money, Annabelle…until they need it.”

“Thank you,” I whisper.

“Listen. I know it can’t be easy, and I admire your courage and selflessness. Nonny is so, so lucky to have you in her corner.” She pats my hand. “If you need someone to talk to, I’m here. I don’t ever want you to feel like you’re alone or that you’re somehow…less because of what circumstances have forced you into.”