Chapter 16
Brandon was standing in the middle of their living room, surrounded by a group of his wife’s friends whom he had never met before. Alice had invited eight of her friends, who she claimed were her closest pals and she had gone through the trouble of making a show of the party. Caterers in waistcoats were organized, two bars had been set up around the house and a barbecue was being manned by a chef in the backyard.
When Alice said that she was going to keep it low-key, she had clearly lied.
Her friends gushed over Brandon, making loud jokes and hugging him. Some even took photos with him for their records or for social media…and all of this made Brandon uncomfortable. Most importantly of all, Jo hadn’t made an appearance yet.
Alice, along with her friends, had been drinking heavily and now Brandon watched as his wife grew unsteady on her heels, swaying slightly on his arm. She was kissing him more, hugging him tighter than ever and he couldn’t wait to escape to his study, away from this all.
It wasn’t until at least two hours of the festivities had passed, that Jo finally made an appearance. Brandon did a double take when he saw her appear at the living room door.
She was in a beautiful red dress with a slit in the middle of her left thigh, which revealed her long smooth legs with every step she took. She’d kept her makeup minimal, with just a pale rose lipstick, to match her dress and her flaming hair. It tumbled down her back, and she had styled it tonight in gentle waves that fell around her shoulders delicately.
“Jolie! My beautiful daughter!” Alice squealed and her friends let out a cheer as they rushed towards her. Brandon stayed back and took quick nervous sips of his whisky instead. He felt breathless and like his body was on fire. It was unfair that he couldn’t even bring himself to go near her.
Alice was kissing and hugging her daughter, and posing for photographs as Brandon watched Jo’s face turn sour. She wasn’t enjoying the attention either. She looked uncomfortable surrounded by all these people from her past, and eventually, she managed to slither away.
“C’mon, honey. Another picture. With Matt and me this time,” Alice urged her daughter, while Jo tried to step away from the gang.
“C’mon Jolie, be a sport,” the man called Matt grabbed her by her arms and tried to direct her back to the group.
Brandon gripped his whisky glass tighter as he watched. Another man touching her made his blood boil and his skin crawl.
Jo obliged this time, and posed with Matt and her mom. Just when the flash of the camera evaporated in the air, she tried to step away again. This time, Alice caught her by the waist.
“Just one with me, this time. Give us a smile, honey,” Alice said, but Brandon detected the rage building up in Alice’s voice now. She wanted her daughter to comply with her wishes, no matter how uncomfortable it was making her.
“Mom, I feel like an animal in a zoo,” Jo said, with a nervous laugh that didn’t fool anyone. Alice’s expression changed immediately.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jolie. I’m just asking you for a photograph!” she snapped at her daughter, and all her friends became quiet. Brandon clenched his jaws as he watched mother and daughter facing off.
“But you’ve taken enough already, mom. Can I just have a drink now?” Jo said, trying to brush the fight off, but Alice, in her drunken haze, wasn’t about to let it drop this easily.
“No, you may not have a drink. This is my home and you will do as you’re told. Stand here for as many photographs as I ask for!” Alice was screeching now and a couple of her friends turned to Brandon to gauge his reaction.
He placed his glass down on a coffee table. Jo shifted on her feet nervously, her cheeks turning red, and her eyes turning bloodshot with anger. Brandon was seeing for the first time, what Jo’s childhood might have been like with a mother like Alice.
“Alice, we should all just relax,” Brandon said and she whipped around to him, her lips quivering with fury.
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do, Brandon! She’s my daughter and she’s behaving like a spoilt brat!” Alice screamed and he felt a throb rising in his temples.
“Mom, please don’t yell at everybody. You’ve had a bit to drink, just sit down,” Jo said and caught Alice’s arms to help her to the couch.
Alice turned to her daughter, her palm landing with a smack on Jo’s face. The sound of the slap cracked in the air and everyone gasped. Jo nearly stumbled back with the force.
“Don’t you lecture me about drinking, silly girl!” Alice’s voice sizzled.
Jo had already turned from them and was running out of the living room.
Brandon rushed to Alice, grabbing her by her shoulders and giving her shake.
“You need to behave yourself, woman. And you’re wrong. This is my house, and don’t you dare raise a hand on her again,” he growled. Alice burst out in tears, covering her face with her hands as she cried.
“Why won’t she just appreciate me? She doesn’t praise me for anything I do!” Brandon heard Alice squealing behind him, as he rushed out of the living room.
He just caught sight of Jo running around the stairs.
“Jo!” he called out to her, but she had disappeared already. He ran after her, and slowed down when he saw her going into his study.
“Jo, please…” he said, when he approached the door.
She was standing by one of his empty bookcases now, her hand clamped to her mouth as she tried to hold the tears back.
“I shouldn’t have come here,” she said, her voice muffled by her hand.
Brandon walked into the study and shut the door behind him.