Mari

“May I come in?” Helena knocks on my door late Sunday afternoon.

“Yes, of course,” I call back, striding across my suite to meet her.

“I have something for you,” she says, entering and closing the door behind her. Unclasping her hand, she reveals a pair of ivory pearl earrings on gold posts, each surrounded by a row of glistening diamonds. “These earrings used to belong to my grandmother.”

Lifting my hand to my mouth, I say, “They’re stunning.”

“They’re for you,” she says, handing them over.

“Helena.”

“My gift to you. An engagement gift, if you will.”

“You don’t have to do this,” I say.

“I’ve been holding them aside all these years.” Her red lips spread into a wistful smile. “Patiently waiting until Hudson found the right one. I always knew he’d get married one day. The boy doesn’t like to be alone, even if he won’t admit it. Deep down, there’s a hopeless romantic in there, but I digress. Go on. Try them on.”

Taking the earrings, I move toward the dresser, securing them on my ears and tucking my hair behind my ears.

“They’re absolutely beautiful.” I turn to show her. “Thank you, Helena.”

“Will you wear them tonight? To the party?”

“Of course. Absolutely I will.” I walk toward the closet, pulling out the little black dress I plan to wear tonight. “A match made in heaven.”

A knock at the door interrupts our moment, followed by a woman’s voice beckoning for Helena.

“Excuse me, dear,” Helena gathers her dress in her hands and heads across the suite toward the door. Her voice is low as she speaks with one of her employees, and after a moment, she turns to me after checking her watch. “Alec Sheffield has arrived. If you’ll excuse me, I need to see to it that he gets settled. I’ll see you at Bleu Marina’s for the party.”

* * *

“You look amazing.” Hudson places his hand on the small of my back as we head toward the black awning outside Bleu Marina’s. The building is sailcloth white with bright blue awnings, two stories tall and backing to the ocean. A covered porch surrounds much of the outside, and gentle music wafts from a rooftop patio above.

It takes my eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting once we step inside, but Hudson leads the way, taking us straight back to one of the private rooms where a table is already filling with exquisitely wrapped gifts. Helena stands in the corner with a glass of champagne, chatting it up with a small group of women.

“There they are,” she proclaims, lifting her glass.

All eyes are on us—me, really.

I smile, keeping my head high as a woman with sleek white hair and a downturned nose comes at me.

“You must be Maribel,” she says, looking me up and down. “I’m Dianna, Helena’s cousin. Welcome to the family.”

Her words are kind, but her face is frozen. I’m blaming Botox.

“Nice to meet you, Dianna,” I say.

“Uncle Frederick couldn’t make it?” Hudson asks.

Dianna rolls her eyes. “He’s outside on the patio. Your father brought those Cuban cigars he likes.”

“Of course.”

“If you ask me, it’s a bit tacky to light them before dinner, but what do I know?” Dianna laughs, but her eyes don’t wrinkle. “Anyway, I better make my rounds. Congratulations, you two. You make a beautiful item.”

“Champagne?” A young woman holding a tray of sparkling flutes approaches us, and Hudson instantly takes two.

Handing one to me, I briefly panic before realizing I don’t have to drink it. I can simply hold it for a bit … and maybe misplace it as the night progresses.

“I think most of us are here,” Helena announces, her voice growing loud over the steady rumble of delicate conversation filling the room. “I’ve sent for the men. If you’ll all have a seat, I’d like to begin the night with a toast to our future bride and groom.”

A quick glance around the room shows guests arriving by the second, filling in. Laughing. Smiling. Chit-chatting. Some of them stare in our direction with curious gazes, others seem more concerned with making a grand entrance or showing off their latest jewels and red-bottomed shoes.

“Shall we find a seat?” Hudson takes me by the hand, leading me to the head of one of the longer tables where I immediately place my champagne glass in front of my empty place setting.

It feels good to sit.

I’ve been on my feet all day, and while I’m not exactly hauling around an eight-pound unborn child, it took more out of me than I ever could have anticipated.

The men begin to shuffle in, taking spots next to their wives and girlfriends, and Helena stands at the opposite end of our table, smiling proudly and waving them in.

“All right,” she says. “Now that we’re all here, I’d like to start out by first thanking you all for making it on such short notice. Hudson and Maribel’s engagement came as a bit of a surprise to us—a pleasant surprise—and when I found out Bleu Marina’s had a cancellation for tonight, the timing was absolutely divine.” Lifting her flute, she continues, “Anyway, it means the world to me to see my son truly happy and in love, and while we’re still getting to know Maribel, I can already tell she’s going to be an excellent addition to the Rutherford family.”

“Sorry I’m late,” a voice whispers. I glance to my left, where Audrina places her hand on the empty chair beside me. The faint smell of expensive perfume floats from her tight, tan body, and her hair and make up were clearly done by professionals tonight. A tight red dress hugs her body enough so that her cleavage is lifted in the most tasteful way possible.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was trying to show me up at my own engagement party …

I glance at Hudson, but his attention is honed in on Helena, who’s still rambling on several feet away.

“…so if you’ll all raise a glass to the lovely couple,” Helena says. “I’d like to make a toast. To Maribel and Hudson, may you live happily ever after, always.”

A few of the women release “oohs and ahs” and the delicate tinkle of stemware against stemware fills the space.

Glancing down, I spot a glass of water, but as I reach for it, I feel a quick kick under the table … on my left.

Squinting, Audrina says, “It’s bad luck to toast with water, Maribel. Don’t you know that?”

“Lucky for you, I don’t believe in superstitions.” I toss back a mouthful of water, finishing with a boastful smile that clearly annoys the living shit out of the Ice Princess.

But my moment of pride is short-lived, swallowed into a sinking black hole the second I see Hollis walk in the door.

“Alec!” Audrina waves to get his attention, motioning for him to take the seat beside her—and next to us.