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“I see,” Sally says, and I have a feeling she sees more than my mother wants

As for me, even from the depths of this well into which I’ve fallen, I a I want to leap out of my chair and tell my mother that she’s never helped me, she’s only manipulated me That she’s not interested in what I want, but only what I look like and how I act and if I’e that stands up to the Fairchild name—a name that’s not worth what it used to be since she took over—and decirandfather passed away

I want to say all of that, but I don’t I just sit there,For not telling her to get the hell back to Texas

But what I hate eventhe second fork inhard into h the thin material of my skirt I don’t want to—I know I need to stop, to stand up, to siet the hell out of there if that’s what it takes—but whatever strength has been building in me over the last few months has scattered like dandelion fluff under the assault of a ferocious wind

“Nikki,” Sally begins, and I can’t tell if the concern in her voice is because of le on h, because her words are cut off by the electronic door chime

I look up, then draw in a breath The tunnel disappears and my vision returns The fork tumbles from my hand to the floor, and I realize I’ve stood up

It’s Da like a bullet toward me

I head around the table, unconcerned about anything else He stops in front of me, his face hard, his eyes war into my schedule, after all”

I try not to smile, but the corners of my lad”

He reaches out and strokes my cheek “You okay?”

“I’m perfect,” I say “At least, I am now”

The worry fades from his eyes, and I know that he believes me He takes my hand, then turns to face my mother “Mrs Fairchild What a pleasant surprise,” he says, in the kind of overly polite voice that suggests there’s nothing remotely pleasant about this particular surprise

“Mr Stark—Damien—I—” She stops abruptly, and I am amused My mother is very rarely rendered speechless, but the last ti rid of her by flying her back to Texas on one of his jets And that was before she’d said the variety of nasty things she’s since uttered about the two of us I have to wonder if she doesn’t now fear that her ride out of California this go-round will be significantly less pleasant

Damien, however, is the picture of cultured politeness “It was so kind of you to come with Nikki today I think we both kno valuable your opinion is to her” My mother’s eyes widen almost imperceptibly I can tell that she wants to reply, to lash out with the sweet sting of words that she’d want to cut him as deeply as a blade has cut me, but they clearly don’t come I’m not surprised My mother is formidable, but Damien is more so

Her expression shifts from consternation to surprise when Jamie bursts into the bakery like a tornado “I’ ticky mark for the maid of honor!”