page14 (1/2)

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” Louise answered “She’ll probably end up overdosing in a nightclub bathroom somewhere” There was a pause and the clink of ice as Louise took a sip of her Long Island iced tea

Parker becanant out of wedlock—and staying pregnant—and choosing to be a single e

Fas…eesh Parker once described them to Ethan as Flowers in the Attic meets Jaws Generally, she avoided them like a robust case of Ebola, but once a year or so, she had towas one such affair

Parker was a brides, an obscene affair at the Rosecliff mansion in Newport Esme and Aunt Vivian had wheedled and whined to Harry for weeks before he finally played Santa and said of course he’d pay for his niece’s wedding Apparently, Eset leefully spent Harry’s money hand over fist: flowers and hairstylists, a twenty-thousand-dollar dress, yada yada yada

None of that ely being ignored and pretending not to et ready the , either Nicky ith Ethan, so Parker had gone to Rosecliff alone She figured she’d do her bridesmaid duties, endure the reception, then leave as soon as she could

“Thanks, Chuck,” she said to the driver of the car service her father kept on retainer “I’ll be o”

“You bet, Miss Welles,” he said

“Sure you don’t want to behim a twenty

“Very No offense”

She laughed “I hear you, pal See you later” Heart sinking a little, she got out of the car “I am a wonderful mother,” she said as she approached the mansion “I am a very successful author” Preach it, sister! the Holy Rollers chorused “And no one can h to drink Or so”

Without your consent! the angels corrected in their tiny, scolding voices

Inside was the Coven—Esan as co–ether in a precere noises about Parker’s tih she’d arrived ten minutes before they’d told her to

“You look exhausted,” Aunt Vivian said, frowning “Are you sick?”

“No, I’m fine, thanks,” Parker said “Esme, you look beautiful”

“Thanks U at Parker as if she had a third arm

Parker smiled determinedly, took her bouquet and walked down the aisle, her eyes searching for her father One thing they had in coain, there were four hundred wedding guests

In the receiving line, Juliet took her shots “Parker, did you bring your husband? Wait, are you et” As if they hadn’t seen each other the night before

“Nope Not married”

“And how old is your son again? It is a boy, right?”

“Nicky’s three”

“Are you seeing anyone these days? It le mom?”

Finally, the reception began in earnest Parker glanced around for a safe haven, hoping to see a friendly face somewhere One of her uncles—Louise’s husband—had always been nice, but the last ti, his hand a little too low on her back

Still no Harry He wouldn’t —or the chance to re For a second, she indulged in the fantasy that she and her father were close That they’d sit together today, that he’d dance with her and tell her she was the prettiest girl in the roo and play Candy Land with Nicky, read him books until her son fell asleep Then she and her dad would watch so Private Ryan She’d make popcorn

Right

She should’ve brought a date Ethan would’ve come, and Lucy would’ve loved to have babysat She could’ve hired an escort, like in thatar you needed ars

A drink, however, was definitely in order

“Hello,” she said to the bartender, s e of brine”

“Belvedere okay?” he asked

“How about Stoli Elit? Got any of that?” she said It was her father’s favorite

“You have good taste,” he said

“Got that right, buddy,” she answered, grinning She gave hi half her relatives would fail to tip him at all Rich people Sucky tippers

The martini went down as it should, icy cold and so smooth she barely noticed

“Parker! What are you doing, just standing there?” It was dear Cousin Regan, dragging her fiancé behind her

“I’ it all in,” Parker said

“You haven’t an asked

“We uy “Hello again”

“So, like, our wedding?” Regan said “I’ht, Rob?”

Parker nodded, feigning interest This would be Regan’s third engagement, and if it followed suit, it should be over in, oh, about an hour Regan enjoyed upstaging other people’s weddings

“And how are your little books doing?” her cousin asked, nudging Rob with her elbow

“They’re doing great The last one came out at number five on the Times list,” Parker said

“Rob, Parker writes those strange little books about the angels,” Regan said in mock explanation “They’re very…um…precious?”

“So glad you like theing around Regan, who’d recently posted a vicious review of The Holy Rollers and the Blind Little Bunny on Aotten to use a screen name, however Or maybe she hadn’t