Page 26 of Fake Dark Vows

“I’m so sorry, Ruby,” I say. “The last thing I want to do is ruin your evening.”

“Rose, sweetie, it would take a damned sight more than a spilled gin and tonic to ruin my evening. Everyone in the world who is important to me is here right now. What more could a woman want?”

I glance over my shoulder at the guests. No one is looking at me; no one is talking about me in hushed tones; no one is begging Ruby to fire me on my first full day on the island. It’s just me being oversensitive and letting Brandon get to me.

Where is Brandon? My gaze roams the gathering on the porch for a glimpse of him, but he’s nowhere to be seen—he’s probably inside making an important call while everyone else enjoys a drink before dinner. I promise myself that I’ll stay out of his way from here on, get through the week, and forget that Brandon Weiss exists, just like he’ll forget about me when this is over.

No one seems to be in a hurry to eat this evening.

For the next hour, I manage to replace drinks without spilling another drop, while the hum of voices grows louder, and the laughter more raucous. Ruby has the kind of infectious laugh that makes everyone around her smile, and I can hear it even when I’m inside the house.

“How are you getting on?” Kelly, wearing a white halter-neck dress and no jewelry, seeks me out on the porch while Ruby regales her guests with a story about a fellow traveler going missing during a recent cruise around the Caribbean.

“Better.” I flash her a grateful smile and wish that I had a quarter of her confidence and poise.

“The trick is to remind yourself that they’re only human.”

I glance around to make sure no one can hear us. “You know these people,” I say. “They don’t…” I hesitate, wishing I’d kept quiet. I like Kelly, but she is one of them.

“Look down on me?” she finishes for me. “You’re right. They don’t, now.”

I study her profile. What does she mean: they don’t, now? Did they treat her differently when she first became part of the family?

“Because you’re married to Damon?”

She shrugs. “It’s a long story. I’ll let you in on a secret—at these gatherings, I remind myself that Ruby and Harry’s friends all have their own flaws, and it helps to keep them in perspective.”

“Such as?”

“Such as”—she leans closer— “the man sitting on Harry’s right has a habit of scratching his balls every time he stands up.”

I snort with laughter and cover my hand with my mouth, turning away so that I don’t stare at the man in question.

“The woman in the red silk dress which, by the way, clashes dreadfully with her hair, once got so drunk that she puked all over Ruby’s shoes.”

I can’t hide the grin on my face. “How do you know this?”

“I pay attention,” Kelly says. “Or these dinner parties can get so stuffy.”

CHAPTER 9

Brandon

Breakfast is served promptly at 8 a.m. the following morning; Mom wants everyone out in the boats by 9 a.m. to begin the treasure hunt. I tried getting drunk last night, but watching Damon weaving around Rose like he didn’t think anyone would notice—like he didn’t think Kelly would notice—and listening to his voice growing louder, the gin didn’t even touch the sides. I’m all out of excuses.

I hear squeals of laughter before I enter the garden room.

Rose is sitting with my nieces at the kids’ table building towers with fingers of buttered toast, mouths and eyes wide open, mesmerized. I stand in the doorway. Frankie reaches the second story when Georgie, the baby, pushes over the toast tower with her chubby finger.

More giggles. Rose tips her head back and laughs like she’s never had so much fun. When was the last time I laughed like that?

“Sit down, brother.”

I hadn’t even noticed Damon at the table, his plate piled high with scrambled eggs from a silver tureen, and crispy bacon. He reaches for the jug of maple syrup and drizzles a crisscross pattern across his plate.

I take the seat between Damon and my mother, who sips her black coffee and dabs her mouth with a pristine white napkin. “Isn’t it lovely to watch the children having fun?” she says.

There’s no sign of Kelly yet. Damon folds a bacon rasher into his mouth, unfazed by his wife’s absence.