Free The Stepmother by Carrie Adams Page B

smiled, but I wanted to get past them to Jimmy. He grabbed a couple of drinks for his parents, then passed one to me. An electric shock went through my hand as he touched it. I was sure he’d felt it too. We smiled coyly at each other. I knew I should eat something before having another drink. After three weeks’ abstinence, the champagne had gone straight to my head, but it tasted so good I couldn’t resist.
    â€œYou’re beautiful, Bea,” he said.
    â€œThanks to you. I don’t know how you did it.”
    â€œDid what?” asked Honor. She may have been dressed for polite society, but her ears remained naked, always.
    â€œJimmy chose this dress for me,” I said.
    Honor looked from me to her son. “Did he?”
    â€œWell, Bea kind of had her hands full, and I work right next to the shop.” I knew he was covering up, protecting his mother from worry. But she didn’t have to worry. Not this time.
    â€œWhy are you so out of breath?” said Honor.
    â€œSquash,” said Jimmy.
    I frowned. “Lucy said you were in a meeting.”
    â€œThen squash. That’s why I’m so late. More drinks, anyone?” We shook our heads. Our glasses were full.
    As Jimmy went off in search of a drinks tray, I heard silver on glass.
    Faith had climbed onto a chair and was persistently tapping her glass with a spoon, pleading for hush. A ripple of applause and quiet cheers went through the room. “I was going to do this later, when everyone was sitting down and eating, but I can feel myself getting too pissed too quickly, and no one wants a drunk woman rambling on about how blessed she feels to have the man she does, the son she does, and the life she does. It would just get embarrassing as I howled about how much Luke means to me, all the tiny things he does for me that make me love him more every day. And who would believe it, coming from aninebriated mess? So I stand before you now, semi-sober, to raise a glass, which will be followed by many more, to Luke—my beloved husband. Happy birthday, my darling. I hope you know as you look around this room how very loved you are, and how very loved you deserve to be. You are a great, great guy and, not to dis the weaker sex, there aren’t many of you out there.”
    There was a moan of disapproval from the gentlemen in the room, but it was lighthearted: everyone knew Faith.
    She held up her hand. “Present company excepted.” She laughed, then put her hand on her heart. “I love you, and not just for taking an old lady off the shelf.”
    Luke stepped up to her, lifted her down, and kissed her. It wasn’t very passionate, because they were both laughing, but it was wonderful to see. Charlie ran up and squeezed between their legs, wanting in on the action, but he was kept waiting. Sometimes you had to put your other half before your offspring. Faith and Luke were good at that. I looked at Jimmy, who was watching his brother with a beatific smile.
    As if sensing my stare, he turned to me. The smile fell away. It’s okay, I wanted to shout. I’m going to make it all better. I promise. You’ll see.
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    I WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE my food disappearing within minutes of being brought out by the serving staff. And when dinner was announced, no one rushed off in search of sustenance. Which meant the bar area remained packed with nicely pissed happy people. It was only when the champagne ran out that people trickled downstairs to where food and wine were being served.
    Honor stood resplendent behind the table—she had covered her beautiful purple velvet trouser suit with an apron of a busty naked wench in garters. “What—this old thing?” she kept saying, with a wicked smile, to anyone who mentioned it.
    Peter’s apron depicted a buttoned-up member of the Household Cavalry. He winked at me as he handed me a plate of food. Later they swapped aprons. Another clue, I thought. The