She glanced up at him before smiling at his parents. No one said anything for a moment so she awkwardly stuck out her hand in his mother’s direction. “Hello, it’s so nice to finally meet you both.”
A look of disdain crossed his mother’s face, which was quickly masked by a polite but cool smile. “Of course, yes. Your fiancée.”
Mara noticed that while her words were perfectly polite they also didn’t extend any welcome or congratulations.
So that was how it would be. She pulled her hand back since his mother didn’t seem inclined to shake it and instead snuggled closer to Trent, putting her arm around his waist as well. At her touch, he visibly relaxed.
“I wish we’d known in advance you were coming. We’ve only just arrived ourselves.”
Mara froze and glanced at Trent from the corner of her eye. While polite, his tone definitely implied that they weren’t welcome. His parents didn’t seem to care though. His mother simply sniffed and perched on the edge of the couch. His father hadn’t moved during the entire exchange. As stiff as he was, he could be asleep with his eyes open for all the interest he showed in the conversation.
“If we’d told you that we were coming, you would have just avoided us. You’ve been hiding out in the country for ages, darling. Do you blame me for being excited when I hear that you’re finally moving back home?”
Trent’s arm tightened around her waist. “I’m not moving back, mother. I’m only here to visit. And to show Mara around, of course.”
His mother’s lips turned down slightly. Nothing else on her face moved. “Well, you aren’t going to stay down there forever, surely. What about your family? Your friends? Your life?”
Trent pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked at her apologetically. “My life is in Virginia now. Just as it has been for years.”
When Trent’s father finally moved, it startled Mara. He came to stand next to his wife, placing a hand on her shoulder. Antonia reached up to grasp it. They looked like a portrait of affluence. She could almost see their picture in a magazine with the caption “The Townsends of New York relaxing at their son’s Manhattan penthouse.”
“Your mother is just concerned for you, Trent. As am I. Your place is here. We need you. Especially in light of your brother’s recent actions.”
No one said anything and Mara had to resist the urge to fidget. She got the sense that there was more than one conversation going on and she was only privy to the surface one.
“Would anyone like something to drink?” she asked, interjecting into the tense silence. No one said anything so she made her way over to the kitchen and busied herself inspecting the contents of the refrigerator. There wasn't much there but when she opened the freezer she found several containers, each one carefully labeled. Lasagna. Chicken casserole. Minestrone soup. She hadn't asked Trent if he had a housekeeper but she could only assume he did. Things were too clean and perfect for him not to.
After about five minutes, Mara figured she probably couldn't hide out in the kitchen any longer. She'd spent as long as possible looking in the refrigerator, choosing between the various designer brands of sparkling water. It was probably rude as hell but she wasn't ready to go back out there and deal with more dismissive looks from Trent's parents.
This whole tri
p was supposed to be a new beginning but she was already wondering if it was a mistake. Trent had told her that his family was difficult and he preferred to spend as little time with them as possible. At the time she'd thought that was cold and unfeeling. But now that she'd met them, she had to admit she understood a few things about Trent better already. If those were her parents, would she be anxious to go home often? Probably not.
And she hadn't even met his siblings yet. She shivered imagining mini-versions of James and Antonia. She closed the refrigerator and squared her shoulders. She'd said she wanted to meet his parents so she had to at least back Trent up. But when she walked into the living room it was empty.
“Trent?”
He emerged from the hallway. His shirt was unbuttoned and he'd already pulled off his tie.
"Where are your parents?"
"I sent them home. I'm tired and I'm sure you are, too."
Her shoulders slumped. "I am exhausted."
The corners of his lips twitched. "You don't have to pretend. If that was my first time meeting my parents, I would have needed a timeout, too. And a fifth of scotch."
Mara grimaced. "Was I that obvious?"
The amused grin on his face told her that she had been but he didn't seem bothered. He walked over and put a gentle hand on the small of her back. "Come on. I haven't even shown you our room yet."
She followed him down the hallway, stopping briefly so he could point out a bathroom and a guest room.
"How big is this place?" she whispered as they passed another guest room. She'd been talking to herself but Trent answered anyway.
"It's about five thousand square feet. There's a home theater, a billiards room and an office on the other side of the living room.”
Then he led her into a room in the back that was easily the size of her living room back home. A king-sized bed covered in a dove gray comforter dominated the center of the room. The windows were similar to the ones up front, providing a stunning view of the bustling city scene.