Damien: I would prefer if you just left.
Leigh: You know I can’t do that.
Damien: I’m headed back to Carson Cove. Can I see you tonight?
Leigh: Your father has decided that we’re going to have a family dinner. My attendance is mandatory. I don’t think you’re invited…
Damien: You really need to be careful.
Leigh: I will.
The rest of the day was spent tending to customers and dreading the evening at Sinn Manor. I expected the atmosphere to be rather tense. I didn’t know how Edgar would handle things if Jenny didn’t agree to sit down and go through his charade of a family dinner. I was going to have to be on my best behavior and pretend that I was supportive of the oddest dynamic anyone could create. There was a chan
ce some of Edgar’s lies would unravel once we were seated at the table—because Jenny knew enough about his history with Damien to start correcting him if he was dishonest. In a way, it would be better if the cloud of lies stayed in place until I was able to do more digging—otherwise I might be forced to take sides. If I was going to have a long-term relationship with Damien, I didn’t want Jenny to hate me—she was too important to Damien.
“We’re getting drinks tonight.” Hank walked up to me as I was clocking out for the evening. “You’re in, right?”
“I’m sorry.” I grimaced. “I have plans…”
“Damien Sinn?” Hank chuckled under his breath.
“Nah, it’s a family thing.” I shook my head back and forth.
Which is basically the same thing right now, except that he won’t be there.
I ran into Rosa on the way out—she tried to convince me that I should at least stay for one drink. I was tempted, but I needed a clear head, so I politely declined. I probably did need a drink because my stomach was in a knot the entire drive to Sinn Manor. Music could normally relax me, but my favorite Post Malone songs were just noise in my ears. I couldn’t focus on the lyrics with my thoughts spinning out of control. I finally decided to just turn the radio off and make the rest of the drive in silence. That didn’t help any, but at least I could play out a few scenarios in my head so that I would be prepared for them if they came up.
Who am I kidding? There’s no way to prepare for this.
“You’re here. Good.” My mother met me at the door. “Go upstairs and get changed—put on something nice.”
“For dinner at home?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Pretend you’re going to a restaurant.” She shooed me towards the stairs.
I could hear stuff going on in the dining room and kitchen as I walked up the stairs. Edgar didn’t have a live-in butler like I always imagined someone as well off as him would have, but he did have a crew to come and prepare the meals. I rarely ate at Sinn Manor unless I was grabbing a quick breakfast on the way out, but I had seen them around a few times. Jenny’s door was closed, and I didn’t know if she was in her room or already downstairs. I got my answer while I was getting ready—she walked by in a dress that looked like it cost more than everything in my closet. She might not have been happy to be there, but she was dressing the part.
Maybe this family dinner won’t be as awkward as I expected.
I finished getting ready and made my way downstairs. Pennington and Martinez were by the door—which I thought was rather odd. They normally didn’t stay once Edgar was settled in for the evening. I wondered if that meant he was planning to leave at some point after dinner. If he was, I might get a chance to snoop around after my mother went to bed—not that I thought I was going to have much luck since my only successful attempt came when I overheard one of his telephone calls. That was too random for me to expect another opportunity to present itself.
“Have a seat.” My mother motioned to me as soon as I walked into the dining room. “You’re sitting next to Jenny.”
“Okay.” I nodded and took a seat next to my new stepsister—who looked at me like I was carrying every disease imaginable. “Hi, I’m Leigh…”
“I know.” She rolled her eyes and moved her chair away from me.
Great, she already hates me…
“Thank you for joining us, Leigh.” Edgar walked into the dining room and sat down. “I know you usually hang out with your friends after work.”
“Yes.” My mother nodded. “She is very busy with school and work—she deserves some down time.”
Is that how my mother has been explaining my absence? She didn’t even know I was in school until after she married Edgar…
“You could learn something from her, Jenny.” Edgar motioned to me. “She has her priorities in order.”
“I have to graduate from high school before I can go to college.” Jenny narrowed her eyes and practically shot daggers at her father. “Of course, I can’t go to college now that you’ve confiscated my trust fund.”