Hers to Keep (Irresistibly Bound 3)

Chapter Sixteen

“I’m staying for a week,” Denise said.

Camilla paused, her fork halfway up to her mouth. “A whole week?”

Lindsey focused intently on the food on her plate. Dinner had just started, but the air was already thick with tension. Denise didn’t seem to like the fact that Camilla was sitting at the head of the table, and just minutes ago, the two sisters had gotten into an argument because Denise had ordered June to set the table ‘the right way.’

Not to mention that Denise had been giving Lindsey dirty looks the entire time.

“Is that a problem?” Denise asked.

“Well, I was planning on throwing a dinner party, but it can wait,” Camilla said.

“Oh, don’t let me stop you from throwing one of your little parties.”

“It’s fine. I wouldn’t want to cut into our quality time together.” Camilla paused. “As much as I enjoy spending time with my dear sister, I have to ask. Isn’t campaign season starting soon? Shouldn’t you be out there making false promises to the masses?”

“That’s why I’ve come here,” Denise said. “I’ll be extremely busy from now on, so it’ll be my last chance to visit the house in a while.”

“How thoughtful of you to see me one last time before you disappear for several years again.”

“Stop being so dramatic, Millie. It hasn’t been years.”

“You’re right,” Camilla said. “It hasn’t been years. Not this time, anyway.”

Denise sighed. “When are you going to let that go?”

“Let it go? Our mother had just died, and you were nowhere to be found!”

“We all grieve in different ways. I came back for her funeral, didn’t I? Besides, I was busy. I had a family of my own to raise.”

“Let’s not pretend you actually raised the twins. We both know that the nanny did all the work before you shipped them off to boarding school.”

Lindsey glanced at Denise. Her brows were bunched up and her jaw was set. Camilla had hit a nerve.

“I’m fairly certain your kids talk to me more than they do you,” Camilla said. “Did you know that your daughter was chosen as captain of her school debate team?”

Denise frowned. “I’m sure she mentioned it in one of her emails.”

“She told me when we spoke on the phone last week.”

“Yes, well I’m not surprised she talks to you more than me. You’re her fun Aunt Camilla. Of course, you can be as eccentric as you like. It must be nice, not having any responsibilities.”

“No responsibilities? Who do you think has been running our family’s company for the last 15 years while you’re off playing politician? Not to mention taking care of this estate. It’s funny how you’re out there preaching about family and using the Robinson name to get ahead, but when it comes to your own family, you might as well be a ghost.”

Lindsey picked up her glass of water, somehow knocking her fork off the table in the process. It fell to the floor, landing with a loud clatter. Denise and Camilla turned to stare at her.

“Er…”

From nowhere, June swooped in and picked the fork up from the floor. “I’ll get you a new one.” She gave Lindsey a sympathetic look. Something told her that June was used to these dinners with Camilla and Denise.

For a while, only silence filled the air.

Then, Denise cleared her throat. “So, Lindsey, how long have you been living in my family’s home?”

“Er, a little over a month.” Lindsey and Camilla hadn’t discussed what they were going to say to Denise, so Lindsey decided to tell as much of the truth as she could.

Denise huffed. “And how long were the two of you together before you moved in?”