Page 7 of Beautiful Chaos
Before I can get up from the table and go to her, her gaze moves to me and the look fades with her smile, like the disturbing expression was never there. As the knot in my chest loosens, I smile back. She turns to the stove, but I keep a watchful eye on her in case she has another moment like she did seconds ago.
Once the food is done and the cards are put away, dinner is set out on the table in the dining room. Despite the abundance of food, everyone attacks the dishes like they’re starving and may miss out on something. Peggy is a damn good cook, a result of the many years she spent working at the restaurant she and Jacob owned before they retired.
Small talk is made as we all catch up on each other’s lives. It’s rare that we’re all together like this anymore, so there’s a lot to go over. Max, who owns a ranch with Emily, talks about the extra help he had to hire because the corn production did so well this year. Emily gives horseback riding lessons, and she talks about the foal that was born a few weeks ago. The kids are mesmerized by the pictures on her phone.
Skylar grins proudly as she tells everyone that her mother let her watch from outside the stall. “The foal came out with a lot of yucky stuff, but after she was cleaned, she was beautiful. She has a cute little star-shaped spot on her forehead. Mama said I could name her, and Daddy said she’ll be my new pony.”
“I wanna ride a horse, Mama,” Aiden says, looking imploringly up at Ginger.
She ruffles the top of his head. “We’ll see about it the next time we visit Uncle Max and Aunt Emily.”
His grin takes up his whole face.
“Mama, I need to go to the restroom,” Skylar says, tugging on her mother’s shirt sleeve.
“Go ahead, sweetie. Just make sure you wash your hands afterward.”
Hopping from her chair, she takes off down the hallway.
“So, Cat,” Ginger says, drawing everyone’s attention. “When can I expect to get my hands on your next book?” She rubs her palms together, a gleeful expression filling her face.
Cat laughs. “It’s going to be a while. It’s not due to my agent for another month, and it’s usually nine months or more after that before it releases.”
Ginger gives her a sly look. “You could always give me what you have so far, and I could be a beta reader, or whatever it’s called.”
Cat’s eyes shine with mirth. “Nice try, but you know I don’t let anyone read my manuscripts before they’re finished. But you’ll be the first to get it before I send it to Darren. Well, the second.” Her eyes slide to me, and I toss her a wink.
I’m proud to call myself Cat’s number one fan. Ginger is a close second. We’re both proud as fuck of Cat’s accomplishments and success in her career. Her whole family is.
Ginger wrinkles her nose in disappointment. “Fine. I suppose I can wait until then.”
Cat never lets anyone near her manuscript while she’s writing. She much prefers to finish the story before anyone reads it.
“Hey, Mama, who are these kids?”
Everyone at the table turns quiet, and we jerk our gazes at Skylar as she walks back into the room. Her eyes are fixed on the framed picture she holds in her hand. My stomach drops just as everyone in the room, except for Cat, stiffens. All of us know what that picture represents, and we know what it might do to Cat.
Skylar, unaware of the turmoil her innocent act could cause, wedges herself between Emily and Cat’s chair and holds the frame up for her mother to see. Unfortunately, it’s at an angle where Cat can see it too.
Watching Cat’s expression, I tense, prepared to intervene if necessary. Leaning closer, she seems unfazed by the image, but that could change at any moment.
Emily looks at the picture then quickly darts her gaze around the room to each person before she takes it from Skylar. Taking care not to alert Cat, she looks at her daughter while turning the frame away from her.
“Where did you get this?”
“The closet in the hallway.”
Emily’s voice is gentle. “You know you’re not supposed to go through people’s things.”
Worry creases Skylar’s forehead. “I didn’t, Mama, I swear. I dropped my ring,” she holds up her hand, showing off the pink plastic ring on her finger, “and it slid under the door. When I opened it to grab it, I saw the picture.”
“Can I see it, Emily?” Cat asks, her voice low and filled with something that sends a ball of lead to my stomach.
Such an innocent question about something that should be a harmless act. One eight-by-ten image set in an elegant metal frame. The people in the image are just as innocent and so very precious. They should never be hidden away, but for now, it’s for the best.
Before I can come up with an excuse to keep the picture out of Cat’s hands, Peggy lets out a loud gasp and jumps from her chair. The front of her white blouse is soaked with tea.
“Well, shoot,” she grumbles as she pulls her shirt away from her chest. “I’m so clumsy.” She lifts her gaze to Cat. “Can you help me, honey? I don’t want this to stain, and I know you have that special recipe you use. I can never get it right.”