The Stranger in the Mirror(8)
“Sorry,” Addison said, turning red. “I guess maybe it’s something that was instilled in me? I wish I knew.”
Gabriel shot his mother a look, and she swallowed a sigh. “Of course,” she said. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. How about some coffee in the living room?”
He gave Blythe an approving nod, and she thought once again how fraught this situation was. If she showed the slightest hesitation about his commitment to Addison, he would only dig his heels in further. He had a heart of gold but a will of iron, and the only way he would ever change his mind would be on his own.
Blythe’s protective instincts, however, gave her the edge. Gabriel and Addison had acquiesced to her insistence on a year-long engagement so they could plan a proper wedding. That meant she had one year to find out everything she could about Addison, or whatever her real name was. She had already made an appointment with a detective to look into her. No matter how lovely and charming she appeared, there was simply no way Blythe would let Addison join this family until she knew who she really was.
??7??
Addison
We pull up the drive, and I’m struck again by the majesty of the Olivers’ house. When Gabriel puts his Land Rover in park, a valet comes to the passenger side to open the door, then takes Gabriel’s place behind the wheel and drives the car away. Ted is turning sixty, and tonight is the huge bash Blythe is putting on for him. Over one hundred guests. I’m always astounded at their enormous social circle and how often they entertain. Gabriel is as outgoing and social as his parents, and that is one of the things that worries me, as someone who is most comfortable with one-on-one relationships.
As soon as we walk in, I see Darcy near the dining room table, talking to Blythe. She looks pretty in a flowery slip dress and high strappy sandals, her white-blond hair loose and not in the usual low ponytail. Darcy strikes me as someone who is sure of herself and her place in the world. Her charm is rooted in the sense that she enjoys and is completely at ease with people.
Especially my future mother-in-law. They’re leaning in toward each other, and their conversation looks lively and animated. I hate the fact that their closeness bothers me. I learned that his parents hoped, even expected, that Gabriel and Darcy would marry one day. The moment his mother looks up and sees us, she smiles and waves us over, and I feel my throat start to close.
“You’re late, darling. What’s the point of that new watch if you don’t use it?” Blythe teases Gabriel and kisses him on the cheek.
She turns to me and takes my hand in hers. “I’m so glad you’re here. You look lovely, Addison.” Blythe is always gracious and kind to me, but she’s lovely to everyone.
“Thank you,” I say, and give her my best smile before turning to Darcy. “Hi, Darcy.”
“Hello Addison, Gabriel.” Darcy gives a slight nod. It’s clearly awkward for her, but she is polite. She was raised to have good manners, and it shows. Still, I wonder if she hates me. Gabriel was seeing her when we met, and later told me that he ended it with her before we even went on our first date. He’s honorable like that. She’s still in love with him, though. I can tell from the way she looks at him, her smile getting very small and her eyes growing sad.
“Glad you could be here to help Dad celebrate,” Gabriel says.
A brief and awkward silence follows, which Blythe thankfully breaks. “Darcy was just telling me some wonderful news,” she says, putting her arm around Darcy’s shoulder and drawing her closer. “She has a second audition next week with the Philadelphia Orchestra.”
Gabriel breaks into a wide grin. “That’s fantastic, Darcy. Wow. What position is it?”
“Second violin. I tried out with the auditions committee a few weeks ago, and they called me yesterday to come back.”
“They’d be crazy not to choose you,” he says sincerely. “You’ve been working toward this as long as I’ve known you.”
Her face lights up. “Remember the shows we put on when we were kids? I’d play and you’d sing. Our poor parents, we’d make them sit and watch us perform for hours.”
Blythe laughs. “I’d forgotten about that. You were good even then.” She turns to Gabriel. “No offense, but I’m glad you didn’t pursue a musical career.”
He gives his mother a wry look. “Thanks a lot. Just for that I’ll sing ‘Happy Birthday’ extra loud tonight.”
They all laugh, and I stand there with a frozen smile, trying to hide how left out I feel. Does Darcy realize how lucky she is that she’s known from the time she was a little girl what she wanted to do with her life? She is such a talented, accomplished musician that even though the violin is her instrument, she’s great on the piano too. In fact, it seems to me that there is nothing that Darcy isn’t good at. Tennis, sailing, horseback riding—you name it.
What I’m good at is taking photos, observing others. Is it because I’d rather watch than participate? Once again, I’m plagued with doubts and have the urge to run. But I can’t run again. As Gigi keeps reminding me, in time I’ll make more memories. Ten years, twenty years, I’ll have a past again, and that’s something worth fighting for. I have to get over the fact that Darcy has a lifetime of memories, and that her memories all include Gabriel. No matter what I tell myself, a part of me is waiting for him to come to his senses and tell me that he’s going back to her—that I was just an interesting diversion, or a charity project that he’s tired of. I swallow hard and add my congratulations to Darcy, forcing away the intruding thoughts.