believe you’d even think such a thing.”
“Lorna, let’s put our cards on the table, shall we?” Eleanor dabbed her mouth gently with her linen napkin. “I didn’t make it a secret that I thought Matt was marrying beneath him. I cold-shouldered you every chance I got. My current civility allows me access to my grandson. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be allowed to see him.”
“Wait! I never said you couldn’t see Dante.”
Eleanor’s smile was sad. “I never said you did. Matt made it quite clear to me that I was acting in an odious manner, not only to his son’s mother but to the woman he loves more than anyone in the world.”
“Matt…said that about me? To you?”
“Yes. And he was right. I can be odious to those I feel aren’t up to snuff. As can Bettina. So they’re right when they say that the apple does not fall far from the tree.” Despite the fact that her cup was still full, she pushed it away. “In the meantime, I’ve changed my mind about you. You love Matt as much as he adores you. It’s obvious to anyone who sees you both together. And there’s no doubt about it, the two of you do make beautiful babies.” She gave her grandson a loving glance. “Matt is a handsome man, but he’ll never be half the businessman his father was. And George wasn’t half as smart about money as George the First. I guess future generations will see diminishing returns unless Dante is the exception to that rule. With Matt’s looks and your brains, I’m willing to bet on that. In all honesty, I couldn’t have said that if Matt had married any one of the well-placed airheads I had in mind for him.”
Lorna opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it. As gratifying as it was to hear that Eleanor had finally accepted her into the family, what could she say in return? Should she confirm Eleanor’s declaration about Matt being no more than a dreamer and a schemer? Or point out that her own behavior toward Lorna had granted tacit approval for Bettina’s cruelty toward her? Or should she break the news to Eleanor as to why she shouldn’t pin her hopes on Dante burnishing the family name to its once shiny gold patina?
No, no, no . She couldn’t divulge Dante’s problem to Eleanor. It would crush her. Besides, Matt didn’t even know about it as of yet. Maybe if she acquiesced about Thanksgiving, Eleanor would know she was at least trying to let bygones be bygones.
Almost as if reading Lorna’s mind, Eleanor said, “Don’t worry about joining the family at Stinson. Frankly, without Dante there, it will allow me more cuddle time with Lily. She so desperately needs it, what with the way Bettina drives her so hard. And what for?”
To please you , Lorna thought.
But honesty isn’t always appreciated in a truce, so again she thought it wise to keep her mouth shut. Instead, she picked up Dante and started the arduous task of wrestling him into his coat. She had been given a reprieve. She would wait until after the holidays to tell Matt and his family the truth about Dante.
It may be the last happy holiday we have , she thought sadly.
“Oh and, Lorna, before you leave, could you write down your recipe for that sage sausage stuffing? Mine is just as dry as Bettina’s. Not that I’d say that to her. Have you seen how sensitive she’s been lately? She is certainly wound a tick too tight.”
Chapter 9
Monday, 19 November
Everyone in the club was thrilled that Jade had chosen the Monday prior to Thanksgiving for PHM&T’s trip to the pumpkin patch and corn maze. Lorna, Ally, Jillian and she squeezed themselves and their children into Jade’s large SUV, which led the caravan up to Petaluma, an hour north of the city, where the hills unraveled broad beige mounds under electric blue skies.
For the most part, the toddlers and their parents trampled through the acre-long row of pumpkins in search of the perfect gourd to grace their doorways or Thanksgiving table. It was Bettina’s idea that the
“Lorna, let’s put our cards on the table, shall we?” Eleanor dabbed her mouth gently with her linen napkin. “I didn’t make it a secret that I thought Matt was marrying beneath him. I cold-shouldered you every chance I got. My current civility allows me access to my grandson. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be allowed to see him.”
“Wait! I never said you couldn’t see Dante.”
Eleanor’s smile was sad. “I never said you did. Matt made it quite clear to me that I was acting in an odious manner, not only to his son’s mother but to the woman he loves more than anyone in the world.”
“Matt…said that about me? To you?”
“Yes. And he was right. I can be odious to those I feel aren’t up to snuff. As can Bettina. So they’re right when they say that the apple does not fall far from the tree.” Despite the fact that her cup was still full, she pushed it away. “In the meantime, I’ve changed my mind about you. You love Matt as much as he adores you. It’s obvious to anyone who sees you both together. And there’s no doubt about it, the two of you do make beautiful babies.” She gave her grandson a loving glance. “Matt is a handsome man, but he’ll never be half the businessman his father was. And George wasn’t half as smart about money as George the First. I guess future generations will see diminishing returns unless Dante is the exception to that rule. With Matt’s looks and your brains, I’m willing to bet on that. In all honesty, I couldn’t have said that if Matt had married any one of the well-placed airheads I had in mind for him.”
Lorna opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it. As gratifying as it was to hear that Eleanor had finally accepted her into the family, what could she say in return? Should she confirm Eleanor’s declaration about Matt being no more than a dreamer and a schemer? Or point out that her own behavior toward Lorna had granted tacit approval for Bettina’s cruelty toward her? Or should she break the news to Eleanor as to why she shouldn’t pin her hopes on Dante burnishing the family name to its once shiny gold patina?
No, no, no . She couldn’t divulge Dante’s problem to Eleanor. It would crush her. Besides, Matt didn’t even know about it as of yet. Maybe if she acquiesced about Thanksgiving, Eleanor would know she was at least trying to let bygones be bygones.
Almost as if reading Lorna’s mind, Eleanor said, “Don’t worry about joining the family at Stinson. Frankly, without Dante there, it will allow me more cuddle time with Lily. She so desperately needs it, what with the way Bettina drives her so hard. And what for?”
To please you , Lorna thought.
But honesty isn’t always appreciated in a truce, so again she thought it wise to keep her mouth shut. Instead, she picked up Dante and started the arduous task of wrestling him into his coat. She had been given a reprieve. She would wait until after the holidays to tell Matt and his family the truth about Dante.
It may be the last happy holiday we have , she thought sadly.
“Oh and, Lorna, before you leave, could you write down your recipe for that sage sausage stuffing? Mine is just as dry as Bettina’s. Not that I’d say that to her. Have you seen how sensitive she’s been lately? She is certainly wound a tick too tight.”
Chapter 9
Monday, 19 November
Everyone in the club was thrilled that Jade had chosen the Monday prior to Thanksgiving for PHM&T’s trip to the pumpkin patch and corn maze. Lorna, Ally, Jillian and she squeezed themselves and their children into Jade’s large SUV, which led the caravan up to Petaluma, an hour north of the city, where the hills unraveled broad beige mounds under electric blue skies.
For the most part, the toddlers and their parents trampled through the acre-long row of pumpkins in search of the perfect gourd to grace their doorways or Thanksgiving table. It was Bettina’s idea that the
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