The Parker Women Read online

  Evelyn’s eyes filled with apprehension. Donna sent her a look of encouragement. Even though Evelyn had always been her parents’ favorite—that had always been evident to everyone—her mother was not going to welcome Evelyn’s news.

  “Mother…” Evelyn started, paused, took a breath, then continued. “I’m moving in here with Donna.”

  “Why in the world? Oh, are you redecorating your house? I know it does need a slight refresh. Houses get like that. Good for you for jumping on it before it gets out of hand.”

  Donna couldn’t think of even one thing that needed updating at Evelyn’s house…

  “No, it’s not that. It’s…” Evelyn looked over, her eyes pleading for help.

  “She going to live here for a while.” She came to her sister’s aid.

  Heather jumped to her feet and went to stand behind Evelyn. “Father’s leaving Mom. He’s asked for a divorce.”

  “No, that’s ridiculous. He wouldn’t do that.” Her mother frowned. “There would be talk and it might hurt his business.”

  “He did ask me for a divorce. Well, not in person. He sent papers by courier. That’s how I found out.”

  Donna’s eyes widened. That’s one detail she hadn’t known.

  “You should try and work things out with him. Get him back.” Her mother frowned. “That’s the right thing to do.” Her mother looked at Evelyn critically. “Maybe you could update your haircut. You need a new dye job, too. We could go shopping for some new clothes…”

  “Not happening, Grandmother.” Heather put her hands on her mother’s shoulders.

  “But she should. That’s what we do. He’s her husband.” Her mother honestly looked confused.

  “Not for much longer, Mother. He doesn’t want to work things out. He’s found someone new.”

  “He’ll tire of her. They always do and come back.”

  Donna looked at her mother with new eyes. Had that happened in her parents’ marriage?

  “Mother… I don’t want him back.” Evelyn simply shrugged. “Ever.”

  “That’s just foolishness on your part.” She stood and took her expensive clutch off the table. “Pure foolishness. You need to rethink that stance. He’ll come back.”

  “Mother—” Evelyn started to speak.

  Her mother held up a hand. “No more foolish talk. Try to work it out.” With that, she swept out of the kitchen, the door closing firmly as she left.

  “Welcome, home, Mother,” Evelyn said softly.

  Chapter 23

  The next evening Donna sat with Heather, Olivia, and Evelyn in her kitchen. They’d all had long days. Evelyn had put the finishing touches on the gala. Olivia had solved about a million problems that had come up with the renovation of Parker’s, and Donna was beginning to question whether they’d made the right decision. Heather had helped her mother with the gala and gone over and hauled more of Evelyn’s things to storage.

  “Hey, where is everyone?” They turned at the sound of Emily calling out.

  “We’re out here, Em,” Olivia called through the open door to the main room.

  Emily rushed out, her arms full of garment bags. “Guess what.”

  Donna smiled at her granddaughter’s enthusiasm. “What?”

  “I found out about this costume shop and I rented costumes for the gala. It’s set in the nineteen twenties… so I got all of us clothes to wear. Just look.” She opened up bag after bag of elegant twenties-style ballroom gowns. From full-length to flapper length complete with gloves and hats.

  “Oh, Emily, those are such fun.” Evelyn stood and admired the outfits.

  “I guessed the sizes and got a few extras. The lady at the shop said she’d been having a run on twenties’ outfits the last week. I think a lot of people are dressing the part for the gala.”

  “Well, that will settle the question of what I was going to wear.” Donna admired a long silvery gown that looked just her size.

  Emily laughed and handed it to her. “I knew you’d love that one.” She turned to Evelyn and handed her a sapphire full-length gown that had a classic cut to it. “And I thought you’d like this.”

  “It’s perfect.” Evelyn reached for the gown.

  “Mom and Heather, I got you some flapper dresses. And I got this one for me.”

  Donna gaped at the lovely formal gown that Emily held up. It was an emerald green shimmering fabric, ankle length with a dropped waist. It would set off her granddaughter’s pretty green eyes so nicely.

  “It reminds me of a dress in one of those old Cabot portraits I found.” Emily held the dress up and admired it.

  “These are all perfect, honey.” Olivia hugged her daughter.

  “I’m so excited. I’ve never been to an event like this. I can’t wait for people to see the history alcove, too. The whole hotel looks magical. You should see what Evelyn’s done with the ballroom. It’s so enchanting… just like you stepped back in time.”

  “I can’t wait to see it,” Donna was excited to see what Evelyn had done to the ballroom.

  “I can’t wait either.” Emily danced around the kitchen, holding her dress up against her. “It’s going to be a magical night.”

  Donna stood in the doorway, waving goodbye to all of them. They were all coming back to her house tomorrow to get ready before the gala, then they’d go early to help Evelyn with anything she might need. They would all drive together since parking space would be limited. The gala promised to be every bit as magical as Emily insisted it was going to be.

  She glanced up at the starry sky and then over to Barry’s house. Faded light drifted out from his windows. Maybe she should call him. Invite him over. But then, it was really last minute and she still felt guilty about sending him away last night.

  And right that minute, Barry stepped out onto his front porch. He glanced over and saw her standing there in the open doorway. Her mother’s voice ricocheted through her mind. And letting out all the air-conditioning. She smiled in spite of herself.

  Barry waved and she waved back. He pulled the door closed behind him and walked over to her front porch. “Hey.”

  “Hi.” Suddenly she was shy with him. Uneasy. Uncertain. “Um… do you want to come in and have a drink?”

  “Yes. I mean, no. I mean—” He raked his hands through his hair, standing there in the moonlight looking impossibly handsome.

  She stood there, uncertain whether he was coming in or not.

  He took a step closer and touched her arm. Electricity boomeranged through her, and she looked down where his hand rested on her arm, almost surprised to not see a burn mark there from the heat between them.

  He reached his other hand out and tilted her chin up to look at him. “Let me start again. I’ve been wanting to talk to you. There’s something between us, isn’t there? I mean, I feel it. You do too, don’t you?” He looked directly into her eyes.

  Her heart fluttered and her pulse swept through her like a raging tide. She stared at his face for a moment before answering him honestly. “I do.”

  “Great. I feel better knowing I’m not imagining it.” Barry grinned, relief evident on his face.

  “No, it’s there. Something is definitely there.” She’d felt it for weeks now. Maybe longer. But had been so unsure if she’d imagined it. Guess not.

  He gently pushed a lock of hair away from her face. “I want to kiss you.”

  “You were going to kiss me the other night when Emily interrupted us, weren’t you?”

  “I was.” He gave her a smile that sent her pulse racing and jumbled her thoughts.

  She could barely breathe but managed to get a few words out of her tangled thoughts. “You probably should.” She couldn’t take her eyes off his, locked together, frozen in the moment.

  The world seemed to stop as he leaned down and kissed her. Her stomach fluttered, and her hand, with a mind of its own, crept up around his neck, pulling him closer.

  He pulled back finally and sighed. “That was… nice. Excellent even.�
�� His bemused smile charmed her even more.

  “It was,” she agreed.

  It was a perfect kiss. One full of the promise of new beginnings. A chance to figure out just exactly what was going on between them. She wasn’t certain what it was, but there was something there. Something special.

  She smiled up at him, looking deep into those captivating sky-blue eyes of his. She didn’t need a gala to have a magical night. Tonight was one.

  And he kissed her again in the moonlight while the world continued around her in slow motion and she savored every moment.

  Chapter 24

  Donna loved what she saw in the mirror. The silvery gown floated over her figure, hiding her imperfections and somehow making her look… well, better than she’d imagined was possible. She fingered the silky, smooth fabric with pleasure. The gown was perfect.

  She turned to watch as all the Parker women finished getting ready for the gala, crowded into her bedroom. Her room filled with laughter and happy chatter as they all got dressed. Family time at its best. She could feel the love and strength of these women surrounding her.

  Olivia walked up behind her in a flashy flapper dress, the fringe on it swishing back and forth at her knees. “Mom, you look great.”

  “So do you.” She turned. “All of you do.”

  “This is going to be so much fun.” Emily moved in front of the full-length mirror, turning this way and that, admiring her emerald green dress and looking incredibly older than her sixteen years.

  “You look lovely, Em.” She kissed her granddaughter’s cheek, her heart swelling with love for the girl. For all the Parker women.

  “Thanks, Grams.”

  “So, is everyone ready to go?” She glanced over at her sister, looking stunning in the sapphire gown Emily had picked out for her. And, for now, the sad look that had settled on Evelyn’s face was gone and her eyes were shining in anticipation.

  “I can’t wait. Tonight is going to be wonderful.” Heather walked up and put her arm around her mother. “Everyone is going to see what a great job you did planning this party, Mom.”

  “I hope it all goes off without any problems.” Evelyn adjusted the long strand of pearls draped around her neck.

  “Knowing you, you have every single detail under control.” Heather laughed.

  Donna took one last look in the mirror.

  “Mom, why do you have that look on your face?” Olivia whispered to her as everyone finished getting ready.

  “I’m just excited about this evening.” She wasn’t ready to tell anyone yet about why she was so… happy. Her world felt different today after Barry’s kiss last night. Things had shifted subtly. She was excited about the gala. Excited about seeing Barry there at The Cabot. She could still feel his kiss on her lips. But she sure wasn’t going to share that fact with her daughter.

  Okay, just one more peek in the mirror. Really, one last look. She turned around slowly in front of the full-length mirror. Yes, the dress was perfect. It was going to be a fabulous night, surrounded by family… and Barry.

  “Okay, let’s go.” She grabbed her keys and drove everyone to The Cabot. A large banner stretched across the grounds proclaiming the gala and the grand opening. She parked the car and they all got out and stood for a moment, enchanted by the lighted circle drive leading up to the hotel, the doors wide-open like a siren call to come inside.

  “This is so exciting.” Emily danced around, swishing her dress.

  She slowly turned her gaze to look at all of them, these Parker women. They looked like they’d all stepped right out of the nineteen-twenties.

  Even with their challenges with the expansion of Parker’s and Evelyn’s impending divorce hovering around them, it still felt like life was pretty darn perfect.

  “Are we ready?” Donna stepped onto the festive circle drive and linked arms with her sister, then Olivia and Heather joined them, and finally Emily—after stopping her excited twirling—linked arms with them, too.

  And all the Parker women walked into the gala, arm in arm, for what she was sure would be a magical night, just like Emily predicted.