0451471881 by Emily Liebert

Author:Emily Liebert [Liebert, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2016-03-18T16:21:46+00:00

Fifteen

The holidays had come and gone too quickly this year, at least for Mackenzie’s taste. Unlike so many other women she spoke to, she’d never viewed Thanksgiving and Christmas as burdens to be endured until visiting family members returned home, stringent diet regimens could be resumed, and children were back in school, where they belonged. In fact, it had come as quite a surprise to Mackenzie, when she’d first gotten married and moved to the suburbs, to hear people griping about being saddled by seemingly endless to-do lists relating to a season that was meant to be synonymous with unadulterated joy.

There were catering orders to be outlined and then placed, because God forbid anyone should crack open their stove or light a burner. There were gifts to buy for significant others, parents, children, and even pets. That had been another culture shock for Mackenzie—the concept that people invested a great deal of time and energy into considering what their cats and dogs might like to find under the tree. Rarely was it a chew toy or a meaty bone for the Busters of Eastport to gnaw on, but rather some sort of fur coat to keep them warm. Weren’t they born with those? Or perhaps a pair of rhinestone-studded rain boots, for fear that their paws might go unembellished, or, worse, that they could get damp in inclement weather and subsequently track muddy footprints onto their owners’ antique Tibetan rugs.

Mackenzie felt especially grateful to have avoided all of that nonsense this year. To have eschewed dressing in her finest and being forced to sit at CeCe’s elaborately decorated dining room table, with waitstaff swirling around them in a frenzy, as CeCe barked orders and clenched her jaw at each and every misstep. Inevitably, there would be one scapegoat: the one who had revealed himself to be the weak link from the onset, unaware that exposing vulnerability was tantamount to jockeying for abuse in the Mead household. The poor soul would be railed on by CeCe without relenting. And there was nothing discreet about it. In front of family, CeCe’s true colors were vibrant and often blinding. In her mind, there was no one to impress or put on a show for. The two faces of CeCe. Unfortunately, neither of them was particularly pretty.

Mackenzie had often wondered if CeCe had been different when Trevor’s father was alive. If perhaps his death had changed her fundamentally, hardened her into the woman she’d become. CeCe never spoke of him, nor did she appreciate being asked. How many reporters had committed that interview-ending mistake? For Trevor’s part, he rarely mentioned him either. He’d been on the young side, age nine, when his dad had died due to complications from a lifelong issue with his heart. Still, by nine you knew who your father was. Most likely you worshipped him. Wanted to walk in his footsteps until you could wear his shoes.

Jonathan Mead had run his namesake publishing company until the day before he’d passed away.

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