Love Lies Bleeding by Jess McConkey

Author:Jess McConkey [McConkey, Jess]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780061999680
Publisher: William Morrow
Published: 2011-09-01T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Anne’s eyes roamed the room. She’d never been at one of Fritz’s parties as a guest, but she had worked at them before and knew how much emphasis he placed on details. Tonight was no different. His large living-room and dining-room area glowed with soft candlelight. The lilting notes of one of his favorite piano concertos floated under the buzz of voices. Large vases of fresh wildflowers dotted both rooms. And along one wall, there was a buffet table spread with appetizers. Two local high school girls circled the room bearing trays holding glasses of wine, iced tea, and lemonade. From where she stood, she could see bright paper lanterns strung along the deck railing. The whole atmosphere, both inside and out, was a study in casual elegance.

Anne fingered one of her tiny, gold hoop earrings and tried not to feel out of place. She didn’t look out of place—she knew that. The tunic that Sam had insisted on buying her shimmered down her body in graceful folds and the white linen pants she’d dug out of the back of her closet still fit. She’d even worn makeup. Dropping her hand, she felt her lips curl in a small grin. When she’d exited her bedroom, Caleb had been so surprised at her appearance that he’d jokingly asked what she’d done with his mother. What a switch—for him to see her as a person and not just his mom.

Spying one of the girls approach a cluster of people, she watched as they took the beverages the girl offered without so much as a glance in her direction. To them, she was as much a part of the decor as the candles and flowers. And without Sam’s interference, that would’ve been her. Instead of standing here, all dressed up and exchanging greetings with people she’d known for years, she’d have been as invisible to those people as the high school girl.

It was nice not just being a mother. It was nice not being invisible. And she had Sam to thank for it. Still, the thought troubled her. On the one hand, she did appreciate Sam’s kindness, but on the other, she didn’t want to feel beholden to her. In the past, she’d been the one doing favors for people. Having the roles reversed made her squirm.

Turning her head slightly, she looked over at Sam. The lavender dress and purple shawl set off the young woman’s coloring perfectly and the sickly paleness of weeks ago was gone—banished by the hours Anne had forced her to spend outside. With her new haircut disguising some of the gauntness in her face, she’d also lost that brittle look she used to have.

It was clear to her that she wasn’t the only one who’d noticed the change in Sam. Dr. Van Horn did, too. It was evident in his expression when he looked at her. Attentive and smiling—his condescending attitude had disappeared. Anne’s eyebrows knitted together. But maybe there was more to it than the way she looked on the outside.

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