The December Deal by Dana Volney

Author:Dana Volney
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: F+W Media
Published: 2015-10-26T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Merry Christmas.” A short, brown-haired woman wearing a red sweater with a Christmas tree brooch answered the door.

Vincent went through the door first, giving his mother a big hug.

Lilia took a deep breath. Once all of the initial meetings were out of the way, then she wouldn’t be so nervous. She had no reason to be anxious in the first place—she didn’t actually need to impress Vincent’s family or win over his mom. They were already married. There was no disapproval that could change that now. Besides, none of it was real. Everything he did was for show—like coming to the hospital to keep up the façade. And all of the things she’d done were for the exact same reason.

“Mom, this is Lilia. Lilia, Birdie.” Vincent kept his hand on her lower back during the introductions.

Lilia extended her hand only to have it pushed to the side.

“Nonsense.” Mrs. Morgenstern embraced her.

“I’ll put this in the fridge.” Vincent disappeared down the hallway with a Jell-O salad she’d made and rolls they’d picked up at the store.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Lilia said as air left her lungs, and they weren’t easy to refill with how tightly Birdie had her arms wrapped around her.

“I’m glad to finally meet the woman who wears the family ring.”

“Family ring?” She held up her left hand. So her suspicions were accurate about the ring being old. She hadn’t expected it to be a family heirloom though. She’d just thought he went to a pawn store and lucked out.

It sparkled in the recessed light of the living room, which could easily fit a twelve-foot tree with no problem.

“It’s beautiful.” She put her hand down, rubbing the smooth band with her thumb.

“And it’s stunning on you. Come and sit. Dinner is ready.” Mrs. Morgenstern sat on one side of a black, six-person table, and Vincent and Lilia secured the place settings across from her.

“I’m sorry to have missed the wedding.” Birdie glowered at Vincent and then turned a pleasant smile to Lilia. “I’m pleased you will be hosting a party though. I’ve sent Jan the guest list for our side.”

Lilia’s stomach knotted, and suddenly the baked ham didn’t smell so good. This reception deal was like the wedding all over again, except in front of people she knew and loved. What if they figured out they were faking it like Lena had? What then?

“No one was at the wedding, Mom.” Vincent unfolded a napkin and placed it in his lap. “You weren’t intentionally not invited.”

“We moved pretty fast on the whole deal.” Lilia sucked in a breath at her word choice and glanced at Vincent. “I mean, love. We just went with it.” She picked up a dish filled with green beans cooked in bacon bits and spooned them onto her plate, not making eye contact with either of them.

When she passed the white dish, Vincent’s sexy grin almost made her laugh. Yeah, she’d gotten tongue-tied. She certainly couldn’t do that in a week around people who might not know why their marriage was suspect.

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