Marrying My Ex's Boss novel · Chapter 8 of 24

Chapter 8: The Check

Truman found his trousers faster than I found my sweater.

By the time I reached the front hall, Honoria Shaw stood on the doormat in her black coat with her cane planted like a flag.

She did not come in.

"You are wearing my son's shirt," she said.

"It was closest."

"Hmm."

She held out the manila envelope, and I took it, because nobody has ever refused Honoria Shaw anything on a doormat.

Inside was a cream card with a gold border.

"Lunch," Honoria said. "Sunday, one o'clock, at my house. I've invited some friends who would like to meet you properly."

"I'm sure they would."

"Bring him." She glanced at Truman, who was fastening his cuffs on the stairs. "On time, if he can manage it."

She went back to the long black car, and the cane went tap, tap, tap.

Only then did I see the second sheet in the envelope.

It was a guest list.

Colin Bierbaum's name was fourth.

I did not tell Truman, because he had enough on his face.

On Sunday I wore the pink dress again, because it was the only one I owned that was not for a funeral.

The sunroom at Honoria's house had glass walls on three sides and a table set for ten.

I counted nine other people before I sat.

Two women in pearls, a man with a monogrammed handkerchief, and a pair of elderly cousins.

A lawyer in a gray suit looked at me.

Beside him sat the friend with the daughter.

She was sixty-five and silver-haired.

Her daughter was a tall, glossy girl in cream silk who had been told to look at Truman and was doing it.

Colin sat directly across from me, wearing a cheerful smile.

Truman had been called away to the phone in the hall two minutes before we sat down, and still hadn't come back.

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