Chapter 25

Alex placed his arm through Seb’s as they made their way toward the entrance of the casino. It was almost midnight and the guests who were still there were collecting their coats.

Victoria was waiting at the entrance to thank everyone as they left. Alex would like to think that was the reason for the tension in Seb’s body but he had noticed it earlier as well. Seb seemed perfectly fine at the start of the evening; however, after Michael pulled him aside, there had been a change in him.

“Sebastian,” Victoria said as she extended her arm to shake her ex-husband’s hand. “I hope you both enjoyed yourselves this evening.”

“You put together a wonderful event, Victoria. You should be very proud of yourself.” Seb’s voice sounded as tense as his body felt.

“Well, you were an instrumental part of the evening,” Victoria replied. “Thank you again for doing as much as you’ve done for the center. I’m sure David is up there somewhere looking down at us all and smiling.”

“Mother,” William said as he approached them. “Have you seen Savannah lately?”

“William, sweetheart, I’ve barely spoken to you this evening.” Victoria embraced her son and kissed him on each cheek. “Doesn’t he look good tonight, Sebastian?”

“He certainly does.”

“I noticed that you were spending an awful lot of time with Mr. Drupet’s daughter,” Victoria said to her son. “Now that she and her father have left for the evening, you must tell us what you and Ms. Drupet were discussing all that time.”

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Savannah didn’t know how she’d found her car but, thankfully, she had and was now inside it speeding toward home, toward safety. Of course, Helen had to show up tonight looking all thin and perfect. Savannah had put on weight since their breakup; she’d felt like a blimp all night.

However, it wasn’t enough for her ex to show up at the party, her one-night stand had to make an appearance as well. And what was up with that? Was Carol gay? Was she just exploring things when she decided to go home with a lesbian that night? Was she really interested in her brother? I mean, the woman was all over him tonight. She didn’t have to do that. Why her brother? There were plenty of other brothers at that party who the little southern belle could have showered with attention.

The sound of a horn honking caused her to notice how bright it was in front of her. She swerved to the right to avoid being hit by the dumb jackass. “Why don’tja turn down the lights on yur car, ya $*#^&@%!!!” It was hard enough driving without idiots like that on the road! It was probably her one night stand in the car. Carol had messed up her life like the car - that’s what she did!

That just wasn’t fair, Savannah thought. It wasn’t fair at all! Why hadn’t she said so to Carol? Savannah should have told her to go find another lesbian’s brother. She could go take that lesbian to a bar…and then flirt witz somebody elze’s mother…and take her home…and then leave without zaying anything. That’zit. That’z ezactly what Carol could do. And now that zhe knew what zhe wanted to say to the woman, zhe was gonna turn around and go back to that party and tell her!

***************

Honestly, Victoria thought, it seemed as if the smallest thing could set off Sebastian. How had a simple inquiry about her son’s evening turn into such an argument?

“All I did was introduce them,” she reminded Sebastian. “I didn’t force them together, did I, William?”

“Oh, Victoria, you know perfectly well that William will bend over backwards to make you happy if he thinks there’s something you want him to do.”

“Is it a crime for a son to want to please his mother?”

“He will date someone when he is good and ready to do so. Your obsession with finding a mate for your son is beginning to be inappropriate.”

“Inappropriate?!” She was flabbergasted. “I can’t believe that you, of all people, think you can judge what is appropriate or not. Especially when it comes to romantic relationships!”

“Mother, please. Don’t do this here,” William pleaded. “And, Dad, she wasn’t trying to manipulate anything this evening. Carol explained everything to me. She was visiting—”

“You don’t have to defend your Mother, William. I know how you feel about her meddling in your love life and someone needs to put a stop to it once and for all.”

“Oh, please. You’re the king of interfering in your children’s lives,” Victoria countered. “Do you really think Jeremiah wanted to go away to that school? You coerced him to leave home just to get at me.”

“That is utter nonsense and you know it!” Sebastian took a step toward her.

“Mom, Dad, please—” William began.
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At that moment, they were all silenced by a deafening sound of glass breaking and wood splintering apart as Savannah’s car crashed through the front doors of the casino.