Amandine blinked. Too wrapped up in her disappointment and shock, she hadn’t thought about any of that.
Brooke continued, “No matter what you do, you won’t be able to fake love from Gavin. The kid’s going to know.”
“And it’ll hurt him,” Amandine murmured. She’d seen how her father Norman had left a strong negative impression on her younger brother Pete.
Norman had been a used car salesman, and when he’d lost his job, he’d gone from one venture to another, looking for a quick way to strike it big. Except the “opportunities” he’d gotten into had cost money, and he’d squandered the family’s savings until they’d been evicted from their small three-bedroom apartment. If it hadn’t been for the Fairchilds, the family on her mother’s side, they would’ve ended up homeless.
Amandine had forgiven Norman’s flaws because he’d been a good father and loved his wife. But Pete hated him for being a loser who hadn’t been able to provide for his family in even the most fundamental ways. As the sibling who got all the brains, Pete had graduated from Stanford with a double major in mathematics and German and then gone on to work for Gavin…all with the specific intent of making money. Pete didn’t even pretend he was capable of anything like love—he’d never dated anyone long-term, and Amandine sensed the only things he valued were money and status, so he could feel secure again.
What would her child learn from Gavin, if Norman hadn’t been able to teach his own son how to love?
I don’t know what more you want from me for Mother’s Day, Mom. I got you a yacht, didn’t I?
Amandine shook her head. That wasn’t the kind of child she wanted to raise. “But what other options do I have?” she said. “I can’t leave Gavin.”
“Leave him? Are you even going to get the chance?” Brooke poured another glass. “He seems more interested in spending your anniversary in Houston than here with you.”
“You think Catherine wants Gavin back, don’t you?”
“Well, if she can’t have Jacob…” Brooke raised her eyebrows. “Let’s face it: she likes her men rich.”
“And Gavin was hers first,” Amandine said softly, thinking about the time her cousin had wanted something back.
When they’d been growing up together, every so often Catherine had given her clothes and other things that she didn’t want any more. Since Amandine’s parents never had any money to spare, they’d been always grateful. And so had Amandine, until Catherine had suddenly cornered her in the high school bathroom one day.
“Give me back the necklace,” Catherine said.
Amandine clutched the pretty golden chain to her neck. It had a crescent moon pendant and she’d never owned anything so beautiful. “I thought I could keep it.”
“I changed my mind.” Catherine crossed her arms. “It was mine in the first place.”
Catherine’s friends made a half-circle, watching Amandine with vulture-like interest.
“But…”
“You heard her,” Catherine’s best friend said. “What Catherine giveth Catherine can taketh away. It’s not like you have anything that goes with the necklace anyway.”
The other girls giggled. Amandine felt her cheeks grow hot as her gaze dropped to her shabby, big box store clothes.
In the end, she’d returned the necklace. And the next time Catherine had given her something, Amandine had been careful not to think of it as hers. Her cousin could change her mind at any time. Ironically enough, Catherine had never asked for anything back again.
Until now?
Come on, Amandine. Gavin isn’t a thing.
Catherine hadn’t given Gavin away—he wasn’t some accessory you could just pass around. But at the same time he’d been her lover first, and what would prevent her from taking him from Amandine?
Marriage wouldn’t stop Catherine—even if she’d really been married in the first place. Amandine and Gavin’s own union had come with a prenup that ensured a divorce would be quick and squabble-free.
And the bedroom she shared with her husband suddenly had Catherine’s favorite flowers in it.
Her stomach churned, and Amandine took a long soothing swallow of tea. “Mind if I spend the night here?”
“Not at all.” Brooke’s dark eyes softened in sympathy and understanding. “Spend as many as you want.”
* * *
Gavin sighed as the jet finally left the airport. What a damn waste of time. Other than giving Amandine her present, he hadn’t done anything even remotely interesting or worthwhile the entire day.