Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“She likes you,” Luna insists. “And Frankie will, too.”
I accept Luna’s judgment on this mostly because my mom‘s coming to greet us.
“The guest of honor is here. You look darling, Luna.” She takes Luna’s hands and holds them out to get a better look. “I just love this dress on you. The lace makes you glow. Actually, I don’t think it’s the lace. I think it’s just you. You are glowing so beautifully. And look at the ring.” She lifts Luna‘s left hand higher so that the ring catches the light. “It looks gorgeous. When I went to the vault for Graham, I thought that we would give you the ten carat from his dad‘s mother, but he insisted on this one because he thought that it would suit you better, and I have to say now that I see it on your hand, he’s absolutely correct.”
“It’s breathtaking. I’m a little scared to wear it.”
“Nonsense.” Mom flaps her hand. “That’s what insurance is for. Only people aren’t replaceable. Not things. Now come inside with me so we can go to the auction table and you can bid on things.” She hands Luna five pink chips.
“Auction?”
“Yes, we are raising money for our scholarship fund. We try to send twenty kids to Academy. Are you familiar with it?”
“Not really.”
“It’s a school that I would recommend that you and Graham send your kids to. They have a one hundred percent placement post-graduation at the Ivys. Did Graham tell you that our auction has a little twist? We’ve asked people to donate things from their past. It’s Renew and Reborn.” Mom makes a small face. “It’s the best we could do under short notice. There’s an item here you might recognize.”
Mom leads her straight to a podium with a diamond ring on it. There’s a small label underneath that says “donated by Michael Montclair.” The devil himself is standing only a few feet away with his back turned to us.
“Yours is certainly an upgrade,” Mom whispers.
Luna’s eyes go wide. “You know that’s a fake, right?”
Mom gasps in fake surprise. “Gracious, is it?”
“She knows it is, Luna. Don’t worry.”
“The person who gave the donation assured me it was real.” Mom continues to pretend. “Good thing I have an appraiser here. Oh, Michael, come here, would you?”
Montclair’s head shoots up at the mention of his name. He hesitates, but he can’t really turn down my mom. It’s her party, and she’s not someone to disrespect. He walks over reluctantly and gives Luna and me a head nod.
“Mrs. Dassault, you called?”
“Yes, I was just explaining to Luna that you donated this lovely ring as part of the Renew and Reborn charity.”
Montclair pivots toward the small podium and then grows pale. “Um, where did you get this?”
“It showed up at the donation site today. Very generous of you, I might add.”
”Mrs. Dassault, let me give you something else to auction off.” He reaches for the ring.
“What’s happening here?” Aunt Jackie glides up. She lays a chip on the black velvet covering the podium. “Did someone already bid on this? I wanted it. Oh, hello, Montclair. Are you bidding?”
“No, I’m actually taking this—“
”I brought Van Kirk over to look at the ring.” Aunt Maeve appears next. “Duncan, take a look at this diamond so that Jackie bids the right amount.”
Duncan Van Kirk pulls out a flashlight and shines it on the ring. Rainbows dance against the black velvet. Montclair snatches the ring. “I’ll pay for it. How much?”
“Ten million sounds right,” Mom says.
“Ten what?” Montclair nearly shouts. “This ring wouldn’t be worth more than fifty thousand if it was real, and it’s—“
He snaps his mouth shut and wild-eyed, runs for the door. Duncan points the light at Luna’s ring. “Real diamonds give off white reflections. Fake ones cast rainbows.”
We all look at the white refractions in silence. Duncan tucks his light away. “That was amusing. Can’t wait to share this story with others.” He winks and heads into the crowd.
“Same,” chorus my aunts, who nearly skip away to spread the story that Michael Montclair donated a fake diamond to the charity event.
“I think your lawsuit will go away,” Mom says with a smile. “So, wedding tomorrow?”
Chapter Twenty-Two
LUNA
I burst into laughter, but neither Graham nor his mom join me. “Oh, you’re serious.”
“Unless you want the baby bump to show in your wedding dress.” His mom keeps going. I don’t know why I keep waiting for her to crack a smile like she’s joking. I should really know at this point that the Dassaults don’t do anything half-ass. They are crazy all-in with everything. All things are over the top.
I mean, Graham gifted a baby a sports car.
“Maybe not tomorrow.”
“But soon,” Graham is quick to add.
“But soon,” I say in agreement. How can I not? The Dassaults might be intense, but it flows through everything in their lives. Even the way they care for and love one another. It's endearing, and I'll count myself lucky to call them family and be a part of it, and so will any children I have.