“I’m not some kind of alcoholic!” she declared before marching off. I probably shouldn’t have been so harsh with her, but she reminded me so much of my mother’s sister, who had repeatedly declared she wasn’t an alcoholic, either, before she died from liver failure. I tried to shake off my own memories, telling myself this wasn’t about me and my family issues. This was about protecting Sadie. I noted that Brandy was keeping clear of her ex-husband, so I was two for two so far.
“You must have drawn the short straw.” A woman had appeared at my side and smiled at me sympathetically. She seemed vaguely familiar.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m Mary-Ellen’s mom, Brandy’s sister. My name is Mandy.”
I introduced myself and then started to ask, “Are you two—”
She cut me off. “No, we’re not twins. My mother was just unimaginative. And my sister’s a handful, so thank you for helping to keep an eye on her.”
I nodded. “It’s too bad she can’t keep from drinking for a few days.”
“It is too bad. We had a rough childhood. Our mom was an alcoholic, too. Brandy is suffering from the delusion that she’s not nearly as bad. That she has her drinking under control. I’ve tried talking to her, Sadie’s tried, Geoff tried, but nothing seems to get through. She doesn’t believe us.”
I wished I could do something more to help. “I’m sorry. That can’t be easy.”
She cleared her throat. “Thanks. We keep trying and hoping.”
“I know Sadie really wants her here and to be sober.”
“That’s part of growing up with an alcoholic parent. You’re angry with them and resent their choices, but at the same time you want their love. You want them to choose you, to be more important than getting drunk.”
That struck me as unbelievably heartbreaking. “I’m here to help. Let me know if I can do anything.”
“Same here. I’ve been dealing with this for a very long time and I’m kind of an expert.” Her voice sounded bleak, at total odds with her peaceful expression. “Let me give you my number. In case you need it.” I put it into my phone and then texted her, so she’d have my number, too. When I was finished, Mandy smiled at me and said, “It was good to meet you.” She walked away.
It made me so sad for Sadie, but I didn’t want to be distracted by my sympathy for her. So instead I found a spot to keep an eye on all the players I had to worry about in this game—Camden was talking to a man with black hair I hadn’t met yet, Mandy was sitting with Brandy, and Geoff and Maybelle stayed as far away as they could.
Everything was calmer than I’d anticipated. From what Sadie had told me and what I’d witnessed, I’d half expected a drunken Real Housewives–type brawl. But they all seemed to be on their best behavior. I was thankful for it.
Troy announced that it was time for Sadie to start opening her gifts. Krista and I had already decided that she would take point on this part so that I could continue to watch Brandy. Krista grabbed a seat next to Sadie, holding a pad of paper and a pen to write down the names and presents.
Sadie somehow managed to look surprised and delighted with each and every prearranged gift. As if she didn’t know exactly what she was getting.
I was so caught up in the fun atmosphere of Sadie enjoying her presents that it surprised me when Camden appeared next to me.
My body knew he was there before he even spoke, as if I’d somehow become attuned to him. His hand brushed gently against my arm and I shivered under his touch.
“I’m headed out,” he said.
Why did it give me a thrill that he was making sure to say goodbye to me? “You’re leaving before Sadie finishes opening the gifts?”
He held up his sad little flip phone. “I have a phone call I have to take.”
“I understand. Tell Abraham Lincoln I said hi.”
He grinned at me and said, “I’ll see you at your birthday.”
As he walked away I realized that he didn’t believe it was my birthday. I mean, it wasn’t, but he was always so paranoid. He was going to give himself a stress-related heart attack.
I might not have been what he suspected, but he obviously knew something was going on.
I just had to keep him from finding out exactly what that was.
CHAPTER SEVEN
After Sadie had finished with the presents and the party started to wind down, she came over to join me. I was seated at a table, keeping a close eye on Brandy. I had expected she might try to leave and score a drink somewhere else, but whatever Mandy had said to her earlier was keeping Brandy in line.