Page 173 of Savior
“No… I found out after your surprise visit. I just didn’t want to tell you the news over the phone. I was going to tell you tonight, after the party, in person. Without a huge audience.” Vanna says, gesturing to the double doors behind her mother and sister. The double doors that her father just walked through, though thankfully, closes behind him.
“What’s going on out here?” he asks, placing a hand on Giuliana’s shoulder. “What’s the matter, sweetheart? Why do you look so upset?”
Of course, it’s all about Giuliana. She keeps her mouth shut though. It’s her mother that shakes her head at him, dismayed and distraught. Playing up this monumental betrayal! Pressing her fingers to her lips as if she can’t bring herself to even speak of the travesty at hand.
I’m losing my fucking patience.
“Vanna has something to confess that she should have told us.” Her mother finally says, before she spins back around on her daughter. “Do you realize how embarrassed I am?”
I’m about to crack my own fucking teeth…
“Of just what, exactly?” Vanna pipes up, to my surprise as well. “That I’m having a baby with the man I love? Is it really because I got pregnant before marriage, or is it because you think he’s beneath this family?” Vanna says the F word like it’s the actual F word. But then she turns around on her sister, demanding to know once more, “And just what exactly happened upstairs between the two of you?”
“I told you. Nothing.” Her sister scowls back at her.
“Between who?” her father asks.
“Giuliana and Dean.” Vanna says.
He looks at me now. “Did you do something to my daughter?”
“Only one of them.” I mutter.
“That so?” his stare hardens.
“The one that belongs to me.” I’m ready to throw down if he wants to, though for Vanna’s sake, I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that.
“You did this out of spite. Why?” Vanna persists. Giuliana continues to ignore the question. Vanna scoffs, taking a step back to stand beside me, then throws a hand in gesture at her sister’s gown. “What happened to the emerald green dress you were going to wear tonight? Why did you go with this black one? Might it have something to do with our conversation at that last boutique?”
Her sister shoots her another venomous look as if she resents whatever point Vanna is making about the dress. “I decided I liked this one, better.”
“Yeah, right.” Vanna scoffs again.
“What’s wrong with her dress? She looks beautiful.” Her mother says, though the sisters ignore her.
“You’re obviously wearing a different dress than the one we picked out that day too!” Giuliana snaps back at Vanna. “Seems you opted for something more… forgiving.”
Vanna scowls back at her, now asking her sister point blank, “Did you hit on my fiancé?”
Fuck… here we go. Bad to worse.
Giuliana averts her focus to her manicured nails, as if she can’t be bothered with this conversation any longer.
“You did, didn’t you?” Vanna sounds hurt and angry. I place my hand on her arm, gently holding onto her, just in case. No way I’m letting her get into a brawl with her bitch sister. She looks up at me now, searchingly. “What happened? Tell me the truth, Dean.”
“You already know.” I sigh. “I’m sorry, doll. I shot her down immediately, if that’s any consolation at all.”
“Bullshit.” Her father says. “Giuliana would never.” He shifts to place both hands on his other daughter’s shoulders to look her in the face. “Did this piece of shit come on to you?”
“I can’t do this.” Vanna says, shaking her head. “I want to go home.” She reaches for my hand and I immediately take it, all too happy to oblige.
Her mother gasps as if she’s astounded. “You’re just going to walk out on your own party? After everything we spent to throw this for you! What about your guests?”
“It’s your party, mom. Tell them whatever you want. I am pregnant. And there isn’t going to be a wedding.”
My hand squeezes hers tighter as her words register. No wedding? “Vanna, I swear to God I didn’t touch your sister.”
She smiles up at me, though it’s a half-hearted, defeated looking smile. “I believe you, Dean. Just take me home.” I can see it in her eyes, she’s on the verge of tears. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and escort her towards the front doors, leaving her family to argue amongst themselves.
