Page 37 of Promise Me Never

I positioned myself on my side so that I was facing her. “Thanks again for coming. I’m so glad to have you here for this.”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’m so proud of you! I can’t wait to buy everything up.”

I laughed. “No, you don’t! Let’s see if objective buyers are interested.”

“Who says I’m not objective?”

“Seriously,” I warned.

She shrugged. “Okay. But I do love your piece on memory. You can’t stop me from bidding on that one.”

“Fine,” I said, taking a long sip from my glass. “So, what’s happening with you. Still seeing Brad?”

She raised her brows. “Yeah. Things are heating up in a good way. But I’m not sure he’s the one.”

“What’s missing? He’s gorgeous. A doctor. Devoted. That last weekend we all spent in the Hamptons you looked so happy.”

“He’s all those things, but he’s just not that funny.”

I burst out laughing. “You mean he doesn’t have our juvenile sense of humor?” She and I cracked up over the silliest things. It could be a look, a word someone said, anything. We seemed to have some sort of mind meld.

She gave me a conceding look. “Yeah. Why can’t I have the same kind of fun with him that I do with you?” She looked up at the sky. “You know, I read that our best friends are actually our soulmates. Not in a romantic way. I think you’re mine.”

I reached out a hand to squeeze hers. “I feel the same. And don’t tell him I told you, but Bennett’s not as funny as you.”

Her eyes danced with laughter and once again we were doubled over in tears laughing.

When we finally stopped, she sighed. “I guess you’re right. I’m not being fair. Maybe Brad is a keeper.”

“Not to change the subject, but what’s the deal with Felicia?” I asked.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s very possessive of Bennett. She hasn’t made me feel very welcome and honestly, I think it’s a bit weird that she lives on the property. It’s like she doesn’t have a life of her own.”

Isabel took a sip from her glass and leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes for a moment, then sat back up and looked at me.

“You have to understand. Felicia has taken care of Bennett from the time he was a baby. His mother, like mine, was always more dedicated to her charities than her family. You hear about emotional poverty being as detrimental as financial. He and I both felt that. Felicia eased that loneliness for Bennett. He was given everything money could buy except time and attention. Felicia gave him the attention they never did. She’s protective of him, and he loves her. She’ll come around.”

“She seems to like you well enough. Even baked you a cake!”

“You girls look like you’re having a good time,” Bennett said as he approached. He sat on one of the chairs by the table.

“Always,” I said smiling.

He looked at Isabel. “Poppy said you two had fun in New York. What did you think of Henri?”

Isabel glanced at me before answering. I’ve told her how Bennett feels about him. “He is a lot of fun. I can see why Poppy likes hanging out with him.”

“I don’t care for him. I think he’s a bad influence.”

“Okay, Dad!” she said, and we both burst out laughing.

His expression hardened, but he quickly covered his anger with a smile. “Aren’t we proud of our little Poppy?” he said to Isabel. “Her first show. I’m so happy to have made it happen for her.”

My stomach tightened, and the smile froze on my face. I hadn’t told Isabel about his investment.

“What do you mean?” she asked.