Stranded(59)

Jack was hardly that. He never stayed at a job longer than a few months. She was surprised he still had the same one as before she left for her vacation, but she decided to keep that comment to herself. India wanted no part of this whatsoever.

She stood up. “It seems like you three have this interview all planned out, so I don’t see why I’m needed here. If I would have known, I would have passed. I’m not comfortable about this.”

Her mother turned on her then, the mask off. “But you will stay for this interview. I’ve gone through a lot of trouble to arrange this and I won’t have you messing it up, now sit down and be quiet and when the reporter asks you questions, smile and answer them appropriately.”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t. I want no part of this. You set this interview up, so you deal with the reporter.”

Her father chose that moment to enter the living room. He gave India a brief nod of acknowledgement before noticing the tension in the room. “What’s going on in here?”

Leila’s plum smeared lips were pulled down into a deep frown. “Why don’t you ask your daughter the ingrate?”

He turned his narrowed gaze in India’s direction, but directed the question to his wife. “What’s the girl done now?”

“She doesn’t want to do the interview, after I practically had to kiss Susan’s feet. You know I can’t stand that woman. I can’t believe I had to lower myself to ask her anything. And now your daughter is threatening to ruin it all.

Trevor folded his arms. “What’s this nonsense your mother is talking about? Of course you’re going to do this interview. Your mother went to a lot of trouble to set this up for you, and the least you can do is show your appreciation by answering a few questions. You owe us that much for raising you.”

India’s insides began to churn. The tension strumming within her body made her heartbeat speed up to an erratic pace. Who were they kidding? Her mother didn’t set this interview up for her. They’d done it for themselves, to show off to their friends what a perfect family they were.

The doorbell rang before she could argue any further. Leila shot India one last stare before heading for the door. “You had better not ruin this for us, India.”

Jack chose that moment to walk back into the room, and he flopped down on the sofa. “It looks like one of the special guests has arrived.” He grabbed one of the cheese puffs and popped it into his mouth.

There was something in the way her brother said it that made India turn around to stare at him. “What are you talking about? Isn’t it just the reporter?”

Again, that smirk she hated so much appeared on his lips. “Didn’t Mom and Dad tell you the rest?” He looked at their father with an amused smile. “I guess you two were keeping the other part of this dinner a surprise. This will be interesting.”

“Jack, please,” Trevor lightly chided his son.

India didn’t have to wait long to figure out what her parents were up to, when her ex walked in the door. Steven strode into the room like he owned it, his eyes locked on India’s.

Her jaw dropped. Just when she thought this day couldn’t possibly get worse it did.



* * *



Just as Grant drove across the Pennsylvania border, he realized he’d left something behind.

India.

“It’s no use, Rafe.” He finally broke the silence after being in the car for nearly three hours. Grant didn’t bother to elaborate, knowing Rafe would understand exactly what he meant.

Letting India go yet again had been even harder than the first time. There was no way he could continue with this weekend arrangement even though it was only going to be for a month. Sure they’d agreed they give each other time to make the appropriate arrangements, but it wasn’t soon enough. He needed her with them now.

“Yes. I couldn’t stop thinking since we drove off. It worries me when we’re away from her. She still has doubts about our arrangement and she might be susceptible to outside influences. I thought her aunt was a nice lady, but I got the feeling she didn’t quite approve of us somehow.”

“I thought I was imagining things, but I got that feeling too, especially when we went back to her house on Sunday morning for breakfast. She kept giving us funny looks,” Grant recalled.

“Well, India did say her aunt knows about us. I’m sure Val knew what the three of us were up to this weekend. No, I don’t think she’ll be a problem. I get the feeling Val will support her niece in anything she decides to do. What I’m concerned about are India’s parents. She told us she was having dinner with them tonight because they were throwing a dinner party. I get the sinking suspicion they may be up to something.”