“Thank you,” India muttered.
Ellen’s smile widened and she flashed large white news-anchor teeth. “No, thank you for granting me this interview. I’ve been doing so many hard-hitting exposés lately, a human interest story is something I could really sink my teeth into, and people are still very much enthralled by your experiences. We were so surprised because other than your appearance on the Anne Webster Show, you and your fellow survivors have stayed out of the public eye. But I can understand you’d want to get back into some form of normalcy.”
India could have laughed at that one. With Rafe and Grant, her life would never be normal again.
Her mother was all smiles. “And of course we’re all so glad to have India back with us. You might be familiar with her fiancé, Steven Cartwright. His father used to be a congressman for several years and now heads the prestigious Cartwright law firm. Steven just might be following his father’s footsteps and throw his hat in the political ring. We’re sure he’ll be successful in any endeavor,” Leila gushed.
Ellen wore a slight smile, not giving anything away from her expression. “I’m sure he will. So, India, how would you like this interview to go? Would you like to sit out here, or would you prefer some privacy to chat.”
The expression on her mother’s face said it all. She hadn’t expected this turn of events. “It’s my understanding this was to be a family interview,” she sputtered.
“Of course, I wanted to see India in her home environment interacting with her family, if you will, but she will be the focus. However I do plan on asking a few questions about how the plane’s disappearance affected you and how you felt when you learned India had been found.”
Leila couldn’t hide her chagrin fast enough. She’d gone through so much trouble setting everything up as if they would all be the stars when the truth was, India would steal all the glory—attention India could do without.
Trevor stepped forward, seeming no more pleased than his wife. “If you’d like to get the family’s interaction, then the best way for you to do so is to have dinner with us. We’d be pleased for you to join us and I’m sure India wouldn’t mind your interviewing her at the table. We have no secrets from each other.”
Ellen shot India a questioning look. “Would that be okay with you, India?”
“She won’t mind,” Steven answered for her.
Ellen ignored him. “India?”
“I…” She looked from her mother to her father, and they both gave her thunderous looks, daring her to contradict them or make a scene. As much as she wanted to walk out the door and never come back, something within her crumbled. How was it that they had the ability to do this to her firm resolve each and every time? Besides, causing a scene would have embarrassed Ellen as much as it would her family and Steven. “No, I don’t mind.”
The smile returned to her mother’s lips. “Dinner is served. We’re having lamb shank with a rosemary mint sauce. I hope that’s alright, Ellen.”
The reporter nodded. “That sounds lovely. Thank you.”
Her mother took Ellen by the arm and began telling her about her next charity shindig. When Steven would have led India to the dining room, she managed to break away from him. After experiencing something so beautiful and magical with Rafe and Grant, having his hands on her made India’s skin crawl.
“What’s your problem?” he whispered in her ear. “Your mother said you’d be glad to see me. You’d better start acting like it, girl, or I will walk out of here right now. I can have any woman I want, you know.”
She wanted to ask why he wasn’t with one of them, if that was the case, but Jack was suddenly right behind them.
“Do I detect a little trouble in paradise?” There was a light taunt to Jack’s tone.
Steven barely spared her brother a glance. “Everything is fine, Jackson, not that it’s any of your concern?”
Jack’s voice lowered a decibel although India heard him loud and clear. “Why do you insist on being so formal with me? You’ve never had any problem calling me Jack before…or Jackie baby.”
Steven turned around and shot him a look of pure venom. “You had better keep your damn mouth shut, Jackson, if you know what’s good for you.”
India could remain silent no longer. Something was definitely going on here. “I don’t know what you two are arguing about, and frankly, I don’t care,” she said tight-lipped, “but you’d better save it for another time. I’m not in the mood to hear it.”