Ellen pushed away from the table. “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to continue this interview another time when there aren’t so many distractions. Don’t worry, I’ll see myself out.” She walked over to India. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk properly, but please, give me a call when you’re ready. I would love to chat with you one-on-one.” She produced a small rectangular business card from her breast pocket and handed it to India. “This has my work, home and cell phone numbers. Give me a call when you’re ready.”
And with that, the reporter got the hell out of Dodge. Instead of directing their anger to her brother where it belonged, her parents turned the force of their glares to her. “India, join us in the living room. We’d like to have a word with you,” her father began tightly, obviously not wanting to have any further outbursts in front of Steven, who’d remained oddly silent for the duration of the meal.
India removed the napkin from her lap and stood, finally coming to the epiphany that she was wasting her time by being here, and attempting to have a relationship with them. Hadn’t they told her in so many ways already that she wasn’t loved and they could never love her? Knowing there were two men out there who loved her unconditionally, neurosis and all, gave India the strength she needed now. “No. I won’t. Why should I? After all, Steven’s going to be family, isn’t he?”
Steven looked distinctly uncomfortable. “Look, I should go also.”
India turned to him. “No. Stay where you are. You were quite eager to show up when you heard a reporter was going to be here to interview me. Did you think I’d bring you some much needed publicity? You have the most gigantic ego I’ve ever known anyone to have. Did you think just because my mother called you, I would come running back to you? Newsflash: you’re not God’s gift and I certainly have no intention of ever getting back together with you. Did you think I would after I saw you in bed with some other woman?”
Her father slammed his fist against the table. “That’s enough? Haven’t you embarrassed us enough today already?”
“Please, Steven, she doesn’t know what she’s saying,” Leila pleaded, seeing her aspirations of a politician’s mother-in-law slip away. “Explain to her that other woman was just a silly misunderstanding.”
“Yes, explain to us,” Jack demanded. “I’d especially like to know considering—”
Steven stood up abruptly. “I don’t have to listen to any of this. I’m sorry I got mixed up with this crazy family.”
Jack halted, grabbing his arm. “Sorry you got mixed up with us, because you realized you couldn’t have the brother and the sister too?”
A collective gasp filled the room. India only had to look at the expressions on Steven’s and Jack’s faces to know what her brother said was true. It suddenly made sense why there seemed to be so much tension between the two men, and why Steven seemed more hostile to her than usual. Not only that, it suddenly occurred to India that at one time her brother and ex-fiancé had been on pretty friendly terms, but had something come between them to change that? The other woman she’d seen Steven with, perhaps?”
Steven turned a deep shade of purple. “Take your goddamn hands off of me, you goddamn queer.”
Jack chuckled. “If I’m queer, what does that make you? Should I tell everyone in the room how you’d beg for it? What if I let it be known that you had planned on marrying my sister, and carrying on your affair with me? How you couldn’t wait for me to screw you? Or, and this is a good one,” Jack laughed, “before we became lovers, you had a thing for trannies?” A malicious smile curved Jack’s lips. “I’m wondering if it was a woman India saw you with at all and not one of your other little friends. Is that why you cut me off so abruptly? Because you found a new playmate? Who was she? Or should I say he?”
India’s eyes widened. Though she hadn’t gotten a good look at the woman’s face, there had been something a bit masculine about her. India wanted to throw up when she realized how thoroughly close she’d come to being duped. They would have gotten married and he would have continued to carry on affairs—and possibly with her own brother.”
“I don’t have to listen to this,” Steven mumbled indignantly, hauling his arm out of Jack’s grip.
“That’s fine, I already got what I wanted from you anyway, and you enjoyed giving it to me.” Jack turned to India then. “He was using you, little sis, because you were the perfect trophy wife who probably wouldn’t demand too much of his time while he was out playing. I bet he even thought you might have guessed where his preferences lay and tried to reconcile with you so you would keep your mouth shut.”