Chapter 2

The next morning, Celeste was sitting in my chair beside Gabriel. She stirred two sugars into his coffee before pushing the cup toward him.

"You still use the blue cup," she said. "I thought Evelyn might have replaced it by now."

Gabriel glanced at me. I took the empty chair across from them and reached for the toast.

"That's your seat," he said.

"Celeste is already comfortable." I spread butter across the toast. "I'm fine here."

Celeste rested one hand beside Gabriel's plate. "We never cared where we sat. Half the time, we ate standing over the kitchen counter."

She smiled at the memory. Gabriel kept his eyes on me, waiting for the question I didn't ask.

Beatrice Blackwood arrived while breakfast was still being served. She kissed her son, then wrapped Celeste in a long embrace.

"You look wonderful," Beatrice said. "Gabriel told me the divorce was exhausting. You shouldn't be alone right now."

"Gabriel's taken good care of me." Celeste lowered her eyes, though her smile remained.

Beatrice squeezed her shoulder. "You always knew how to make his birthday special. You should plan the dinner this year."

Celeste looked at me. "Only if Evelyn doesn't mind. I wouldn't want her to think I was taking over."

The event folder was on the sideboard behind me. I picked it up and placed it beside Celeste's plate.

"Everything is in there," I said. "The guest list, menu, florist, and seating plan."

Celeste touched the folder but didn't open it. When I said nothing else, her smile lost some of its brightness.

Gabriel's hand closed over the top of the folder. "You don't have to give her the entire dinner."

"She wants it, and your mother wants her to have it." I looked at him. "Do you object?"

His fingers remained on the folder for another second. Then he released it.

Celeste drew it toward herself. "Don't worry, Evelyn. I'll make sure Gabriel has the evening he wants."

"I'm sure you will."

Gabriel followed me out of the breakfast room. He waited until the door closed behind us before stepping into my path.

"Are you punishing me?" he asked.

"For what?"

His jaw tightened. "For bringing Celeste here. For letting her help with the dinner."

"You said she needed a friend. Your mother says she understands you better than I do. I listened to both of you."

"That's never stopped you from telling me when I'm wrong."

He was close enough that I could smell the coffee Celeste had made for him. His gaze dropped to my bare throat.

"Why aren't you wearing the necklace?"

"I said I'd wear it to your birthday dinner."

"You used to wear my gifts as soon as I gave them to you."

"You used to give them to me without another woman explaining how you chose them."

He went still. "Is that what this is? You're jealous?"

The tension left his shoulders. Jealousy made sense to him. It meant I still wanted my place beside him.

"Do you want me to send her away?" he asked.

"Would you?"

Before he answered, Celeste opened the breakfast room door.

"Gabriel, my ex's lawyer just called. I have to collect the last of my things today." She slipped her phone into her purse. "You promised you would come with me."

Gabriel looked at me, then at Celeste. "I'll get the car."

Celeste waited until he walked away. "Don't hold dinner for us. This could take a while."

"I won't."

After they left, I opened the family office account my lawyer had told me to review. I searched for Celeste Laurent.

Eighteen monthly transfers filled the screen.