Read Online In a Moon Smile by Sherri Coner - Free Book Online

trying to look calm. The quiver of his Adam’s apple, however, was a dead giveaway. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner, honey?”
    “There was nothing to tell,” Chesney said with a fake shrug. “We weren’t able to get to the next level. That’s all. No one’s fault. We just weren’t ready to be married.”
    “What a crock,” Charlotte growled. “When you get engaged, you make it to the next level, Chesney. Mother and Dad wish you discovered your stupidity before they laid out the big bucks for the rental of the reception hall… for the second time.”
    “Good point, hon,” Cooper said and Chesney was surprised that he didn’t offer Charlotte a high five.
    Charlotte, shut the hell up, you little reptile.
    As she stabbed at the peas on her plate, Chesney blinked away tears and begged herself not to cry.
    “What happened to the two of you, sweetheart?” her father asked.
    Now Chesney’s lips trembled. Tears stung her eyes. She wanted to curl up on her dad’s lap and be a little girl again. She wanted to sob her heart out about how Jack betrayed her. “I can’t talk about it,” she said in a soft voice.
    I can’t bring myself to tell my dad about Jack fooling around with his assistant, Belinda Big Butt, who has straight hair, womanly breasts and long legs.
    For some reason, Chesney feared that if she was honest about what happened, her parents might smile and say something like, “Can you blame him, honey? A real man can’t lust after a barely five foot, two inch ironing board with bad hair.”
    She didn’t think they would respond in that manner. But then again, why chance it? Chesney watched the news flutter around the family table. Her mother looked away, trying to hide the disappointment and rage. Again, the oldest daughter took a detour from the altar. Again, friends and extended family would quietly ask Madelyn why her daughter can’t land a husband and why she can’t seem to figure out until the wedding dress, the bridesmaid gifts and the reception hall have been purchased, that she doesn’t want to be married.
    As Madelyn buttered a slab of bread, she was already worried about how to break the news at bridge club. Chesney saw her disdain, right between the butter knife attack on the bread and the moment she turned in her chair to sooth Piper with a lone green bean and another cracker. Madelyn’s fingers trembled slightly as she stroked Piper’s hair. Her beautiful swan neck was blotchy with red dots of I-wish-I-didn’t-have-Chesney-for-a-daughter. Those blotches were Morse code for Chesney. Her failure had again deeply wounded her mom.
    As usual, Lyle chose avoidance. He pretended to be deeply engrossed in slicing the roast. He was, of course, angry with Jack for stringing the family along. He was angry about the fact that Chesney was no longer on her way to becoming the respectable wife of a polished young man who frequented the finest golf courses. Lyle’s dream of bragging about his wealthy son-in-law drizzled down the front of his shirt much like the gravy. As Chesney watched the shadow of disappointment cross her father’s face, she felt ill.
    Charlotte, glib as usual, removed her chunky daughter from the high chair and bounced Piper like a trophy on her lap. The baby was a silent reminder that Charlotte, not Chesney, was the family winner. It was an unspoken message to everyone: Feel sorry for a moment that Chesney has once again failed. Then turn your attention to the Chosen One, her Gerber baby and her ambitious, perfect husband.
    Before the news could thoroughly sink in and be questioned, Chesney decided to drop the other bomb. “I bought back Granny Grace’s place,” she said it suddenly, before the bowl of mashed potatoes made its way past perfect Charlotte.
    “What?” All forks froze in mid air. All eyes were on Chesney.
    “Yes,” she nodded as her heart picked up a rapid beat.
    Aha, for a moment, everyone in the dining room forgot that Charlotte even had a uterus.