31 - Wallflower

Meg hid her happiness when Cade had agreed to run together. He had changed, and she wanted to help. To fix him. If she googled, she would probably find a hundred reasons women shouldn't try to fix men, but she wanted to help him heal. She had seen him flinch when a kid kicked a soccer ball towards them. The thought of living day after day in fear left an ache in her heart. Meg had felt afraid when the thug was at her office building and she listened to the message, but she trusted Eli and later her father. She no longer felt at risk. Maybe she was lucky because her father was powerful.

After she ran off, she decided he would become her challenge. With her unsuccessful meeting at work, her career felt uninspiring and hopeless. Tyler continued to keep his distance from Lucy and Emily too. Even though Mick had been civil when she saw him at the park, she couldn't call him. He didn't need to be a wedge between her and his best friend. So focusing on Cade gave her a goal.

Meg spent her afternoon turning into a lady by Shannon's standards. Without a viable excuse, she would join her parents at the Kane's garden party. The matriarch of the largest family owned real estate company held a lot of clout in Boston society, especially for other old Beacon Hill families. The Kane children were older than her, but she watched the son on reality TV, even though Tyler teased her.

The party might allow her to see her favorite author again. Technically, she had a lot of favorites, but he was the only one she had met. Still, the thought of attending without Tyler left her uneasy. Maybe she was a little like Cade. If Cade was on her arm, she wouldn't worry at all. This is Caden, he's the C in CEJ Games... Instead, she would find a place to sit and be a wallflower.

Brian stood in the front hall when she descended the staircase dressed in a strapless gown. "You look lovely. Happier?"

She shrugged. "I miss him." Seeing Cade had breathed some hope back into her. For what she didn't know?

He turned his attention to the top of the stairs. "Your mother looks stunning."

Shannon wore a dress which draped over one shoulder. "She does." Her eyes clouded over as she wished for a partner who would find her beautiful after thirty-five years. More importantly, one who would make her heart sing after three decades.

Although they lived close enough to walk, a driver drove them down and around the block. Then they waited in a row of cars before their car reached the door. Brian said, "It would have been faster to walk."

Meg giggled, but Shannon didn't find it amusing. "This is Amelia Kane's party. We are not walking up to the door with a homemade pie."

Meg giggled more, but stopped as they reached the front door. Her stomach clenched. The last party she attended alone ended poorly. Luckily, the pig in question was convicted of assaulting other women. As she stepped out, she ran the rules through her head. Chin up. Smile. Don't drink too much champagne.

They entered the large foyer only to step out another door; the garden was actually at the side of the house on a large corner lot. Most families sold off their extra property years ago, but not the Kanes.

As they stepped into the garden, Meg admired the twinkling lights on every tree and shrub. A string quartet played music by the patio dance floor. As she scanned the area, she recognized friends of her mothers. Her eyes stopped. Chickie was talking to Mrs. Alden. Meg hadn't seen her since Tyler unfriended her. She looked towards laughter. Gray Hoffman stood with the group of others.

She stepped forward and plucked a flute off a tray. Scanning for a place to hide, she spied a bench at the far end of the yard. In front of her, Mr. Whitby held the waist of a beautiful exotic woman. When he smiled, she turned to look who was behind her.

"The editor. Have you met my wife, Sofia?"

She shook her head. He remembered her. "Margaret Rice. The Attorney General's daughter."

Monty laughed. "She's being modest. She works for my favorite magazine."

Meg smiled. "Not Forbes?"

"No, business bores me. How's life at the magazine?"

She frowned. "Fine."

Sofia said, "Not fine. How come?" Her large brown eyes were warm and inviting.

"I tried to advocate for my career and was told I was too important to be promoted."

"That's ridiculous. Monty talk to someone."

He cleared his throat. "I don't know anyone there."

"Maybe your friend wants a personal editor?"

Monty laughed. "He complains too many people are chopping up his books between his agent and editor. I could introduce you to Oliver Sumner, although he's not here tonight." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a business card. "Here. Send me your resume."

"Thank you, Mr. Whitby."

"Monty, please."

She smiled. "Please call me, Meg. My friends do."

Feeling a little better, she started towards the bench, but stopped short. "Margaret."

She knew the voice as well as her own. Slowly, she looked in its direction. Tyler stood with an expression she couldn't read and his arm around a tall, thin, beautiful woman. Her mouth went dry as she croaked out his name. "Ty-ler."

"This is Ariella. She's an analyst at D&T."

Meg smiled. "Meg Rice. I'm the daughter of the Attorney General. I love your gown."

Tyler's eyes narrowed as she introduced herself as a daughter rather than his best friend or by her job title. Assistant editor sounded like fluff compared to an analyst, especially when numbers gave Meg a headache.

Tyler laughed. "She works at Beantown Magazine."

Ariella smiled. "I stick to financial periodicals, like Tyler." Her long red painted finger nails rested possessively on Tyler's chest. Meg wasn't jealous Tyler had found a date so quickly, but her gut feared that Ariella was the last nail in the coffin of her friendship with Tyler.

"Tyler reads Beantown. He loves the restaurant reviews."

"Well, that's different. He took me to an amazing restaurant last night. What was it called?" She looked up at him.

At least, Tyler was pleasing her in bed, Meg smirked slightly. When Tyler answered, her smirk disappeared. It was the restaurant from their first real date. "I've been there. I found it overrated."

Ariella smiled. "If you had a date like Tyler, you wouldn't say that."

Meg forced a smile and said, "You are probably right. I went with my very best friend. I'm not a fan of pretentious menus."

Tyler sighed. "Forgive Meg. She would rather eat a hamburger."

She nodded. "Some of my best memories are of sharing a plate of fries."

Ariella looked too thin to eat anything fried. "Tyler, I thought you were taking me to meet some of our clients."

He looked at Meg a moment, before nodding. "I am. We'll move on."

Meg watched them walk away. She was glad Tyler found a woman to fawn over him, but it hurt a little that he had moved on so quickly. It also explained why he had been ignoring their friends.

"A Benjamin for your thoughts because they have to be major."

She turned to Eli. "Big spender. I'll tell you for free. If he's moved on why doesn't he forgive me so we can be friends again?"

Eli laughed. "You're assuming he's moved on. Men lead with their, um, you know. It doesn't mean his heart is involved."

She thought about the similar women he dated in the past. "Well, I won't be around to make this one jealous."

"How are you holding up, Meg?"

She shrugged. "Like a kid whose best friend moved away. Guess who I ran into again?" She smiled.

He paused. "Maloney? Where did you see him? Running?"

"Yup. I can tell the ordeal took a lot out of him."

Eli nodded. "He's lucky you spoke up, or he'd be rotting in jail. His sister is like a burr under my skin."

"Why? Has she beat you in court?"

He frowned. "Twice, but they were minor cases."

"Poor Eli. Your ego."

"Do you need another drink?"

"No, I was going to be a wallflower, but..." She sighed. "Now the bench I was eyeing is taken."

He laughed. "This is her garden."

Meg studied the couple. "And you knew her before her husband."

Eli shrugged. "They knew each other. He saved her. It was an awful case."

"Luckily, he got the girl." Meg saved Cade, but he didn't even like her, except as a running partner. She sighed. "I think I might walk home."

Eli grabbed her arm. "I prefer you didn't."

Meg laughed. "This is my neighborhood. If I go through the gate, it's just around the corner."

Eli sighed. "Come on through the front. I'll see you home. I'm bored too."

As they approached the door to the Kane's house, Tyler appeared and looked at them together. Eli whispered. "Don't start. We're leaving. Separately."

Ariella wasn't in sight, so Meg touched Tyler's arm. He moved it away to let her hand fall. "Can we talk for a moment?"

"Say it in front of my brother."

"Fine. Since you've moved on, can we be friends again?"

He looked down at her and slowly shook his head. "No, because Ari will get jealous. I don't need you sabotaging my relationship."

At a loss for words, she said, "I miss Blue. Can I see her?"

"We are talking about going to Martha's Vineyard soon. You can dog sit."

She nodded. "Okay. Just let me know when." She saw Ariella out of the corner of her eye and added, "Have a good night, you two."

Then she stepped around them as Ariella clung to Tyler and said, "Eli, you know her too. She's so sweet. Is she still in school?"

Meg didn't stick around to listen, but thought when Ari's fifty, she'll look her age, and I won't look a day over thirty-five.

Once on the street she kicked off her shoes. She wanted to jog, but her dress had no support. Eli didn't follow her, and she was just as glad.

The next morning she lied to Cade when she said she was out late.

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