The Triad Page 10

Jayne nodded. “Don’t expect something on the scale of this supper, though. Do you have these family suppers often?”

  “No. I can’t remember Papa ever catering a meal.” Mo swallowed. Mama had always taken care of those details. What Mo wouldn’t give to talk to Mama about Les and Jayne! She was being as honest as she could with Les, her usual confidante, but obviously she had to tread carefully. She couldn’t talk to Jayne. Papa? No, not about this. Ann? She already knew more than enough. Maybe she should visit Mama’s crypt, pour her heart out, and hope the silence would answer her.

  “So it’s nobody’s birthday or anything like that?” Jayne asked, dragging Mo back to the conversation.

  “Nope, I would have told you. I think Papa just wants to see us all around the table for once.”

  “And the whole family will be there?”

  Mo could hear the anxiety in Jayne’s voice and resisted the urge to touch her arm. “Don’t worry about Mary and Matthew. They were fine when we went to the Dance Hall, and they haven’t caused any trouble since.” Mo kept her eyes forward, despite wanting to look at Jayne.

  “We should go to the Dance Hall again,” Les said.

  “Yeah, we should,” Mo said slowly. Why did Les have to be so flaming dutiful, even when it hurt her? Les didn’t have anything to prove. She didn’t have to show that she could go to the Dance Hall and watch them dance. Mo wanted to scream at her, and hug her. But for now, she’d hang onto her hand and hope tonight’s supper would be more bearable than the supper with Jayne.

  When they reached the house, Mo glimpsed a few faces through the living room window. As soon as she’d hung her cloak, a caterer ushered her into the living room and offered her a drink. “I feel like I’m at someone else’s house, not mine,” she murmured to Les as she surveyed the room. Everyone was here except Matthew...and Papa! Figures. “Where’s Papa?” she asked Nathan.

  “He’s here. He said he had to go to the study and not to disturb him.”

  “He’s probably asleep.” Mo glanced to her left, to make sure Jayne had followed them into the living room and received a drink. Would the caterers seat Les between them? That seemed to be the seating arrangement everyone had adopted for the triad, though it wasn’t the one they observed when they were alone. She and Les tended to sit across from Jayne, and when they walked together, Mo usually ended up in the middle. She hadn’t thought anything of it before, but now...

  The front door thumped shut. “You just made it,” Andrew shouted when Matthew entered the room.

  “I missed the train by a minute,” a harried-looking Matthew replied. He glanced around. “Where’s Papa?”

  “Supper is ready,” a caterer announced from the hallway. “If you would follow me to the dining room, please.”

  “Does she think we can’t find it?” Nathan murmured, making Mo smile. As she walked to the dining room with everyone else, Mo wondered why Papa was making such a fuss. This was the sort of meal she expected at the Thompsons’, with caterers bustling around and everyone acting as if they hobnobbed and ate gazillion-course meals all the time. Mama had only ever arranged catered meals to mark significant social events, such as Neil’s notification lunch. True, they hadn’t eaten together for a while, but that had never bothered Papa before.

  The pretentious table settings reinforced her impression that the supper was way over the top. There were place cards! And, as expected, hers was to Les’s right and Jayne’s to Les’s left. After everyone had taken their seats, Mo noticed that the caterers had made a mistake. There was a table setting at Mama’s place, which wouldn’t be a great start to the supper for Papa. Mo glanced around for a caterer, hoping to rectify the error before Papa arrived.

  But she was too late. Papa strode into the room, stood behind his chair, and gripped its back. “I’m glad to see everyone.” He cleared his throat. “I wanted us to gather here, as a family, because I want to introduce you to someone. Someone special to me.” His cheeks flushed a deep red.

  Mo stared at him. He couldn’t mean...

  “I met Peggy on one of my government committees. We have a lot in common and enjoy each other’s company. I’d like you to get to know her.” Despite his obvious nervousness, he managed to smile. “I know she’d like to get to know you. So I’ll just go fetch her from the study.” He wheeled and left the room.

  Everyone started to whisper, but Mo wasn’t listening. Her fingernails dug into her palms. If not for Les’s firm hand on her leg, she’d push back her chair, march from the room, and not look back. Am I the only one who didn’t know? No, everyone looked as shocked as she felt. Except Nathan. She narrowed her eyes. He didn’t look surprised. When she got him alone...

  She wanted to close her eyes when footsteps approached, but forced herself to watch as Papa escorted his new “friend” into the dining room, his hand lightly touching her waist. “This is Peggy,” he announced.

  Peggy nodded. “Hello.” Murmured greetings answered her.

  “I’ll start here and go around the table. This is Neil, and his Chosen, Barbara.”

  Peggy smiled. “Pleased to meet you.”

  Mo couldn’t deny her smug satisfaction when Peggy’s smile remained fixed. Nervous, was she? Finding it nerve-wracking to force her way into someone else’s family? Mo tried not to frown when Papa gestured in her direction.

  “And this is Mo, my youngest daughter.”

  Peggy nodded. “Pleased to meet you, Mo.”

  Mo hung onto Les’s hand and returned the nod.

  “And Mo’s Chosens,” Papa said with a chuckle, “Lesley and Jayne.”

  “Oh, yes, the triad. I’ll look forward to chatting with you later.”

  Well, that made one of them. When Papa finished his introductions, he motioned for Peggy to sit. She did—in Mama’s place. Mo whipped her napkin off the table and angrily unfolded it. Fortunately she was seated several chairs away from Peggy, because the urge to spill something on her might have been irresistible.

  The caterers rolled in the first course. Mo half-heartedly stabbed at the salad with her fork and didn’t bother participating in any of the small talk. Papa was lucky she was still here. Every time she heard Peggy’s voice or glimpsed her, she thought of Mama...and how she’d died.

  Les’s attentive behaviour throughout supper only made Mo feel guiltier. Les didn’t need this, either. Papa’s timing couldn’t have been worse—not that there ever would have been a good time. Why hadn’t he warned her? Did he honestly expect her to welcome this woman into the family? Peggy would be a constant reminder of one of the worst periods in Mo’s life. Mo couldn’t deal with that, not when her life was already going through another rough patch. She didn’t have the energy or the inclination to cozy up to Papa’s flaming girlfriend when her own relationship was struggling.

  *****

  From one end of the sofa, Jayne watched everyone else in the room socializing, noting who made the effort to speak to Peggy and who skirted around her. Mary’s nose was definitely out of joint, Neil and Barbara weren’t sure, and Andrew kept his eye on her from a distance. Only Matthew and Nathan seemed comfortable around her, making sure her drink was topped up and quickly engaging her in conversation whenever Michael was distracted with someone else.

  As for Mo...upset was an understatement. She hadn’t spoken to Peggy once, and if looks could kill, Peggy’s family would be planning her farewell ceremony and Mo would be at an execution site. Mo’s uncharacteristic reticence as they’d flown to the Middleton estate had already deepened Jayne’s concern about whatever was going on between her two Chosens. Now this.

  Jayne felt shut out. Mo had never talked about her mama, and Jayne hadn’t wanted to ask. It would be an awkward conversation, when your own mama was an embarrassment. Had Mo and her mama been close? Had she died when Mo was young? How had she died? As far as Jayne could recall, Mo’s mama had come up in conversation only once, when Mo was talking to Ann about Andrew. Why did Mo never speak of her? Jayne realized with a start that Mo knew
more about her mama than she did about Mo’s.

  Maybe Peggy’s sudden appearance would force Lesley and Mo to deal with whatever was troubling them—or make it worse. Mo wasn’t the only one acting strange. Jayne had grown used to Lesley’s restrained manner and was learning how to deduce her mood and opinions based on her subtle body language. When Jayne had first met her Chosens, Mo’s ability to read Lesley had seemed uncanny; Jayne could almost have believed that Mo knew how to read Lesley’s mind. Now it wasn’t so mysterious, though were she and Mo to have a guess what Lesley is thinking contest, Jayne would still lose.

  But as in the restaurant, Lesley’s manner may have fooled those at the supper table tonight, but not Jayne. Lesley was distant, indifferent, concerned about Mo but emotionally flat about everything else. She seemed...sad all the time. What was wrong? Carol said to stay out of it, but how long could Jayne watch them struggle? It wasn’t only a matter of ensuring the triad survived—she cared about them! But they didn’t care about her, not to the same extent, and so she was in the dark, and wasn’t surprised to still be sitting by herself twenty minutes after they’d mumbled that they’d be back in five. Were they talking about Peggy, about their problem—whatever it was—or had they just wanted some time to themselves? All Jayne could do was sit and sip her drink, and hope they’d soon return, to her and to their normal selves. She missed them.

  *****

  Mo lifted the pile of socks in her top dresser drawer and pulled out the small case hidden beneath them. “Mama’s commendation,” she said with a sigh. “I haven’t looked at it in months. I haven’t visited the crypt lately, either.” She lifted the lid and stared at the silver badge, then held out the case.

  Lesley took it and gazed down at the commendation she’d only seen once. Apprehension filled her as she remembered when Michael had presented it to Mo. Mo’s depression, her struggle to move beyond the accident and her mama’s death, the emotional visit to the crypt with the Middletons—why did Michael have to choose now to introduce Peggy to the family?

  “If it wasn’t for me, Mama would have been at the supper table, not what’s-her-face.” Mo folded her arms and shook her head.

  Not again. “If it wasn’t for you, hundreds of children would have died.” In an instant, the same overwhelming futility she’d felt on the Falcon when she’d said those words for the hundredth time returned. Lesley quickly moved on. “It’s been almost five years, Mo. He’s not an old man.”

  “Why didn’t he tell us before—” she lifted her hands and flexed them, as though she were strangling someone “—forcing her on us like that. Nathan said the only reason he wasn’t completely surprised was because he’d run into them at the Trading Centre a few months back, and then here, in the study. He fell for their ‘we’re working’ line. Come on!”

  Lesley chuckled to herself and handed the commendation back to Mo. “Maybe your papa wanted to wait until he was sure about her. Introducing her to the family...that’s a big step.”

  “He should have warned us.” Mo placed the case back in its hiding place and slid the drawer shut.

  “Perhaps, but what would you have said if he’d told you in advance? You probably would have told him you didn’t want to meet her.”

  “Maybe,” Mo mumbled. “I mean, every time I look at her, I’ll think of Mama.”

  If Lesley was forced to choose between Mo sinking into a depression and Mo acting on her feelings for Jayne, she’d choose the latter. She couldn’t bear to see Mo go through that again. “I don’t want you shutting yourself away.”

  “I won’t, unless she’s around.” Mo met Lesley’s eyes. “So you’d care if I shut myself away?”

  “Of course I’d care.” She instinctively stepped toward Mo, reached for her—and closed her eyes when Mo fell into her arms. She could almost believe that everything was right between them.

  “Do you think she’s noticed that I’m not happy about her?” Mo said into Lesley’s shoulder.

  Lesley wondered if Mo could feel her smile. “Yes, I do.” She hesitated. “You have to give her some credit for not forcing you into conversation with her. She’s had plenty of opportunity, but she’s given you a wide berth.”

  “Maybe Papa told her about the accident, which he had no right to do.”

  “Mo, he had every right to tell her how his Chosen died. You know that.”

  After a moment, Mo grunted. “I guess Jayne’s noticed too.”

  So much for their brief respite from the storm. Lesley drew back. “I’m sure she has.”

  “I have to tell her about the accident. Tonight.”

  “Tonight? Are you sure?”

  Mo nodded. “We’re already keeping Jayne in the dark about everything else. It won’t be fair if she’s the only one who doesn’t know why Peggy makes me want to throw up.”

  If not for the memory of Mo’s drawn face, the body swallowed by clothes that no longer fit, and the hours, days, and weeks Mo had spent staring vacantly at her comm display while she neglected her quarters, career, friends, and lover, Lesley would have resisted, advised Mo that telling Jayne could wait. But she wouldn’t dare risk aggravating Mo’s depressive tendency. “It’s your decision.”

  Would Jayne understand how severely the accident had affected Mo? She wasn’t there; she didn’t live through it. She didn’t see Mo shrunken and defeated; didn’t sit through countless conversations listening to Mo torment herself with “what if” and “if only.” Hadn’t hated her helplessness and been overwhelmed with guilt because she wished the old Mo would resurface. Hadn’t cheered Mo on as she clawed her way out of darkness.

  “Will you come with us when I take Jayne home?” Mo looked up at her. “I don’t want to tell her here, not with Nathan and Andrew and maybe—uh, can I stay with you tonight?”

  Lesley’s throat tightened when she realized that Mo assumed they’d tell Jayne together. “Sure.” She not only wanted to be there for the conversation with Jayne, but afterward too, so Mo wouldn’t be alone to brood. Mo still needed her, still wanted her support. Perhaps all wasn’t lost.

  *****

  Jayne unbuckled her seatbelt, picked up her sketchbook, and rose. “Thank you. I’ll see you on Sunday.” Though if the flight home was any indication, it would be a quiet supper table.

  Mo twisted around. “Can we talk for a minute?”

  “Sure.” She sat back down, hopeful that she was about to find out what the problem was between them. Maybe they’d resolved it? Or were they upset with her and the disagreement was over how to handle it? Was that why they couldn’t seem to relax and be themselves around her? “What is it?” she blurted.

  Mo glanced at Lesley. “Do you mind if we talk in your apartment?”

  Her heart pounded. “No, not at all.” It must be serious. It wasn’t as if they’d never held an uncomfortable and difficult discussion inside one of their aviacrafts; Jayne had found out about Brenda Stewart while in Lesley’s.

  By the time she swung open her apartment door, all sorts of scenarios had run through her mind, including CT134. If not for their recent behaviour, she wouldn’t entertain that possibility, but now... “Would you like tziva?” she asked evenly.

  They shook their heads, and also turned down her offer to take their cloaks. She led them into the living room, invited them to sit, and perched on the chair across from them.

  “You probably noticed I’m not that thrilled about Peggy.” Mo’s grin was too wide.

  Jayne nodded. “It must be strange to see your papa with someone else.” Especially out of the blue.

  Mo sighed. “Yeah, that’s part of it. But...” She swallowed. Lesley took Mo’s hand and gave her a reassuring smile. “I haven’t told you how my mama died.” Mo looked down at her lap. “She—she died in an accident. An aviacraft accident. I crashed it. The craft.”

  Now Jayne understood why Mo hadn’t wanted to talk in the aviacraft. How horrible! What could she say that wouldn’t sound flaming inadequate?

  “On purpos
e,” Mo clarified. “I crashed the craft on purpose.”

  What? Jayne blinked at her.

  “I had to.” Mo’s shoulders heaved. “I...” Her lips formed a thin line and she shook her head.

  “The aviacraft’s navigation system failed,” Lesley said, rubbing Mo’s back. “It was headed right for a learning academy. The only way to avoid hitting it was to ditch—bring the craft down before it reached the building. Unfortunately a gentle landing wasn’t an option.” She paused, perhaps to allow Mo to pick up the story, then continued. “Mo and her mama had been to the Trading Centre and were on their way home. They were both brave, both willing to give up their lives to save the academy. Unfortunately Susan didn’t make it. Mo almost died too. She was awarded a medal for saving so many lives.”

  The horror of it left Jayne speechless. Not only would Mo have felt responsible for her mama’s death, but guilty for surviving. Perhaps she still did.

  “I didn’t handle it well.” Mo’s eyes were moist, but her voice was steady. “I blamed myself, and almost threw everything away.” She turned to Lesley. “Including Les. It got so bad, my commanding officer invoked Article 844.”

  It must have been serious. Jayne finally found her voice. “I’m sorry.”

  “Without Les’s support, I wouldn’t have made it. Seriously, Jayne, I wouldn’t have made it. And she didn’t have to stand by me. We weren’t Chosens then.”

  Yes, they were, and right now, with Lesley comforting Mo, they were behaving naturally with each other. Jayne suspected it wouldn’t last; this conversation wasn’t about whatever was upsetting their relationship. But they’d managed to put their relationship problems aside—an encouraging sign that they might eventually overcome whatever the other issues were. They clearly still loved each other; that wasn’t the problem. But Jayne would think about that later. She wanted to focus on Mo and this conversation.

  “Having my papa drop Peggy on us like that...I couldn’t help but think of my mama and how she died. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to stop.”