“Zoe, calm down.” Van frowned, and he lifted his head up, a questioning look on his face. “What time did she leave?”
He couldn’t hear Zoe’s words. Just a low murmur as Van held the phone to her face. He leaned back on the desk, watching her as she took a deep inhale, her chest rising up in that magnificent dress.
“Okay, just stay there. One of us will come and pick you up. Are you in your dress? Good. Don’t worry, she’ll be okay.”
She covered the mouthpiece and looked at Tanner. “Mom left the house at lunchtime. She hasn’t come home. Zoe’s panicking.”
“You think she’s gone to a bar?” Tanner asked her. Van had told him about the separation papers. And It was typical of Kim to go drown her sorrows when she could be supporting her daughter.
“Probably.”
“I’ll get Becca to go pick Zoe up,” Tanner told her. “And I’ll ask Logan to drive to Moonlight and see if she’s there.”
Van nodded, her lips pressed together, then uncovered the phone. “Honey? Becca’s gonna come to get you. And we’ll get somebody out to look for Mom. Try not to worry, okay? She’ll be fine.” Van’s eyes caught Tanner’s. She tried to smile at him, but it looked like a losing battle.
He sighed, and started calling his sister. If Kim spoiled Van’s night, she’d have him to contend with.
Van took a deep breath and looked out at the crowd. Women in elegant dresses laughed with men wearing dark dinner suits, rolling their heads awkwardly, unused to starched collars and bow ties. Waiters weaved their way in and out of the cars carrying trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Mini hotdogs and little cardboard boxes of truffle-oil fries carried on the movie theme, and in front of the stage the orchestra she’d hired was playing movie themes.
Becca had brought Zoe an hour ago. When she saw her sister, Van felt the tension seep out of her like air from a balloon. Logan was still looking for her mom – apparently the Moonlight Bar was empty – but it didn’t matter. Maybe it would be better if she wasn’t here.
The hum of the crowd increased, and Van tipped her head to the side, watching as Gray and Maddie drove up in a shiny old Cadillac. Gray stepped out of the car, looking every inch a superstar, his strong, muscled body encased in the finest wool suit. He opened the passenger door and held his hand out to Maddie, helping her stand on her heels. She looked beautiful with her dark hair caught in a side-chignon, her baby bump visible beneath her champagne silk dress.
“That’s Gray Hartson,” she heard somebody say. “Did you hear his latest album? It’s amazing.”
“I know Gray. I went to school with his sister. Have you seen his brothers? They’re as gorgeous as he is. They sure know how to breed handsome in that family.”
“Hey.” Tanner was smiling at her. Van turned her head to take him in, suddenly feeling breathless. “You okay?”
“I am now.” She stepped forward, curling her fingers around his lapels. “You look amazing,” she whispered, rolling on her toes to kiss him. “Promise me you’ll let me peel this off you tonight.”
He laughed. “I promise,” he said solemnly. “I just left Zoe and her friends. They started screaming when they saw Gray and I couldn’t take it anymore.”
Van laughed. “They all have a huge crush on him.”
“I got that impression.” He rolled his eyes.
“Tanner Hartson!” a deep voice boomed. Van’s stomach dropped when she saw Johnny Fairfax heading their way, wearing an old-fashioned powder blue dinner suit. Nora was dressed in a peach knee-length dress, her hair perfectly coiffured. Van looked over their shoulder for Chrissie, breathing a sigh of relief when she couldn’t see her.
She’d sent their invitations with gritted teeth. Part of her had wanted to slide them into the shredder, but that would have caused more gossip. She could put up with the Fairfaxes for one night.
And maybe she’d enjoy them seeing everything she and Tanner had achieved.
“Good evening, Johnny,” Tanner said, sliding his arms around Van’s shoulders as if he could sense her unease. She didn’t pull away. Didn’t want to. Maybe she didn’t care what the Fairfaxes thought of her.
“Oh. Are you two an item?” Nora asked, looking from Tanner to Van and then back again. “I didn’t realize. Though I guess it makes sense.” Her lips curled up as her eyes met Van’s. “I did wonder why he gave you the job of running this place.”
Van felt the skin on the back of her neck prickle.
“I gave her the job because she’s good at what she does,” Tanner said mildly. “As you can see.” He nodded at the crowd surrounding them. “I’d call this a success.”
Nora’s smile faltered. “It all looks lovely,” she said, her nose wrinkling as though it hurt her to say.
“It really does. Congratulations.” Johnny leaned forward to shake Tanner’s hand. “Of course it was all my idea.” He smiled as he saw people looking at them, listening in. “I showed Tanner the details, suggested he should make the investment.” He chuckled. “Maybe you should name the drive-in after me. Fairfax Drive-In. That has a good sound, doesn’t it?” He pushed his chest out, like a self-important rooster.
“I’ll think about it,” Tanner said, his tone implying he’d do no such thing.
“Van?”
She turned to see Logan and Cam standing there. Tanner’s brothers looked more alike than ever, both dressed in dark tailored suits and crisp white shirts, their hair slicked back from their handsome faces. She could usually tell the difference between them without issue. Logan was the one who wore suits and talked about food. Cam nearly always had bruises and cuts from playing football, and was much more casual than his twin.
“Can we have a word?” Logan asked her. “In private?”
She nodded and followed them, shooting Tanner an apologetic glance for leaving him in Johnny Fairfax’s clutches.
“Did you find Mom?” she asked as soon as they were out of earshot.
“Yeah. She was in a bar in Shawsville,” he told her, referring to the next town over. She’s pretty drunk, too. I wasn’t sure what you wanted me to do with her. She’s sleeping it off in the car.”
“She’s here?” Van’s eyes widened.
“Yep. You want me to take her home?”
Van sighed, pulling her lip between her teeth. “No, it’s okay. If you can stay with her until the movie begins, I’ll take her home then.”
“You sure?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure.” She reached for his arm, curling her hands around his wrist. “And thanks for going to look for her. I appreciate it.”
“Any time. You’re one of us.” He gave her a soft smile. “Family takes care of family.”
Tears unexpectedly came to her eyes. There was something so sweet about the Hartsons. Every one of them filled her heart. “Thank you,” she whispered, her voice thick. “I truly appreciate that.”
She’d spent most of her life pretending family didn’t matter to her. But now it felt like everything. Tanner and Zoe, his brothers and sister, Aunt Gina, and even his dad – they meant everything to her. Her fractured relationship with her mom felt more bearable than it ever had. Maybe things were looking up after all.