Starcrossed

Chapter 16c: Cheile Rioga (part 3)

Chapter 16 (part 3)

Cheile Rioga (KEE-luh ree-OH-gah): Royal Consort

Suddenly, Mrs. O'Gara came to life. "I'm so glad we finally have this settled! Allister, I should have known you'd make a right hash of things, with your high-handed attitude and your ultimatums. None of this will become truly important for years and years, you know, so there was no need whatsoever to upset the children tonight."

She gave me a motherly smile that was meant to be comforting, but I couldn't help looking past her to the Stuarts. They didn't look nearly as complacent as the O'Garas did, though they seemed less upset than before. Dr. Stuart caught my eye and smiled reassuringly, but I thought it looked a little forced.

"And now, I suppose we'd better get Emileia home, hadn't we?" Mrs. O'Gara continued. "Goodness, it's after eleven o'clock! I hope your aunt won't be too upset with us, dear."

After tonight's revelations, that should have been the least of my worries, but I winced out of habit, knowing how mad she'd be—and not at the O'Garas.

"Yeah, I guess I really should get home," I mumbled, feeling like a wimp for agreeing.

"Thank you for coming tonight, M," Mr. Stuart said then, the first words he'd spoken since Allister dropped his bombshell. "I'm sorry things became so . . . awkward." He sounded like he was barely controlling some strong emotion.

"Thanks for inviting me." I encompassed Rigel and his parents with as pleasant a smile as I could summon under the circumstances, not wanting them to worry about me. "It was a great party. I'll . . . see you all soon."

Rigel took a step toward me at the same time I took a step toward him, but his grandfather didn't let go of his shoulder—and Mrs. O'Gara put a hand on mine.

"We'd better hurry, dear." I was pretty sure I wasn't imagining the anxiety in her voice. I was also pretty sure it didn't have anything to do with Aunt Theresa getting pissed.

Rigel and I weren't even going to be allowed a good-night kiss? My gaze locked with his. See you tomorrow? I thought at him as clearly as I could.

He gave me an almost imperceptible nod, but I also heard the word, Somehow. Like he didn't think it would be that easy. I hoped he was wrong.

No one spoke as we walked out to the O'Garas' van. Molly still seemed afraid to look at me, and I was careful to keep my distance from Sean. But when we got in, I somehow ended up sandwiched between the two of them in the back seat. I resolutely ignored the tingle from Sean, about three times stronger than the one from Molly.

As Mr. O'Gara started the engine, Sean cleared his throat. "M, I'm really sorry. I begged Uncle Allister not to say anything about this. I knew it would freak you out."

Before I could decide how to reply, Mrs. O'Gara twisted around in her seat to face me. "Yes, dear, I need to apologize for my brother. Allister handled this extremely poorly and we're all sorry about that. No one wanted you upset, I promise you."

I glanced at Molly, still silent and still not looking at me, then at Sean, then back to Mrs. O'Gara. "But you knew? All of you knew, this whole time?" I knew I sounded accusatory, but I couldn't help it. I felt accusatory!

Mrs. O'Gara nodded. "We've known since you were born, dear. Of course, like everyone else, we thought you'd been killed along with your parents when you were small."

"Molly?" I asked. She gave me one quick, distressed glance before looking away again, but it answered my question—and it hurt, because I'd really, truly thought we were becoming friends. I'd told her most of my secrets, after all.

I turned to Sean. "And you?"

He at least had the courage to meet my eye, though he was clearly uncomfortable. "Yeah. I grew up knowing that if you'd lived, we'd eventually, um . . . But you have to believe I never meant to spring it on you like this!"

I couldn't think of anything else to say. The very idea that they'd all been . . . conspiring, while acting oh-so innocent every time I'd been to their house over the past two weeks, made me feel both betrayed and foolish. Not that I could possibly have known.

Had Rigel suspected? He'd always seemed more jealous of Sean than I'd thought reasonable at the time. And Sean's animosity toward Rigel was now completely explained. He must have come to Jewel practically thinking of me as his property! That thought made me even angrier, but I seethed in silence.

"Here we are," Mr. O'Gara announced a few minutes later, pulling into my driveway. "Lili, would you like to go to the door with M to explain why she's so late?"

Sean climbed out of the back seat so I could follow, then hesitated.

"No, dear, you stay in the car," his mother told him. He obeyed without question. Not the first time he'd surprised me tonight.

I opened the front door a moment later, hoping against hope that Aunt Theresa had already gone to bed, but I wasn't that lucky. She stormed out of the kitchen almost the second I stepped over the threshold.

"Young lady, do you have any idea—" she began, then spotted Mrs. O'Gara and immediately became less strident, though she still looked angry. "Oh, hello, Lili. I didn't realize—"

"Theresa, I came in to apologize for bringing Marsha home so terribly late. You know how young people can be when they're having fun, totally losing track of the time. We suggested she come home with us, as we were all leaving and we live so close by."

"Thank you, Lili. I should have known not to depend on Dave Morrison. He lets his daughter wrap him around her finger. Missy, you are lucky we have conscientious neighbors who don't allow their children to stay out till all hours."

"Yes, ma'am," I mumbled, since there was no way I could explain exactly how much this wasn't my fault.

And instead of making up some excuse that would let me off the hook, Mrs. O'Gara just patted me on the shoulder and said, "Speaking of which, I'd better get my two home before they fall asleep. Will we see you at church tomorrow?"

"Of course." Aunt Theresa was all smiles now. "And thank you again, Lili. Good night."

With a nod and a last, motherly smile at me, Mrs. O'Gara left.

The second the door was closed, Aunt Theresa rounded on me, her smile disappearing as though it had never existed as she prepared to lower the boom.

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