Chapter 4

Chapter Four: The Proposal

Coffee and broken ceramic covered the kitchen floor. Everyone stared at me.

"I'm so sorry," I whispered, dropping to my knees to pick up the pieces.

"Leave it," Nick said sharply. "You'll cut yourself."

But I was already gathering the sharp fragments with shaking hands. I needed something to do, needed to not look at anyone's faces.

"A wedding?" Nick's voice was ice. "You want to get married at my house?"

"Our daughter's childhood home," Amanda corrected smoothly. "I think it would be lovely. Very intimate. Just close family and friends."

"You're insane." Nick grabbed a towel and crouched next to me, taking the broken pieces from my hands. His fingers brushed mine and electricity shot up my arm. "Go sit down, Zara. I'll clean this."

I stood up on wobbly legs and moved to the far side of the kitchen.

Preston cleared his throat. "We thought it would be nice for Riley. You know, having both her parents there. Celebrating together."

"Riley hates you," Nick said bluntly, standing up with the towel full of ceramic. "She tolerates you because her mother asked her to. Don't pretend this is for her benefit."

Amanda's smile tightened. "That's not fair, Nicky."

"Don't call me that." Nick threw the broken pieces in the trash with more force than necessary. "And no. Absolutely not. Find another venue."

"But I already told everyone it would be here! The invitations are being printed." Amanda's voice took on a whiny tone. "Please, Nick. For Riley's sake. Show her that we can all be mature adults."

"Mature adults don't show up at their ex husband's house and demand to have a wedding."

"I'm not demanding. I'm asking nicely."

Nick laughed, cold and bitter. "Nothing you do is nice, Amanda. Everything is calculated. So what is it? What do you really want?"

Amanda's face flushed red. "I want my daughter at my wedding. I want to make new memories in this house instead of just painful ones. Is that so wrong?"

"Yes," Nick said flatly. "Get out of my kitchen."

"It's technically still half mine until the property settlement is finalized," Amanda shot back.

The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.

Nick's voice went deadly quiet. "That settlement was finalized three years ago. You signed the papers. This house is mine."

"Actually, there was a clause about the vacation property that my lawyer thinks we should revisit." Amanda sipped her espresso like she hadn't just dropped a bomb. "But we don't need to discuss that now. Let's talk about the wedding."

I wanted to disappear. This was a private family matter and I had no business being here. But if I tried to leave now, everyone would look at me.

"There is no wedding," Nick said. "Not here. Not ever. And if your lawyer wants to revisit the settlement, tell him to call mine. We're done talking."

He walked out of the kitchen without another word.

Amanda turned to me with that fake sweet smile. "Men. So emotional. Don't you think, Zara?"

I didn't answer. I just grabbed a new mug and poured more coffee, my hands still shaking.

"You seem nervous, sweetie," Amanda said. "Did something happen last night? You look like you didn't sleep at all."

Preston shot her a warning look, but she ignored him.

"I'm fine," I mumbled.

"Of course you are." Amanda's eyes glittered with something mean. "You know, Riley told me you've been friends for years. She never mentioned how pretty you are. I bet all the boys at college were chasing you."

"Mom, stop." Riley's voice came from the doorway. She looked exhausted, her blonde hair messy and her eyes puffy. "Leave Zara alone."

"I'm just making conversation, darling."

"No, you're being weird." Riley grabbed my arm. "Come on, Z. Let's go into town. I need to get out of this house."

I let her pull me away gratefully.

Twenty minutes later we were in Riley's Range Rover, driving down the snowy mountain road toward Aspen.

"I'm sorry about my mom," Riley said. "She's insane. A wedding here? Is she trying to torture Dad?"

"Maybe," I said quietly.

Riley glanced at me. "You okay? You seem off."

"Just tired."

"Because of what happened last night with my dad?"

My stomach clenched. "Riley, I really am sorry about that. Nothing happened. I promise."

"I know." She sighed. "I was thinking about it all night. And honestly? Maybe it's not the worst thing in the world."

I stared at her. "What?"

"I mean, yeah, it's weird. Super weird. But you're a good person, Z. And my dad has been alone for so long. If he likes you, if you like him..." She trailed off. "I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy for even considering it."

My heart started racing. "Riley, your dad doesn't like me like that. He said last night was a mistake."

"He said that?"

"Yeah."

Riley snorted. "He's an idiot then. I saw the way he looked at you. That wasn't nothing."

We drove in silence for a while. The mountains were beautiful, covered in fresh snow, but I barely saw them.

"If something did happen between you two," Riley said carefully, "I'd need time to adjust. But I wouldn't hate you. I want you to know that."

Tears pricked my eyes. "Thank you."

"But if he hurts you, I'll kill him. Father or not."

That made me laugh despite everything.

We spent the day in Aspen, shopping and eating lunch and pretending everything was normal. Riley bought me a expensive sweater that I'd never have bought myself. We drank hot chocolate and watched people ice skating in the town square.

For a few hours, I almost forgot about the mess waiting back at the estate.

But when we pulled into the driveway at sunset, my stomach dropped.

There were three cars I didn't recognize parked outside. Expensive cars. Mercedes and BMWs.

"What the hell?" Riley muttered.

We walked inside and heard voices coming from the living room. Lots of voices.

Amanda stood in the center of the room, holding a champagne glass, surrounded by at least ten people I'd never seen before. They were all dressed up, laughing and drinking.

"There's my baby girl!" Amanda called out when she saw Riley. "Come meet everyone! These are Preston's groomsmen and my bridesmaids. They flew in early to help plan the wedding."

Riley's face went white. "You invited people? Here?"

"Of course! We need all the help we can get. There's so much to do before New Year's Eve." Amanda beamed. "Oh, and Nick? They'll be staying here through the holidays. I already put them in the guest rooms."

I turned around slowly.

Nick stood in the doorway behind us, and the look on his face was murderous.

"Get them out," he said quietly. "Now."

Amanda's smile widened. "But darling, there's no room at any of the hotels this close to Christmas. Where would they go?”