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She sat down with her family. “Listen to me, I have something to say before Jason gets here.”
“Did he propose?” Mom asked.
“Please, he probably is leaving for another three movies,” Veronica scoffed.
“Be quiet and listen.” Sabrina slapped her hand on the table.
They finally went silent. She generally didn’t act like that but now she had to.
“I don’t want you giving Jason a hard time. The press isn’t under his control,” she scolded them.
“Of course not, is he staying?” Meredith asked.
“Maybe I don’t want him to. Why don’t you ask what I want?” Sabrina demanded.
Tab put a hand on Sabrina’s shoulder. “It was pretty clear you were in love with him. We’re just trying to look out for you.”
“I know and I appreciate that but I’m an adult. I can handle this on my own. I’m stronger than you think,” she said.
“We’re all stronger than we think. That doesn’t mean we can’t use help,” Franny said. “But you’re right. We should wait for you to ask for it, unless it’s real physical danger.”
“We protect people we love. We just want them to be happy,” Mom added.
Sabrina felt a twinge of regret. Franny had needed their help last year and they’d let her suffer. Emotional abuse was no better or worse than physical. It all hurt. But Mom was right, even the meddling was done out of love. Sabrina was grateful for her family but sometimes they suffocated her.
“Room for me?” Jason asked as he approached the table.
“Of course, the best man has to sit here,” Sean said, motioning to the chair beside him.
Dinner was served and Sabrina’s mind whirled as the small talk bored her.
She’d make it through the wedding and then go to Europe. She needed a change and it’d help her art. Johnno had been right all along, she needed a month in Ireland or wherever she landed.
As the dessert was served, Mr. Buxton made a brief speech. He was never one to talk. Franny tearfully raved about the happy couple. No one let the microphone near Veronica and Meredith wasn’t much for public speaking. The microphone came to Sabrina and she’d had a speech planned but it failed her.
“I’m so thrilled for my twin sister. As alike as we are, we’re also very different. I love making art. She loves making great events happen for charitable causes and preserving this lovely island. Sean and Tabitha both wanted this piece of land and now they both have it. And they have each other. I’m happy to have a new brother in the family and that he likes island living as much as my sister. Seriously, I don’t know he’ll lure her off on a honeymoon unless it’s island hopping. Congratulations!”
The applause made Sabrina feel relieved. She’d gotten past the speech and focused on her cake as Mrs. Drake said a few words.
“You’ll have the gallery all to yourself for a bit,” Meredith said.
Sabrina shook her head. “I think when they leave for their honeymoon, I’m going to go on a European tour. Recharge my creativity.”
“Take me!” Veronica insisted.
“No,” Sabrina said.
“Mean. If I go with you, no one can object.” She drained another glass of wine.
“Stop drinking,” Sabrina said firmly.
Veronica rolled her eyes.
Sabrina snatched the bottle out of Veronica’s reach.
“It’s an open bar.” Veronica stood up.
“Sit down now,” Sab ordered.
Everyone turned to stare at the sweetest Buxton.
“You’re jealous that Tab is getting married and you aren’t but don’t take it out on me,” Veronica ignored the warnings and headed to the bar.
Sabrina stood and blocked her sister. “We’re all sick of babying you and watching out for you. Get yourself into rehab and stop drinking or you’ll never finish college and get your trust fund.”
“Please, like Daddy couldn’t buy me a degree,” Veronica scoffed.
“I won’t,” he replied.
“He makes enough big donations to the college. I’ll get one, I’m just waiting out the age limit. I don’t want to come back here and live under their rule.” Veronica argued.
“Grad school is good too,” Sabrina replied.
“If I ever planned on doing work, sure. We got a golden ticket and you idiots want to act normal. Like you do something for the world. I know what I do, I spend money. That’s good for people. People have jobs making clothes and shoes and liquor.” Veronica shoved past Sabrina.
“That’s enough,” Mom said.
“Now is not the time,” Dad added.
Sabrina wanted to follow her sister and keep up the tough love, but it was Tabitha’s engagement party. There was always an excuse not to make a scene and Sabrina never wanted to—but if that’s what it took to save her little sister’s life...
“We’ll confront her tomorrow,” Meredith whispered to Sabrina.
She nodded. Sabrina braced herself as Jason took the microphone from Sean’s mother. He was the best man. She just had to deal with him through the wedding and she could escape to the world of artists and no pressure.
“I’ve known Sean since we were little. Our humble beginnings are nothing compared to this lovely affair. It makes you appreciate things. I never thought to come to Nantucket in all my life. But Sean loves real estate and I wanted a bit of a vacation. Who knew?” Jason chuckled.
“I’m very happy for him. I never thought he’d leave Boston or fit so well into a normal family. I never thought I’d be normal. And I want to apologize to anyone impacted by my presence here. I’m not the type who needs paparazzi attention, no matter what anyone tells you. I just love the island.”
There was applause.
“I want to thank you for welcoming Sean and myself to this island haven. I know he’ll be happy. He’s told me the winters are more peaceful and maybe I’ll find out one day. But hats off to Tabitha, who brought out a side in my old friend that I never knew he had.” Jason lifted his glass.
People toasted and applauded.
As the dancing picked up again, Jason’s gaze landed on Sabrina, but she seemed frozen in her own thoughts. He approached Meredith.
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
Mer shrugged. “I’m not sure Sabrina is. But I’m also not sure we should be talking about this.”
“Mer, I want to help,” Jason insisted.
She gave him a look and walked away.
He’d blown it. They were turning against him.
Needing some air, he walked out to the courtyard. The camera clicks instantly reminded him that the press was there. But the cameras weren’t pointed at Jason.
Veronica was drinking from a bottle and yelling at the press.
Jason looked around for security. Seeing none, he texted Chris to come help.
Slowly Jason approached Veronica from behind so she couldn’t see him coming. Taking off his jacket, he was relieved to see she hadn’t taken off her clothes yet but with Veronica that was a real possibility.
The reporters started to shout at him, asking for a comment.
He shook his head and put the coat over Veronica’s shoulder.
She swung around and her pupils were dilated to a disturbing degree.
“I think we need to get you some water and to lie down, okay?” he asked.
She swung the bottle at his face. As the cameras snapped, he avoided being clocked with a thick glass bottle.
“You’re not my family. You’ve got Sabrina trying to put me in rehab now. Just go away!” she shouted.
“I’m not going to do that unless I know you’re safe. I love Sabrina and I care about all of you,” he said.
“You are so full of it. You broke her heart and you stay away. You bring these awful people. Once the wedding is over, you better go away,” she warned.
Chris walked up. “Veronica, come inside.”
“Why? They’ll get pictures later. It’s not about Tabitha and Sean anyway, it’s about him. Didn’t bring your Hollywood girlfriend this time?” Veronica taunted.
“I never dated Barb. That’s her fantasy or a publicity stunt. I love Sabrina,” he said.
Veronica scoffed. “Just when she’s sick of your nonsense. Men are so dumb.”
“She’s sick of me?” he asked. “I’m going to leave. I promise, I’m not going to drag her through anymore. She’s too good. Too nice for Hollywood.”
Veronica looked at Chris then back to Jason. “You don’t know her at all. She’s way tougher than you think. It takes a really tough person to be nice and helpful. Most people are selfish like me. You don’t get how deep and how good she really is.”
“I do, I don’t deserve her. Now let us help you inside,” he offered.
Chris began to murmur into his phone.
“Don’t you disturb the party,” Veronica warned.
“You’re more important than a party,” Jason said.
She laughed. “That’s not what this is about.”
“What is it about?” he asked.
Veronica shook her head. “You’re not my family. You don’t belong here. You’re just going to leave again.”
Chris put his phone in his pocket. “I’m here. Tell me.”
“No one sees us. You’re always working. I’m always goofing off and partying. The twins are Mom’s pride and joy. Meredith is a tagalong. You follow the rules and I can’t stand them.” Tears slid down her face.
“That’s not true. They love us. We’re just different,” Chris said.
“Tab is like Mom. You’re like Dad. Are you happy working there?”
He sighed. “I don’t hate it. I’m not as unhappy as you.”
Veronica shook her head. “Sabrina plays along and acts happy with all the social stuff here but she just wants to paint and hide. She won’t be truly great until she stops stifling herself. I want to be a great artist like her but I get stuck in the party.”
“What’s your art?” Jason asked her.
“Photography. I’m good. But no one cares. No one understands.” She tossed off his jacket and stripped herself naked.
Chris looked up at the sky. “Veronica, please.”
“It’s just the human body, Chris. It’s natural. It’s beautiful. I see things the way you never can.” Despite her poetic words, they were slurred. She tried to run for the beach but stumbled and tried to run again.
Jason grabbed his jacket and ran after Veronica. He caught her and wrapped the jacket around her. “I’ll help.”
“No one can.” She struggled against him.
“Go to rehab and I’ll buy you all the equipment you need,” he said.
“I don’t need your money.” Veronica laughed so hard she snorted, and then the tears began.
“You can follow me on a movie set. Take behind the scenes pictures. Travel. Meet professional photographers. I do photo shoots. It can be a hands-on education. You can intern with someone in N.Y. or L.A.,” Jason promised.
She gave him the side eye. “You’re lying to get me to cooperate.”
“I can’t let you do it drunk. You have to be sober and clean. It’s a glamorous but serious business. You want a break from the family, right? Rehab and you meet with your college counselors to get credit for a semester working.” He had to offer her a prize at the end of the pain.
“You’re just making it up,” she accused.
“Veronica, it’s a chance to do something you want with someone around to help keep you on track,” Chris encouraged.
“The college would never agree,” she insisted.
Jason’s grip on her slipped as she struggled. “You don’t know until you try.”
She finally wrestled from his grasp and ran again toward the water.
“Jason, are you trading one sister for another?” a reporter called out. They’d followed them all the way from the club.
This was going to look great all over the internet. He turned to look at Chris. If Jason went in the water after a naked young woman the press would make his life hell. “I love Sabrina,” he said.
“I’ll get her.” Chris removed his shoes, then his jacket.
The press followed Chris as he removed his shirt and stripped down to his boxers to chase his sister. That’d be a weird story but a sibling fishing Veronica out of Nantucket Sound was way better than the Hollywood star dating her sister. Now they just had to get her dry, dodge the paps and get her to rehab.
Jason sent a quick text to his assistant in order to get Veronica out of the media spotlight as quickly as possible. It looked like he was quickly becoming part of the family whether they liked it or not.