Cassandra stepped into the ladies’ room, as much for a break from the crowds as anything. She hadn’t located Delbert again. He was probably busy with something important. But she was tiring of the event and would love to find him and escape to the porch or the gardens for some time alone together like he’d suggested.
Camille stood at the counter, freshening her makeup.
“Hello, Camille.”
“Hello,” the woman said as she applied a layer of bright red lipstick, pressed her lips together, and turned to her, smiling. “A woman needs to keep her makeup looking fresh, doesn’t she?”
Cassandra hadn’t really planned on touching up her makeup, but maybe she should? She took a look in the mirror. She thought she still looked okay?
Camille put the lipstick in her purse. “Did you come to the event alone?”
“I… ah, I’m here with Delbert Hamilton.”
“I heard that you and Delbert seem to be getting close.” The woman frowned slightly. “Hmm…”
What did that hmm mean?
“I… We…” She didn’t know how to answer. “We’re friends.” She’d leave it at that.
“Ah, friends.” Camille smiled knowingly. “Delbert and his friends.”
She didn’t like the way Camille said the word friends…
“Delbert and I dated for years, did he tell you that?” Camille cocked her head, with one eyebrow slightly raised.
“No, I didn’t know that.” But, of course, Delbert dated before. So had she. And Camille was a beautiful woman.
“We dated for a very long time. He loved me.” Camille gave a delicate shrug. “But then… well…” Camille lowered her voice. “I found out he cheated on me. The woman is always the last to know, isn’t she? Delbert seems like the perfect gentleman. Always. Everyone adores him. Everyone thinks he’s the best. I think that’s why he hid his affairs from me. Multiple affairs. And I had no clue. Even when he was professing his love for me.”
She stared at Camille, open mouthed. What was Camille saying to her?
“When I found out, I, of course, broke up with him. He begged me to take him back, but I said no. Men don’t cheat on Camille Montgomery. I will not let them make a fool out of me.”
“He cheated?” Her voice cracked and the words slipped out. She hadn’t meant to say them.
“He did. And I was a fool not to pick up on it. I should have known.”
Just like she should have known when Vincent cheated on her. She knew the horrible feeling when the truth came out. Suddenly she felt a close affinity to Camille. Knew exactly what she’d gone through.
“Anyway, if you and Delbert are getting close, becoming an item… well… I just thought you should know what kind of man he really is, no matter how endearing he might seem.”
Cassandra’s thoughts bounced around the room, her mind reeling. Was Delbert just like Vincent? Look at Camille. She was beautiful. Charming, even. And kind enough to tell her the truth about Delbert.
Was he hiding the same thing from her? Seeing someone else while professing his love for her? Who was that woman in the shimmering black gown he’d been talking to tonight? Their heads had been close, talking intently. And where had he disappeared to? She hadn’t been able to find him for over an hour.
Was Delbert really just a cheater who hid it well? Or, when the newness of their relationship wore off… is that when he’d find someone else? Would he hide it from her, too, like he did with Camille?
Disappointment surged through her like a wave, drowning her, strangling her. She struggled to catch her breath. Her heart raced and she fought off panic. She couldn’t go through that again. She wouldn’t. And if Del had done it to Camille, he could do it to her.
She gave Camille a weak smile. “Well, it was nice chatting with you.” That sounded so stupid, even to her ears. Nice chatting with her? How about thanks for blowing up my world? That would have been more truthful.
Camille bobbed her head, her curls bouncing in perfect timing on her shoulders. “Yes, nice chatting. We women need to stick together against scoundrel men, don’t we?”
Cassandra grabbed her purse and fled the ladies’ room, her heart pounding. She looked around the ballroom wildly and spotted Uncle Ted. She threaded her way through the crowd, bumping into people as she rushed. “Excuse me. Sorry.”
She finally reached her uncle. “I’m feeling a bit under the weather. I’m going to head up to my room.”
“Are you okay?” He frowned and looked at her closely.
“I’m fine. Just… tired.”
“I’ll call and check on you tomorrow.”
“Okay. Good night, Uncle Ted. Night, Patricia.” And with that she fled the ballroom and up the grand stairway, her hand trailing on the polished wood railing. She cut over to the stairs at the end of the hallway, hoping to avoid seeing anyone. She quickly climbed to the top floor to her suite, out of breath.
As she entered the room, hot tears trailed down her cheeks. She quickly closed the door behind her. Kicking off her shoes, she dropped her purse on the table and walked over to open the balcony doors. Stepping outside into the cool air, she let it rush around her, soothe her.
Only there was no soothing to be had.
Her world tilted out of balance. Everything she’d been so happy about just hours before disintegrated in the cool night air that taunted her damp cheeks.
Delbert had cheated on his long-term girlfriend. Just like Vincent had cheated on her. Camille was right, the woman was always the last to know.
Well, she’d been warned now and she wasn’t about to let it happen to her again. Ever. Her heart couldn’t take it again. It was already crumbling into tiny shards of glass.
She stared out at the sea, so familiar, and yet so… empty. Lonely. Cold.
Her mind played cruel tricks on her as she pictured Del slipping away to a quiet corner with that woman in the black gown. She gulped in a breath of the salty air, trying to chase away the image. No, she couldn’t go through being cheated on again.
With that, she made up her mind. She’d head back home tomorrow.