Don't Say a Word - Barbara Freethy [30]
"I don't read the gossip column."
"She wants to interview both of us in connection with the exhibit. I'd like you to come with me. It would be great publicity for your father's work and for you."
"I'm busy, and I'm sure you can handle it on your own."
"It's important that she speak to you as well as me," his mother persisted. "In fact, I'm not sure there will be a story if you don't come."
He saw the steel in her smile and heard the determination in her voice, but he did not intend to give in. "Like I said, I have things to do."
"Your father-"
"Don't play that card," he warned her. "You're the one who wants publicity, so go for it. I'm sure you can find some other angle to the story. I'm not interested."
His words created a long, tense silence between them. He could see the anger in his mother's eyes, but she obviously didn't want to create a scene in front of Julia. Maybe it was a good thing she'd stayed.
"Fine," his mother said finally. "If that's the way you want it." She turned to Julia and offered her a gracious smile. "I'm sorry if I interrupted. My apologies."
"It's no problem," Julia said, sending Alex a questioning look.
Julia obviously didn't understand why there was so much tension between him and his mother, but he didn't intend to explain it to her. He was relieved when his mother started to leave without further comment. His relief was short-lived, however, when she paused, then turned, giving Julia a thoughtful look.
"Have we met before?" his mother asked.
"I don't think so," Julia replied.
"You look very familiar. Your eyes… I feel as if I've seen you somewhere. I'm very good with faces, and yours…"
Alex moved quickly across the room, opening the door to his apartment, hoping to get his mother out of the room before she developed the picture in her mind. He was too late.
She snapped her fingers. "The photograph. The orphan girl behind the gates." She looked at Alex, a question in her eyes. "The one you wanted the negative for. Is she the reason you came looking for it?" "Don't be silly."
"I don't think I am being silly," his mother said, her sharp mind adding up the facts. She studied Julia for a thoughtful minute, then said, "What are you up to, Alex? Is it possible that Julia is the girl in the photo?" "Don't you have an interview to get to?" he countered.
She hesitated, glancing down at her watch. "You're right. I have to go. But we definitely need to talk. We'll finish this later."
"There's nothing to finish."
"Oh, I think there is. It was nice to meet you, Julia-whoever you are," she added with a troublemaking smile.
Alex shut the door quickly behind his mother. "Great, just great," he muttered.
"Why didn't you tell your mother you think I'm that girl?" Julia asked.
"I don't want her involved. She's very manipulative, and she always has an agenda. You don't want to become an item on her agenda, trust me."
"You don't make her sound very nice."
Alex knew he was probably painting her more black than he needed to, but his feelings about his mother were complicated and prejudiced by past experience. "She's not important," he said. "Let's look for that negative."
"Of course she's important. She's your mother," Julia said, obviously not willing to drop the subject.
"I'm a little old to need a mother." He saw a shadow pass through her eyes, and he was reminded that she'd recently lost her mother, someone she'd obviously loved very much. "Let's stick to your life and your family."
"She's a beautiful woman," Julia said, ignoring his comment. "Is she married?"
Alex sighed, knowing he could give Julia some information now or spend the next hour dodging her questions. "Okay, I'll give you this much and that's it. My mother uses people to get what she wants, mostly men. She's never worked a day in her life, but she lives well, because she marries well, and she does it over and over again. She married my father because he was an up-and-coming photojournalist. She thought she'd get famous along with him. Unfortunately, he left her