“His name is Tomás,” I ground out between clenched teeth. “And what do you mean, overly fond?”

“Just that Shannon told me that he was always sniffing around your skirts. Flirting shamelessly and being overly helpful and all that. It’s just the first time I’ve seen it in action. It’s cute, but I hope you’re not taking it seriously.”

“Taking what seriously?” I asked quietly, feeling hurt and anger rise in me just as quietly at his implication.

“Well, all of the attention he’s giving to you. He’s a good-looking kid, and I can understand how that kind of attention can boost your ego—”

“I’m sure you can,” I interrupted, giving her pointed look.

Jolene chuckled, completely unfazed and not at all embarrassed. “I’m just saying, a young, successful man like that has his choice of women at a wedding. It was chivalrous of him to volunteer to take care of you, but you should release him from those duties so the boy can have some fun.”

I narrowed my eyes at my dead husband’s smug mistress wearing that self-satisfied smirk. I knew bourbon was probably the reason she took that jab at me. Why she wanted to cut me down to size. I wished I could pinpoint when or why being graceful and taking her circumstances into consideration wasn’t enough for her to be less bitter and spiteful. Maybe it was because she struggled once he was gone. Maybe she thought all of the money was his and she would get the big chunk of it, which would have never been the case because the money was always mine, not his. Either way, she felt the need to snipe at me this way more and more often, which was why I’d limited my interactions with her. But this… this need to make me feel small and unwanted on my son’s wedding day? A day when it should be easy to be cordial with each other? I didn’t understand it. It was mean and spiteful in a way that I just couldn’t wrap my head around.

I refused to respond to it, though. Refused to give her that energy.

Instead, I canted my body so I didn’t have to see or acknowledge him, took my hand fan out of the little pearl clutch that I’d paired with my matronly dress, and proceeded to kick up enough wind to keep my immaculately applied makeup from succumbing to the heat and humidity of the day.

“Darcy, there’s no need to get sensitive. I’m just stating—”

“Shhh! My son is coming down the aisle!” I hissed through clenched teeth.