“Oh, no,” Summer said when they headed toward the closest exit. “You two are supposed to do this. I’m the one leaving—”

Madeline pointed to the door.

“Yeah, I see. Alley cat at ten o’clock,” Diana noted.

A tall, dark-haired woman dressed in a beaded vintage dress entered and took a long gaze around her.

“The suspense was probably killing her,” Diana said.

Madeline nodded grimly.

“Look at her scoping out the stock,” Diana said. “So rude.”

Summer watched the tall brunette sniff at the hors d’oeuvres with a curling lip.

“Freak,” Diana muttered.

Madeline nodded again, popping her gum in her jaw.

“Yeah, well.” Summer didn’t care about Ally. She cared about being able to breathe, which she suddenly couldn’t do in here. She looked at the door. “I’ve got to run.”

Diana smiled as she took over pouring the champagne. “Of course you do.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means you always run. That’s what I heard your mom say to my mom once. She was crying when she said it.”

Summer’s chest caved in as if she’d been sucker punched. “Maybe no one ever told you it’s not nice to repeat things people say.”

Diana lifted a shoulder. “Maybe not.”

Summer stared at her, then let out a careful breath. “You know what? The hell with this.” She moved away from her and Madeline, and toward the front door. People were swarming now, pressing close. Her breathing quickened again. Damn it. She pushed her way through and was nearly there when her wrist was snagged.

“Oh no you don’t,” said Aunt Tina.

Summer stared at her aunt’s stubborn face, her chest cinching down. The bell over the door tinkled noisily. Two more people entered, laughing and talking. Summer swallowed hard as the room, so large only moments ago, began to close in on her. “I’ve really got to—”

“Stay. Eat. Talk. Be merry.” Tina thrust a flute of champagne into her hand and smiled. “Just look at your mom, darling. She looks so happy tonight, doesn’t she?”

Somehow Summer forced herself to turn and look. Indeed Camille was smiling as she greeted some of their guests. She wore a beautiful flowing gown in a pale silver that seemed to make her skin glow. She caught Summer’s eye and waved.

Waved. Summer’s throat tightened a little as she waved back. Impossibly, the crowd grew again, pouring in now, pressing against her to get by. With the front door open, she caught a whiff of the smoke from the fire she’d seen earlier. Spots appeared in her vision.

Too close. Too tight.

“Well, would you look at that,” Tina murmured.