The Dinner of Lions
A caravan of seven SUVs stopped in the driveway of the Lance estate. Individuals in black and blue suits exited the lead and rear vehicles. They began walking the perimeter and met with the estate guards. One of the guards from the SUVs signaled, and the next set of cars emptied as those guards entered the mansion.
Amber Ann sat in one of the central SUVs, watching the entire spectacle with a slight air of disgust. It was too much. She wanted to be successful, but she did not want to be seen or ogled wherever she went. She wanted her car, her space, her privacy, and… her brain stuttered when her siblings began pulling up on the other side of the driveway. The Lance siblings and their significant others began piling out of their vehicles and waving at random SUVs in the caravan.
Amber Ann smiled and waved back—even though none of her siblings could see her.
The siblings were ushered into the mansion by the guards, and only then were Amber and Dan allowed to exit their SUV. Dan quickly came around and opened the door for Amber. She looked at him calmly, and their conversation on the ride over flashed across his mind.
"I want you to understand something, Dan. I have loved you since the first day I ever saw you, and I know the day you became infatuated with Jessica. But I don't think you ever loved me, or that you have ever been infatuated with me." Her eyes had never left the streets of Carson City as she spoke to him. "I am doing this because I want my life. The life I have chosen. I actually don't know what you want, and I am not sure if you know what you want." She had looked at him, her soft beautiful eyes calm and devoid of judgment. His heart had raced in his chest as he felt like he was losing her all over again.
She shrugged. "I just think that you have realized you actually don't want Jessica either."
She had calmly turned back to her window and he had crumbled into his seat—feeling that everything had been destroyed all over again.
And now he held her hand as she stepped down from the SUV. Her glance reminded him of both her words and her intent. He pursed his lips as they walked hand-in-hand in a tight circle of guards. The two before them stepped to the sides, and Amber and Dan entered the mansion in the middle of a second group of guards. They marched down the hall in silence—only the rustle of cloth and the click of Amber's heels could be heard.
Dan felt the tension run through Amber's body. He tightened his grip on her hand to reassure her. When they entered the sitting room with only two guards, Amber seemed to bloom like a wild, exotic rose—on cue.
She smiled broadly and looked at every face in the room. "Hello, my dear family."
She walked with bold confidence to her parents and kissed them both. Her mother looked at her with a bright smile, and Amber felt like things had truly gone back to normal. She settled into her role perfectly. The entire time, Dan stood by her side as if he were ready to help her whenever she needed.
As the Lance family waited for dinner, Amber's guards were ensuring the food was prepared without hindrance and waited by the table to ensure they weren't disturbed. When dinner was ready, the family was called into the large dining room. The chatter was bright as everyone found their usual place. Jessica sat next to their mother, out of habit and nothing more, but when she looked to her mother to gossip about Dan pulling Amber's seat out, Angelica looked into her eldest daughter's eyes and spoke plainly.
"It is good that Amber and Dan weathered such a storm, is it not?"
Jessica's eyes went wide as she adjusted herself in her seat. "Yes ma'am, it is." Angelica nodded in approval.
Dan tucked Amber in with practiced ease and sat in his seat as if all were normal. His heart raced as he listened to her soft voice speaking melodiously to Virginia and one of their sisters-in-law. He looked out the large window to his left and saw two groups of guards walking across the lush lawns outside.
Dinner moved forward as if it were a normal evening and everyone was safe. Amber received all of her food from the hands of a guard without batting an eye. Damon Sr. looked at her and how truly unfazed she seemed; a rich vein of pride ran through him.
"Tell me, Amber Ann, when can I send your mother to this new spa?"
Amber looked at her mother with a smile, and the family all looked between her and Jessica.
"I don't know, Daddy. Mommy has booked a week for her and Aunt Mary for next month. You are going to love the muds that Dan found for us. We already have several excellent reviews." She raised her arm and slid her fingers down it. "The mud and the mineral baths are miraculous."
Virginia scoffed in incredulity. "And what about us, Mommy?"
"We can go next time. You know your Aunt Mary never does anything for herself." She looked to Damon Sr. "Alice told me how incredible it is. She was mad she only went for a weekend."
Damon shrugged. "She can rebook."
Angelica brightened. "That's the point. When she tried, the spa was already booked up for the next six months."
Amber smiled and swallowed her food. "Aunt Alice booked into Calm Stays for next week with one of the premium packages. They include spa visits."
"That is brilliant."
"Thank you, Daddy." She looked to Virginia and shrugged. "I have us booked in for this weekend."
Virginia smiled wide. "Is that the sister time you were telling me about?" Amber nodded, and Virginia shot a side-eye glance to Jessica. "Guess it takes more than city planning to slow things down."
Several eyes at the table went wide while others turned to Jessica with a smirk. It was clear every Lance had heard of Jessica's antics. Jessica took it all in stride. She kept her face down, quietly ate, and stole looks at Dan. She could tell her plans were all burning to ash. All she could do was calm herself and develop the next plan.