Blue Smoke

in?”
    “So far. They talked about killing me, but decided against it because, you know, dinner bell.”

    “We do have our priorities,” she added. “What did you—?”
    She broke off when Bianca stepped back in and shouted, “Dinner!”
    It wasn’t quite a stampede, but it was a kind of blur of motion. Apparently, when Bianca Hale spoke, everybody listened. He was directed to a chair between Reena and An, then was served, family style, enough food to hold him for a week.
    Wine flowed, as did conversation. No one seemed to mind if they were interrupted, talked over, even ignored. Everyone had something to say, and insisted on saying it whenever they liked.
    The usual rules didn’t apply. If it was politics on the table, they talked politics. They talked religion, food, business. And prodded him without mercy regarding Reena.
    “So . . .” Bella gestured with her glass. “Just where do you stand with Catarina, Bo?”
    “Ah, about four inches taller.”
    She gave him a little cat smile across the table. “The last one she brought home—”
    “Bella,” Reena admonished.
    “The last one she brought home was an actor. We decided he was able to memorize his lines because his head was so empty of anything else.”
    “I dated a girl like that once,” Bo said lightly. “She could tell you what everyone wore to, say, the Oscars, but was a little shaky on who was actually president of the United States.”
    “Bella can do both,” Xander said. “She’s multitalented. Vince, how’s your mother’s arm?”
    “Better, much. She’ll be out of the cast next week. My mother broke her arm,” he explained to Bo. “She fell off her horse.”
    “Sorry to hear that.”
    “Barely slowed her down. She’s an amazing woman.”
    “The paragon,” Bella said with a sweet, sweet smile. “How about your mother, Bo, will Reena have to compete with her, and pale in comparison?”
    Tension slammed in, an angry party crasher. “Actually, I don’t see much of my mother.”

    “Lucky Reena. Excuse me.” Bella set down her napkin, strode out of the room.
    Reena was up a second later and marching after her.
    “Let me show you an idea Bo had for the shop.” Gib took the napkin out of his pocket, smoothed it. “Just remember, I’m the father of your children so you can’t throw me over for this guy just because he’s supposed to be good with a hammer. Pass this down,” he said to Fran.
    Bella grabbed her clutch bag and stormed out the back door with Reena on her heels.
    “What the hell is the matter with you?”
    “Nothing’s the matter with me. I wanted a damn cigarette.” She pulled out a jeweled box, slipped out a cigarette and lit it with a matching lighter. “You can’t smoke in the house, remember?”
    “You were needling Bo.”
    “No more than anyone else.” She sucked in smoke, blew it out in a quick stream.
    “Yes, it was, and you know it. Subtext, Bella.”
    “Screw your subtext. What do you care? You’re just going to fuck him for a few weeks, then move on. As usual.”
    Temper had Reena shoving her sister back two full steps. “Even if that were true, it would be my business.”
    “Then mind your own business, it’s what you’re best at. You’re only out here talking to me because you’re pissed off. Otherwise, you can’t be bothered.”
    “This is bullshit. I called you back—twice. I left two messages.”
    Bella took another, slower drag, and her fingers trembled. “I didn’t want to talk to you.”
    “Then why did you call?”
    “Because I wanted to talk to you then.” Her voice broke as she whirled away. “I needed to talk to somebody, and you weren’t there.”
    “I can’t be there every minute of every day, anticipating one of your crises, Isabella. That one’s not in the Sisters Rule Book.”
    “Don’t be mean to me.” She turned back, and there were tears. “Please don’t be mean to me.”

    With Bella, there were often tears, Reena thought. But those who knew her understood when they were temper, show or genuine. And these were real. “Honey, what’s the matter?” She moved forward, slipping an arm around Bella’s waist to lead her to a bench at the edge of the patio.
    “I don’t know what to do, Reena. Vince is having an affair.”
    “Oh, Bella.” Reena leaned over, drew Bella closer. “I’m sorry, so sorry. Are you sure?”
    “He’s been having them for years.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Other women. There’ve been other