Clarke's mother slowly extended her own hand. Clarke watched, wondering when shit was going to hit the fan. "It's Bennett, and it's Miss, actually," she corrected, flaunting her single status. Clarke's mother still hadn't remarried and couldn't keep more than a fling going, but that was probably because under all the designer clothes and fancy wine parties was a bitter old woman who resented having a child with whoever Clarke's father was.
They shook hands for only a second, and Clarke caught that glint in her mother's eye that meant she was up to something. "Well, it's nice to see that Clarke is finally seeing someone, even if it is so…casual." She looked Vince up and down like she was referring to him more than to the relationship.
Vince's jaw got tight like he could sense what she might have meant too. This was getting way too personal way too quickly. People didn't really know about her mommy issues, and Vince was not who she wanted to start with on letting people in on them. But it looked like it was way too late for that thanks to her big and fast mouth and slow brain.
"You know, I'm going to a dinner party on Friday evening. I was going to have you be there because the Colemans said their son is coming with them, but it couldn't hurt to give him a taste of what he's missing, right? Why don't you come and bring Vince with you? I'd just love to get to know him better." Clarke couldn't tell if she was being conniving or if she was actually flirting with Vince, but either way it made her stomach churn. She needed to put a stop to this now before Vince felt the need to go jump in front of a bus for ever meeting her.
"You know, Mother, I don't think Vince is really into that sort of thing." Vince put out his hand to stop her.
"You know what? I think maybe it's a good idea. It's about time I get to know more about Clarke and her family." Vince let his dimples indent in a half smile, and Clarke fought the urge to put her head in her hands and scream. Now she was just being ganged up on.
"Well, great then. See you there." Her mother waved like she was Miss America and then left the shop, leaving Clarke feeling even less confident about her shop and her life for that matter than she already did.
"So, she seems pleasant," Vince commented, leaning against the counter.
"You're kidding me, right?" Clarke busted out, distressed. "She is the least pleasant person on the planet."