by Autumn Skye
I was eager to dress and leave the apartment, so I arrived at the restaurant early and let the waitress seat me. I ordered chips and salsa as an appetizer to keep me busy until Farah arrived. I made it through a quarter of the bowl and a full glass of tea before she showed.
“No wine?” she asked, taking the seat opposite mine.
“Tomorrow is my first day back at work. I thought I should take it easy.”
She ordered her own drink and leaned forward with her elbow on the table and her chin resting in her palm, staring at me expectantly. “Well?”
“Her name is Danielle,” I began. “I really like her. She’s in the business of flipping houses and she hired me to work on her current project. Just on the weekends, so it won’t get in the way of my job,” I added.
“That’s awesome, but is it the whole story? When you said you met someone, I assumed it was more personal than that.”
“It is. We spent every day together. I shared her cabin. The air conditioning in yours is out, by the way.”
“Thanks for letting me know. Now back to you, I take it you’ll be doing more than business on the weekends.”
“I hope so. She’s very beautiful. It’s too early to say if it’s serious, but I could see it heading that way. That is, I’m serious, but she’s hard to read.”
“Tell me more about the job.”
I told her the deal, and about Danielle’s offer to make it full time. Only then did her face show any concern.
“You aren’t leaving me. are you?”
“I’m honestly not sure.”
“This woman sounds wonderful, but you hardly know her. You’ve been with the company for a while now. Walking away from your security isn’t something to take lightly, Lily.”
“I’m not taking it lightly. It’s still something I should consider, though. You know it’s my dream job. Those don’t come along every day.”
“I do know and I also know you’re far too intelligent and talented to be a secretary. Whatever you do I’m behind you one hundred percent. I just want you to be sure.”
“Thanks.”
I didn’t tell her about Jared. It seemed like it would be breaking Danielle’s trust. Besides, I knew Farah wouldn’t be as supportive if she knew there was an angry ex-husband in the picture, especially one who went around threatening to light fires when he didn’t get his way. I remembered how he’d glared at me when he’d walked in on Danielle and me, the sheer hate on his face. I found myself fearing for her more than I cared to admit now that she was once again alone on the lake.
“Something else on your mind? You look upset,” Farah said.
“No, I’m tired is all. I had a very eventful vacation.”
“Good. That’s what we were going for. Just keep me posted on what you decide about the job.”
“I won’t quit without giving notice. I’d never leave my best friend hanging.”
“When do I get to meet Danielle?”
“One of these days she’ll hopefully come to Houston. I think she avoids it because her ex-husband lives here in the River Oaks area.”
“Whoa, that’s some money. How well off is this woman?”
“I don’t know. She doesn’t talk a lot about her net worth. She did well enough in the divorce to start her own business. The rest doesn’t seem to matter to her. It was a nasty divorce,” I explained, careful not to give too much information away. Danielle’s story wasn’t mine to tell.
“It’s a shame she doesn’t get along with him. If my ex was a member of the River Oaks Country club I might not call him names every time I saw him,” she chuckled.
“Yes, you would.”
“Okay, maybe, but still, wow, River Oaks.”
“I told you, Danielle doesn’t make a big deal out of things like people’s zip codes. Besides, many of us Sugarlanders are known to do okay, but look at me and the shoebox I live in,” I reasoned.
“Are you saying your new friend isn’t filthy rich?”
“No, I’m not saying that,” I admitted.
“Sounds like you’ve got a keeper. That’s all I’m suggesting,” she smirked.
“We’re not that serious-yet, at least not romantically. We’re both very serious about rehabbing the house. You should see it, Farah. It’s incredible.”
“Leave it to you.”
“What?”
“You’ve got a pretty, rich girlfriend and you fall in love with a house. Now whose being materialistic, Lily?”
“You’re not funny.”
“Oh, it’s funny,” she said with a teasing laugh.
“Anyway, to get back on track, do you have a problem with me moonlighting?”
“Not if you can handle it. It sounds like a rough schedule, being in the office all week and then driving out to the lake every weekend.”
“I’ll manage.”
“Then I wish you luck with your business. Keep me informed on how it’s going. It does seem perfect for you, both the house and the woman.”
“I’m sure it’ll work out,” I said. It felt like a lie. In a very short amount of time my life had completely changed. I wasn’t sure of anything, but that wasn’t always a bad sign, was it?
Chapter Thirteen
No way could I break my promise to visit my parents the following Friday evening, though I could have used the time to pack for the lake. I intended to drive back to Sapphire early Saturday morning after picking up a few things from the home improvement store so we could get started on renovating the house. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see my mother. For all our differences, I missed her sometimes. Family is family. You’re stuck with them for better or worse, but they’re stuck with you, too, and that basic knowledge is the glue that holds even the most dysfunctional of us together. What I couldn’t stand is the thought of telling them about my new job. It’d be just another obstacle between me and the college education my mother insisted I needed. I wondered how long before she gave up trying to run my life? I wasn’t a kid fresh out of high school anymore and it should have been painfully obvious the lure of my trust fund wasn’t tempting enough to make me do as I was told. I needed her support, not her money, but she didn’t get it, not yet.
I’d grown up in an upper class gated community. I used my pass to gain entrance into my parent’s subdivision and pulled into their driveway around six with the sense, as always, that I didn’t belong there. At least I was on time for a change. My father opened the front door before I could and gave me a hug before I stepped into the foyer.
“I’m so glad you could stop by, honey,” he said.
“Thanks, Dad. I could use a cup of coffee.”
“This late in the day?”
“I’ve had a rough week and I have to be up before the sun tomorrow.” My first few days back to work had been grueling. Farah joked that my little vacation had made me lazy. It wasn’t that. I couldn’t keep my mind off Danielle and the job I’d once been so proud of now held my interest less and less.
“Your mother is in the kitchen getting the table ready for dinner. I’m sure she’ll put a pot on if you ask nicely.”
“That’s the only way to ask Mom for anything if you expect to get anywhere, and even then-
“Tonight will be different. We have a surprise for you. She’s promised to do her best to make it a pleasant evening. I predict you’ll be glad you came,” he winked.
“What in the world are you up to, old man?” I asked with a teasing grin and a raised eyebrow.
“You’ll see.”
I found my mother folding napkins, three of them. She placed each one beside a plate, fancy china with an imperial design. A floral bouquet in a golden vase was place on the middle of the table as a centerpiece. My mother didn’t need a dinner party as an excuse to show off her sense of décor. Family night had always been reason enough. Our styles were polar opposite in many ways, but I’d inherited my love of nesting from her.
“Lily, you’re here,” she acknowledged me. “Dinner is almost rea
dy. I made spaghetti with Italian sausage, one of your favorites.”
“Thanks. I love it.”
I put on the pot of coffee myself, despite her sideways glance of disapproval.
“Oh, to be young and not so concerned with the health ramifications of too much caffeine.”
“One cup won’t kill me, Mom.”
“And you wonder why you’re always so jittery.”
I didn’t wonder, since I only felt that way around her, but if she felt better blaming it on coffee, then fine. “Dad says you have a surprise for me. Should I be worried?”
“Your father has a big mouth. We’ll talk about it when we all sit down, but no, to answer your question. You’ll be very happy with what we have to say. It was his idea, if that puts you more at ease.”
I didn’t respond, not wanting to play into her hands, but it did give me a sense of relief. Most of my mother’s surprises had backfired in the past. Like the time she’d enrolled me in private school and I’d been forced to leave the few friends I had behind. Then there was the humiliating time when she’d gotten together with the neighbor and arranged a date to the sixth-grade homecoming dance because no one had asked me. I hadn’t hit puberty just yet and the boys weren’t exactly clamoring for my attention, not that they ever would, not with Ann around sucking up all the attention. I realized I was highly immature to still be harboring a grudge against my sister just because she happened to be the pretty, popular one. I hated to be the bitter one, but it all still stung. Or I should say it would have, if not for having met Danielle. She thought I was the pretty one.
I let the coffee brew, deciding to have a cup later with the fudge cake she’d baked for dessert. I helped her finish setting the table and she called my father in from the living room where he was engrossed in a Texas Rangers game against the St. Louis Cardinals. We all took our seats and I waited for them to start the conversation. They exchanged awkward looks and my Mom dropped two pieces of garlic bread covered in mozzarella onto my plate. It was unusual for her. She watched her weight and often suggested not so subtly that I should do the same.
“I can’t eat all of this, Mom.”
“Sure, you can. There’s nothing wrong with indulging once in a while.”
“Okay, I’ll try,” I responded, giving her a quizzical stare.
Neither of them said much more, other than to ask how things were going these days, so I decided to press them. “You said you had something to tell me?”
“Yes, but first I’d like to hear more of what you’ve been up to,” my mother said. “You say you just took a vacation?”
I explained how I’d met Danielle, telling them I planned to keep working with her and, of course leaving out the part where we’d had the hottest sex of my life and how I thought I might be falling in love with her.
“So, you’re starting your own business?” I could hear the pride dripping in my father’s voice. I half expected him to call me a chip off the old block.
“Not starting. It’s Danielle Whitemore’s business. I’m going to be working with her.”
“That name sounds familiar,” my mother said, crinkling her brow, struggling to remember where she might have heard of the Whitemore’s.
“Anyway, that’s my new job. I’m very excited about it,” I said, hoping to distract her. She no doubt knew of Jared Whitemore’s reputation and she’d figure it out if she thought too long on it. He was the last person I was in the mood to talk about since I’d been worried sick about Danielle despite her assurances that she was fine.
“I am so proud of you and now I’m even more convinced you’re ready for that surprise we’ve been dangling like a carrot,” Dad said.
“Yes, please, let’s hear it,” I coaxed.
“Do you want to tell her, Sharon?” he asked.
My mother sighed, not appearing so eager to share the news.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake,” he muttered. I fought the urge to smirk. That was as close to an admonishment that my father ever got. “We’ve decided it’s ridiculous to hold on to your trust fund. At your age, your entitled to make your own decisions and do as you like with your money, especially now that your branching out and starting a whole new career. That takes guts, young lady.”
“You’re giving me the money?” That was a surprise. I’d almost resigned myself to my mother giving my trust fund to whatever charity she deemed more worthy than me. I gave her a dubious look. “You both agree?”
“We do,” she answered with a curt nod and a hard swallow.
“Don’t hurt yourself, Mom.”
“Lily,” my father cut in, a one-word warning.
“Thank you. I appreciate your confidence in me,” I softened.
“Give me your banking info and I’ll have the funds transferred to you within a week,” he said.
“Thanks,” I repeated.
“Aren’t you going to ask how much?”
“I’m sure it’s enough,” I replied.
“That’s her way of telling us she doesn’t give a damn about our money,” my mother told him. “I told you she wouldn’t show an ounce of gratitude. She’s always been bull-headed.”
“I am grateful, Mom. I just don’t get excited over money. I’ve gotten good at living frugally.”
“And that’s my fault, right?”
“It is what it is. It’s never bothered me much. I should think you’d be happy I’m that way. I’m not the type to blow my inheritance on trivial things. I’m more about earning my own money.”
“Speaking of which, you’ll have enough financial security to quit that secretarial job and concentrate on this new job full time,” Dad pointed out.
“I hadn’t thought of that,” I smiled. Danielle would be thrilled by this news.
“I just wish I understood more about what you’re doing. Real estate is a dangerous game. You won’t be investing any of our- your money into this business, will you, Lily?”
“No, Mom. Danielle has the finances covered. I just take a commission.”
“That does sound like a good deal,” she confessed begrudgingly.
“Would you like to take a trip and see the house one day? Then you can see first- hand what I’m doing.”
“You want my advice?”
“I want your opinion. You’re my mother. What you think matters to me.” It did, too, as much as I wished it didn’t. I wasn’t trying to prove her wrong about me, or trying to get her approval. I wanted her blessing. I was very envious of daughters who had close relationships with their mother’s. I hated hesitating every time I went to call mine. No one should ever hesitate to call on their own mother. The trust fund, however, was a huge turn of events. Maybe if we both worked a little harder to get along. She’d been dangling a carrot, so I guessed it was my turn to offer an olive branch.
“I would love to see this house,” she said.
“Great. Are you busy tomorrow? You could follow me out to the lake and have a look around.”
“You know what, that sounds like a lovely way to spend the day and I can meet your partner. Danielle is her name?”
“Yes.”
“And she’s a Whitemore?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll have to ask her if we might have met at one time.”
Awesome. Danielle was going to love my mother probing into her personal life. What the hell had I done?
“Now, let’s talk about your sister’s baby shower,” she said. “I see this house, you come to the shower I’m throwing. We’ll both give and take a little.”
I’d already agreed to that and I considered explaining that most mothers didn’t keep score of how many favors their children owed them, but she wouldn’t get it. I’d start another argument and things were going better with her than they usually did, so that was the last thing I should do.
“I want to hear all about what’s going on with Ann,” I smiled. And of course, she told me every detail.
Chapter Fourteen
Now that I knew the wa
y to the lake the drive didn’t seem as daunting the second time. I’d called Danielle and she was being a very good sport about having my mother as a guest.
“She isn’t staying long,” I explained. “She wants to see the house and we’ll probably have lunch at the café. You don’t have to join us if you don’t want.”
“I can do lunch with you. I wouldn’t dream of being rude to your mother.”
“I should have thought it through before inviting her. She won’t think twice about being rude if she doesn’t like what she sees.”
“I’m tough. I can take it,” she assured me. What time do you think you’ll make it here? I’ll meet you at the house.”
“Around ten.”
“Perfect. See you then.”
I hadn’t told her about my trust fund being released to me. It really wasn’t that big of a deal, but I still felt it wasn’t something I should get into over the phone. It might change my view of quitting my job with Farah and working on the house full time. That was a conversation that should be had in person.
My mother followed me in her Mercedes. We made good time on the highway, but when we got to the outer road that ran through Kinley I slowed down, mindful that I hadn’t warned her about the curves. We pulled into the driveway behind the SUV at five till ten. Danielle was already inside.
“My, this is some project you’ve taken on,” my mother said as she climbed out of the car.
“I know it doesn’t look like much right now, Mom. You have to look for the potential.”
“Perhaps I should have waited to come after you’ve got it finished.”
“No, it’s better for you to see the before and after. Then it will be easier for me to impress you,” I said.
“Oh, Lily,” she scoffed over my attempt at humor.
Danielle greeted us when I opened the front door. She was such a beautiful sight in a tan dress with a slit up the side and a matching pair of sandals. My mother eyed her approvingly and I knew what she was thinking. She hoped my new friend’s style might rub off on me. As frustrated as I made her, she never gave up on me making that transformation from dowdy to dazzling, but this duck had no interest in becoming a swan.
