“Are you sure, muffin?” her father asked. “Even if you’re sharing a place, rent in Victoria can be quite steep.”
“I’ll be okay. I created a preliminary budget to keep my spending on track.” She’d borrowed the template from Rosie, who was a whiz at spreadsheets. “I’ll still come visit, but I’m ready to try living on my own again.”
Her father’s warm smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. “Obviously, we’ll miss having you around, but it might be time for you to spread your wings.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Her mother slapped the magazine on the coffee table with a loud whack. “Really, Art? Last time Charlie was left to her own devices, she racked up a significant amount of debt.”
Charlie clenched her jaw. Of course her mother would bring that up. “Only because I was trying to meet Randolph’s expectations. But I paid off all my credit cards.”
“Is this about that…boy? The one with the truck? Are you moving in with him?”
Had her mother heard nothing? “No. I just told you—I’m moving in with my friend Laurel. This isn’t about Knox.”
“Then why move out now? Was thishis idea?”
Even if Charlie’s argument with Knox had led her down this path, she’d still made the decision on her own. Now that she’d set her course, she couldn’t believe she’d waited this long. “No. I felt like it was time. But since we’re on the subject of Knox, I’m not happy with that stunt you pulled on Thanksgiving.”
Her mother waved a hand in dismissal. “That was two weeks ago. Water under the bridge.”
“Not to me. When you invited Randolph to join us and encouraged him to brag about his promotion, you made Knox feel uncomfortable. Like he paled in comparison.” Charlie rubbed her forehead as the first inklings of a headache nagged at her. “Knox is a really nice guy. I don’t understand why you’re set against him.”
“Because he’s a man with a dead-end job. How do you expect him to take care of you?”
“To takecareof me?” What kind of old-school bullshit was that? “This isn’t the 1950s. I can take care of myself.”
“That remains to be seen. Even if you manage to stay out of debt, your future is hardly secure. What if the Duchess goes out of business? Marrying a man like Randolph would ensure you never have to worry about money again.”
Why was her mother so fixated on this? It wasn’t as if she’d grown up in poverty.
Charlie addressed her father, hoping he’d take her side. “Dad? What do you think?”
With a drawn-out sigh, he set down his book, as though he wasn’t keen on mediating between the two of them. “About you moving out? Or about the fellow you’re dating?”
“About Knox.”
“I rather liked him.” He took off his reading glasses and polished them with a handkerchief. “He was well-spoken with an excellent knowledge of local history. But regardless of what I think, you’re old enough to decide for yourself. The same goes for your choice to strike out on your own. I have faith in you.”
Charlie’s eyes welled up in gratitude. Receiving his validation was a huge win. She gnawed on her lip, wanting her mother to agree with him. “Mom? Please don’t be upset. It’s not like I’m moving to Toronto. I can come back and visit anytime you want.”
“I just worry about you,” she said. “You haven’t always made the best decisions.”
Like dating Randolph? Or spending an exorbitant amount to keep him happy? In both instances, Charlie had been heavily influenced by her mother, but she also bore some of the responsibility since she hadn’t possessed the courage to stand up for herself. “That’s true. When I was with Randolph, I let him bully me into spending too much. He used to get annoyed if I wore the same outfits too many times. Or if he thought my clothes looked cheap. He insisted I get my hair and my nails done all the time. Just so I’d look good when we were together.”
Her mother frowned. “Do you really think it’s fair to place all the blame on Randolph?”
“No, because I should have stood up to him a lot sooner. I was so afraid of upsetting him that I put up with all his criticism, no matter how bad it made me feel.” She gave a short laugh. “I don’t even like skiing, and I spent a fortune on all that equipment, just to make him happy.”
She wished she could take back the money she’d spent. After she and Randolph had broken up, she hadn’t kept most of the clothes because they didn’t suit her. Instead, she’d donated them to a women’s shelter.
“But Knox doesn’t make you feel this way?” Her mother’s voice was more curious than adversarial. Like she was actually trying to understand Charlie.
“He likes me just as I am. But like I said, this isn’t about him. It’s about me wanting my own place. I’ll be okay, and I promise I’ll reach out if I need help.”
“Very well. But if you don’t have any plans tonight, you should join us for dinner. You love Magda’s cooking.”
While her mother wasn’t exactly gushing with praise, this invitation was an olive branch. Charlie wasn’t about to turn it down. “You’ve convinced me. I’ll join you.”
