“That’s fucking helpful,” Megan mumbles, poking me in the cheek with her toe.
“Get your foot out of my face!” I slap her away, using the moment to drop the bomb, hoping it will lessen the sting. “My mum has been receiving money from a man for the past twenty-eight years. From the day I was born.”
“What?” Lucy sobers, sliding down to the floor next to me, as Megan appears at my other side. “Do you think…”
“Yup.”
“And she didn’t tell you?Why?” Lucy bites out.
I shake my head, even though I’m certain of the answer. “I’ve been over it in my head all day. I presume he paid her to keep quiet. Mason said it was a lot of money. Maybe Mum was a dirty secret. She said he was a client.”
“Nina, why are you paying your mum money when she is already receiving it elsewhere? What is she spending it all on?”
“I have no idea, but I plan to put a stop to it.” I shake my head. “Mason called you?”
“Uh-huh. He called us.” Megan chuckles, nudging me with her elbow. “You want to talk about it?”
“No, but it beats the hell out of talking about my mum.” I sigh. “God, girls, I don’t even know where to start.”
“This is why we are here.” A glass of wine is slipped into my hand. “Start at the beginning.”
* * *
Mase
Seven days.
I knew she was stubborn, but to go a week, keeping me at a distance, and for what? How much time did she need? She calls every night, driving me nuts with her words, but still, she tells me she needs more time.
I’m just about done with waiting.
With London’s skyline laid out before me, I stand and look upon the people below, wondering whatsheis doing right now.
My intercom buzzes, Alice’s voice filling the room. “Mr Lowell, your father is on the phone.”
The old man is sober then.
I round the sofa and drop down at my desk. Taking in a deep breath before answering. “Dad?”
“Mason, my boy. How are you?”
I snicker, his false bravado not fooling me. “Me? Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”
“I know. I promised you and your sister I’d get on top of it. And I am.”
“No, Dad, we need you to get off of it. Not on top of it.” I rub my hand down my face in frustration.
“Mason, I’m doing my best. I haven’t been drinking. Last week was just hard, with your mother’s anniversary—”
“Just stop,” I cut him off, refusing to allow the words to settle in me. I don’t want to be reminded of the day my mother left me.
“Your sister, she is cooking a meal for us tomorrow. She invited the Montgomerys and Charles. Did you want to ask anyone else?”
“No.”
“Okay, please don’t be late, Mason. Scarlet just wants some normalcy. We haven’t had you here for more than five minutes in years.”
I snicker into the phone. He has no idea.
