But maybe my family problems might help ease the awkwardness. “Oh, if only, Sawyer. If only.”
Her expression tightened. “What’s happened?”
My breath puffed visibly in the cold air as I let out a long exhalation before I proceeded to recount my day to my friend.
“Sebastian.” Her tone was quiet with sympathy afterward. “I’m so sorry.”
“I just … I don’t know what to do. Not about my dad’s drinking. Not about this woman and this bomb she dropped on my mother.”
Lily cocked her head to the side, her dark hair tumbling over her shoulder with the movement. “Do you know who this woman is?”
“I do. She runs in my parents’ circle. We’ve always avoided her. Now I know why.”
“You and Juno should find her. Make her tell your mother the truth.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You think my dad is telling the truth? That this woman is lying?”
“Don’t you?”
“I do.” Tears of frustration, sadness on behalf of my father and my mother, burned in my eyes, and I looked away for a second so I could get myself together.
“It’s going to be okay,” Lily promised quietly.
“I don’t think so. Even if we got to the truth, I don’t think my father will forgive my mother for not believing him.”
“I don’t know … I think a man so heartbroken he’s driven to drink might forgive quite easily if it means getting the love of his life back.”
Hope flickered at Lily’s words. “How would we get this woman to tell the truth? I mean, she tried to manipulate my father with a terrible lie when they were younger. I’m pretty sure she’s a narcissist.”
“Well—and this is something I will never advise my patients when I become a licensed psychotherapist—” She wagged her finger comically at the camera. “You could dig up some dirt on her.”
A surprised smile curled my lips. “Lily Sawyer, are you suggesting I blackmail this woman?”
She grinned sheepishly, holding up her forefinger and thumb. “Maybe a wee bit.”
My laughter rang out across the field.
Lily always made me feel better.
Then as a cold fleck hit my cheek, Lily let out a little gasp. “Oh, Sebastian, it’s snowing here!” Her beautiful smile filled my screen. “It’s snowing on Christmas.”
I looked up from my phone to find snowflakes falling around me. “It’s snowing down here too.”
We shared a long look, my chest aching with gratitude and maybe something else.
“Happy Christmas, Sebastian,” Lily murmured.
“Happy Christmas, Lily.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
SEBASTIAN
Lily’s idea sparked another. If there was one person who knew everything about everybody in my family and our social circle, it was my grandmother. Princess Mary might have once been a bit of a party girl “black sheep,” but she was a working member of the royal family. She had power. And I believed she’d be equally motivated to help us.
“I cannot believe you’re enlisting Granny to help us blackmail someone. It’s a bonkers idea.” Juno sighed as the guards let us onto the grounds of Hillingham House. “I’m so annoyed I didn’t come up with it.”
We parked the SUV outside the porticoed entrance of the Jacobean-style mansion that was bought by a Victorian ancestor. Truthfully, Juno and I had spent more time at Hillingham than any other royal residence because it was closer to home. Moreover, it was a favorite among the family. They alternated Christmases between here and the estate in the Scottish Highlands, so we were lucky that this year they’d stayed in England.
