When Cameron trudges in, still wearing his pajamas, I set him up with a bowl of cereal at the kitchen counter. When I turn on the small TV and hand him the remote, he stares at me with wide eyes. But he doesn’t complain at the chance to watch television this early on a Sunday morning.
Grabbing a clean mug, I sit on a stool and drink my black coffee, replaying the mess that unfolded at my wife’s birthday party. I recall the look on Jules’s face, not when our secret was revealed, but when her great-grandmother dismissed her.
That’s the moment it became clear that the damage we caused went far beyond what either of us had expected. It became clear to me that Jules’s main concern wasn’t the money she lost out on. It was about hurting someone so important to her.
Now that I’m staring at this crumpled check, I know I’m right. A person doesn’t just casually discard this amount of money if getting rich was their end goal.This whole arrangement between Jules and me might have started on the premise of securing both of our financial needs, but I’m certain that we’re well past that now.
I don’t know how to deal with the feelings I’m feeling, but I do know that I can help with one thing. In a moment of urgency, I hatch a plan. I change into my nicest suit, and drive Cameron over to my mom’s house.
Then I head out to the edge of town and march right up to the front door of one seriously scary old woman.
When I ring the bell, the frowny-faced housekeeper answers the door.
Smiling broadly, I put my very best manners to use. “Good morning, Martha. How are you doing this morning? May I please speak with Mrs. Lannister?”
Her frown deepens, and I get an earful about showing up to someone’s house at this ungodly hour of the morning.
I cringe, embarrassed. Somehow in my haste, I didn’t realize that it’s only a little after seven. That would explain why my mother was still in her pajamas when I dropped Cameron off.
I prepare to be sent away, but the maid with the devastating scowl must have a soft spot for desperate, well-mannered fools, because after giving me a long, lingering appraisal, she lets me inside.
She leads me through the massive home to where Mrs. Lannister is seated in her study, already dressed to the nines behind an imposing mahogany desk.
“Ma’am, you have a visitor,” Martha says.
When Jules’s great-grandmother spares a glance my way, all I see is disappointment.
Ouch.
I feel that look of dismay all the way down to my bones.But I don’t back down. I understand now why Jules is hurting so badly. I’ve got to fix this.
The elderly woman takes a sip from her tiny cup of tea and nods at her housekeeper. “You may leave us.”
When we’re alone, her shrewd eyes land on me. “I already gave Julissa her inheritance.”
I wag my head. “I’m not here for that.”
Mrs. Lannister’s jaw ticks. “Sit down then.”
I take a step forward, but I refuse to sit. If I do, I hand over my tiny bit of negotiating power.“I’ll keep this brief. I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”
She glances at me again, still not impressed.
I go on. “This whole idea for Jules and me to get married was on me.”
“You?” She throws out skeptically.
“I came up with the plan. I drew up the contract, and I convinced Jules to go along with it. I needed a wife in order to land an important business deal, and Jules only agreed because she wanted to give her own business a fighting chance. This was all on me. All the deception and lies. It was my fault, and I regret those decisions.”
The woman’s expression still doesn’t budge.
“I’m the one who owes you an apology, Mrs. Lannister. I’m sorry for the deceit and embarrassment I’ve caused. Please, please don’t take this out on my wife.”
“Your ‘wife’?! What a farce.” She hawks.
I shake my head, but I carry on, ignoring the well-deserved jab. “Your approval means everything to her, and I know she won’t be able to accept anything less. Jules has worked so hard, and she deserves to be happy. She only ever wanted her trust fund so that she could build her business.”
“And now she can,” Mrs. Lannister says dismissively.
