“But it’s true?” Seraphina asked, tossing her copper hair behind her shoulders. “And if so, why didn’t you just ask one of us to help? I would be happy to pay for Robbie to go. It sounds like a really big deal.”
“And he said Madison’s shoes are making her toe bleed,” Gillian said.
I flushed with embarrassment. “I got her a new pair today.” I’d gotten the payment from the wedding planner for the Morrison wedding, which would get me through a couple of weeks.
“Again, one of us could have covered it,” Seraphina said. “Why are you doing all this alone? You know that’s what we’re here for.”
I pulled a sheet of paper from my pocket and laid it on the island’s countertop, smoothing it with my fingers. “This is a spreadsheet of all the money you’ve all given me over the last five years. There’s a column with your name and the amount.” I’d kept detailed notes, hoping someday I could repay all the loans. With every additional column added, I’d felt more and more ashamed. I tapped the paper with my fingers. “This is the reason I can’t ask again.”
“But your parents have been so hard on you,” Lila said, ignoring the spreadsheet. “You belong here with us.”
“I want to know how Grady factors into all of this,” Delphine said, staring me down.
“Didn’t Robbie tell you that too?” I asked.
“Not exactly,” Gillian said. “He said that we should ask you about Grady.”
“That boy should be grounded, not sent to a STEM program,” I said, almost meaning it. “Okay, here’s the deal.” I laid it all out for them. Grady’s inheritance and his offer to sweep in and take care of everything I could ever need or want. “He said he’d buy Madison five hundred pairs of shoes if that’s what she wanted.”
“That’s a lot of shoes,” Seraphina said, smiling.
“How sweet of him,” Lila said. “And that’s absolutely bananas about his inheritance. Did he have any idea?”
“No, he thought all of the family money had been spent on legal fees and paying off victims. The only reason he’s taking it is because of us. The kids and me, that is. He didn’t want to take what he called blood money, but he changed his mind because I’ve made such a mess of my life.”
“Okay, so wait a minute,” Delphine said. “He went against his own moral code so that you and the kids could have what you need? How terrible of him.”
“It’s not that simple,” I said, feeling hot. “I’m not his girlfriend or his wife. It’s too much. I can’t possibly take him up on any of it.”
“I’ve had enough of your nonsense,” Delphine said. “You have to fix this. Right now.”
“There’s nothing to fix,” I said, taken aback. “I’ve made my decision.”
Delphine crossed her arms over her chest. “Let me tell you something, Esme Taylor. Do you know what I would do to get my husband back? And here you are, too proud to take what Grady’s offering. You love him. We all know that, including you. You’ve said it wouldn’t work because you’re both impractical small business owners. But I smell a rat.”
“Yeah, me too,” Seraphina said. “And it smells like fear.”
“You no longer have an excuse about why you can’t be together,” Lila said. “So you had to make up another one.”
I looked around at the faces of my friends, truly baffled by their reactions. “I’m just supposed to declare my undying love now that he has money? Who does that? No one good, I can assure you.”
Gillian shook her head, her eyes soft with sympathy. “Oh, Esme, no one who knows you would ever think that’s what you were doing. Especially not Grady.”
“Are you afraid of getting hurt again?” Lila asked. “Making the wrong choice?”
“Yes. Again,” I said. “I loved Jeff at one time, and look how great that turned out.”
“Grady is no Jeff,” Delphine said.
“I wish you two would just admit how you feel about each other,” Seraphina said, sounding agitated. “This is ridiculous. You have a chance to be happy. Why don’t you just let yourself have something good? Choose Grady. For yourself. For your kids. He’s offering you everything you’ve ever wanted.”
“How do you know what I want?” I asked, feeling petulant.
“Esme, c’mon. We all know you’ve loved him for years now,” Seraphina said. “And we also know that, deep in your heart, you’re yearning for a father for your kids and a partner for yourself. Not a flaky dreamer like Jeff. But a solid, sweet man like Grady.”
“Who now has the means to give you everything you deserve,” Gillian said. “I know it’s weird about the money. I felt that way about Alex too. When I knew him years ago, he was just a poor college student. Not some high-tech millionaire. I didn’t want him or anyone else to think I was after his money.”
“But I rejected the idea because I didn’t think he would be a reliable partner,” I said. “And now I’m supposed to suddenlydecide he’s the one. It’s not right. I can’t be one of those women who only cares about a man once he’s rich.”
