“It’s not like that.” I frowned at my sister’s teasing tone. “I liked Nigel even before I knew he was Jack’s grandfather. This is all happening so fast. Not long ago, Jack didn’t even exist in my orbit. And then he kissed me, stirring all these feelings.”
“So, what? You want to leave him after what? Four—five days of living together?”
My heart thundered to my throat, and I stumbled to a halt. “No!”
“And there you have your answer,” my wise sister said, settling her fuzzy-slippered feet on the coffee table. “Ray, no one’s opinion should matter, except your own. You’ve finally let yourself feel something for someone else. Yes, it’s scary, but not all men are like Devyn or Oscar, even I’ve come to realize that. And Jack welcomed your spawn pet to stay at the mansion.”
Something inside me settled. A smile started. “I know. A few nights ago, while we were watching TV, Wilbur crawled along the backrest of the couch, then settled himself around Jack’s neck like a scarf and refused to move.” I dissolved into laughter again, recalling the incident. “Yeah, he scowled at me like it was my fault while petting the beast.”
“Probably Wilbur’s way of saying ‘thank you’ for free access to all the fish he can eat.”
“And me, he leaves dead things.”
Ila laughed. “So…” She rose and made her way to the kitchen. “You meet his family yet?” she asked, getting the milk from the fridge. She poured some into a small pot and put it on the stove to boil.
“Only Marie, his sister. I met her briefly previously. She came around last night to visit Nigel.”
“Ah, yes. I remember her.” Ila grimaced. “At the time, I thought she was another of Max’s slanks.”
“Nah, she’s really nice.” I leaned against the counter separating the rest of the kitchen from the living room. I didn’t tell Ila what Jack had revealed about Marie’s abusive, cheating skunk of a husband. “But the rest of them, no. I don’t think they get on…” I told her about Jack’s comments about how they likely wished Nigel hadn’t survived his heart attack.
Frowning, Ila got out the Milo, along with two mugs. “And I thought Max had it bad with his father, even though it was outside interference that caused all the pain he went through.”
I nodded, refastening my sliding hair into a ponytail. “Thank God, Mom called and warned me about the photo of Jack and me in the paper, just in case. But no one said anything, so…”
“Yeah, the kissing photo.” She smirked. “I didn’t bother you because Max told me Jack was serious about you, so I waited formysister to tell me. But I hate those tabloids.” Ila scooped Milo into the mugs, added the hot milk, stirred, then slid one to me. I couldn’t blame her, considering they’d made Max’s life hell with all the false reporting.
“Sorry, Ila. I would have told you, but I needed time to assimilate all this.”
“It’s okay. We all move at a different pace. But we know when it’s right for us.”
“Yeah.” I moved the fruit bowl filled with oranges to another spot on the counter. “I’m just glad that’s over. And that Mom and Dad know about Jack and me.”
“They’re happy you finally found someone. I think Dad was afraid you’d actually end up in a nunnery.”
I scrunched my nose.
She laughed. “They only want you to be happy, Ray, not go tearing around the city, trying to fill that endless hole inside you by doing all the things you do. Now, take it easy. You have a safe job, your college fees have been settled…”
I froze. “What?”
“I tried to pay it yesterday and was told it had already been settled.”
“Dad?” I asked, my fingers tightening on my mug.
“I don’t know. I haven’t talked to him yet.”
“Darn it, I told him not to. What if something happens to Mom? We’ll need the money for the hospital, the doctors—”
“Ray, calm down. I earn fairly well now since the gallery started showcasing all my canvases. We’ll manage.”
Okay, okay. I nodded, taking a sip of my chocolatey drink to calm down. Still, my accelerated heartbeat refused to settle. “Fine, then I will send Dad some of the money I earn working for Nigel.” Now, I felt a little better. I’d never had a job where I could offer financial help to Dad. Ila always had.
My sister shrugged. “If you want to. But, Ray, take it easy.” She got out a Tupperware and packed it with cookies. “Tomorrow is my dress fitting, so I’ll pick you up, and we’ll go over together. Charli said she’d meet us there.”
“Okay. Oh, and keep next weekend free for your bachelorette party.”
Ila stilled, then glared. “Ray, I don’t want one. I don’t like them.”
