Nicholas shifted. “Eve, Grandpa and I were talking about your company.” His tone was carefully neutral.
“Is that right?” she asked warily, and braced herself for more criticism.
But it didn’t come. Her grandpa looked delighted. “Nicholas had to explain some of the basics to me. I’d heard of these kinds of services, but of course I’ve never had to take one. Might be hard with my chair anyway.”
“I want my company to be more accessible.”
“I saw that in your plan.” Nicholas grinned. “It was a good plan, Eve. You’ve done your research.”
“I have. I’ve even driven for Ryde for a few months,” she blurted out.
Nicholas pursed his lips. “You’ve been driving for the company you said isn’t completely safe?”
John slapped his knee. “That’s how you do it, girl. Get out there, get your hands dirty.”
“That is how you do it,” she said firmly, looking at Nicholas.
To his credit, Nicholas only looked a little green at the thought of her driving around the city with strangers. “Yeah. Right. Get your hands dirty.”
“Chandlers don’t quit and they don’t sleep on opportunities. I’m so proud of you, Eve.”
She soaked up the approval like a dry sponge. “Thanks, Grandpa.”
“We need to sit down after dinner and go through the whole plan.”
“Maybe after the wedding,” Nicholas interjected. “We have a big day tomorrow.”
John continued as if he’d barely heard his grandson. “We’ll have to see what you need too. Investment-wise. Of course Nicholas and I will both contribute seed money.”
“Of course,” Nicholas echoed.
That should have made her happy. She shouldn’t turn down capital. She opened her mouth to accept but instead what came out of her mouth was, “No. I want this company to stay mine.”
Nicholas frowned. “It would still be yours—”
“No, it wouldn’t, Nicholas. If you put money in, you’d have equity. And your big nose would be all up in it.”
He harrumphed. “It would not.”
“She knows us, son,” her grandpa said, his blue eyes twinkling. “I respect you wanting to do this on your own, Eve.”
“Grandpa—”
John held up his hand, and his grandson immediately clammed up. “It’s Eve’s company. Eve calls the shots. Promise, though, if you need any consultation, you’ll come to me or Nicholas. We do want you to be successful.”
“That’s fine.” She shot Nicholas a warning look. “But only if I ask for the advice. If I don’t, you keep your—”
“I know.” Her brother touched his nose. “It’s not that big.”
“It’s the Chandler nose,” John said. “It’s large enough.”
Nicholas smiled and dipped his head. “Very well, Eve. You have my support. My distant support.”
Approval. It shouldn’t feel so good. She almost squealed, “Really?!” but she didn’t want to diminish her victory with an immature outburst. So she nodded demurely and kissed her grandfather on the cheek. “Do you want to rest for the afternoon, before dinner?”
“I’m not a toddler.” But the annoyance was almost absentminded. A shadow moved over John’s face. “Actually, that’s why I wanted to see the two of you alone first. Your father is coming tonight. To dinner.”
Her excitement deflated, but when she glanced at Nicholas, she knew she couldn’t be churlish. Longing and anger warred there, and she understood them both. Sometimes, even when a parent was toxic to the extreme, it was hard to get rid of the hope that they would be kind or gentle or perfectthistime. “Well, he was invited.”
