“We’ll raise it together. We can’t have you pregnant—that would jeopardize that lucrative business you have.” He reaches out to encircle my waist.
“Why are you in my room?” his mother screeches, storming in.
I need better boundaries. “I just need a change of clothes,” I call, shoving Knox away.
“You better not have a date,” he spits.
“So what if I do?”
“Mom!” he complains.
“She doesn’t have a date, sweetie. I mean, look at her. What man is going to date her?” Shelby pets her son.
“Nothing like being insulted in your own house that you own.”
“You own all of it?” Knox asks.
“Free and clear. No mortgage.” Blindly, I grab some jeans and a burgundy V-neck sweater.
The doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it.”
“Gran, no!” I race downstairs. “Fidget probably ordered DoorDash. I told you to stop plugging those Alexas back in.”
I’m greeted by a walking bouquet of flowers in my living room.
Knox is immediately furious. “Who sent those? Who gave those to you?”
Gran peers around the bouquet. “Obviously someone with more disposable income than you. I saw that pathetic excuse for a grocery store bouquet you gave your baby mama.”
Gran slaps his hand when he reaches for the card.
“Did you see that?” the Pittsburgh troll screeches. “Did you see her hit my baby?”
“Ooh, Winnie, look at this!” Kathy marvels, traipsing in with a stack of white boxes tied up with a big ribbon. “Fitz sent you pressies! It’s likeBreakfast at Tiffany’s.” She sets them on the coffee table next to the flowers.
“Can I open it?” Kathy begs like we’re kids and she wants to open my birthday presents.
“Sure, whatever. Go for it.” I should be annoyed, but Kathy’s always so amazed when she opens a present, like she’s still my little chubby-cheeked baby sister.
Brinley creeps up next to Knox to watch.
“Ooh, this is Catalina Boutique.”
The girls squeal at the dress.
The all-black dress is structured, one shoulder. Just from the material of the fabric and the way it’s draped and the way it’s pieced together—I’m not a fashion expert, but it looks expensive.
“Shoes!” Kathy breathes. “Oh my gosh, look at that peep toe.”
“So cute!”
“The bow! I love the bow. Are those Swarovski crystals?” they marvel. Brinley leans in closer to admire the gift.
“And fur.” Brinley almost reaches out to stroke the cape. “Oh my gosh, Fitz must really love you,” she says to me, breathless.
“And he sent diamonds.” The jewelry glitters as Kathy admires the necklace. “Oh, this is so romantic.”
