Christian scoffs. “Obviously this is the best thing for everyone.” His eyes roll. “She’s smarter than you guys think. Kids pick up on things.”
“Even so,” I add, “we’re going to do this on Kenna’s timeline. Okay, kiddo?”
“You were going to move to Florida for them, but now you’re ‘taking it slow’,” he air quotes. “Whatever.”
“Are you okay with this, Christian?” Kenna asks. “Us being here. Possibly indefinitely.”
I squeeze her arm.“Definitelyindefinitely.”
“Yeah,” he says without hesitation. “Who else is going to help me with all the calculus stuff next year?”
Kenna looks relieved. I have no clue what she was worried about. Christian loves her.Everyoneloves her.
“I’m always happy to help,” she says, smiling. “We’d better get this stuff downstairs and get started on dinner.”
“We’ve been invited to the Andersons’,” Christian says. “Ms. Allie said something about you guys having a long day and they were cooking burgers and we should go over around six thirty.”
I defer to Kenna, not knowing if she’s ready to be around other people before we’ve even fully comprehended everything that’s happened today ourselves. She just shrugs.
“Okay then,” I say. “Six thirty it is.”
Downstairs, Kenna pulls one suitcase into the bedroom and I put a box behind the couch. When I look over, she’s standing in the doorway, leaning against the door jamb.
“How come you didn’t tell him about the money?”
I sit on the arm of the couch. “Because it’s not my place to. It’s your money, Kenna. Not mine. Will it affect his life? Maybe. But that’s not for me to say or even speculate about. Like I told him, this is all being done according toyourtimeline. What makesyoucomfortable.”
“You know…” She sighs, then grins. “You may be the only person who found out about the lottery who hasn’t run off to tell everyone they know.” Her smile fades. “I take it back, Cyrus never told anyone. Probably because he wanted it all for himself. I can’t believe he didn’t even mention it to my dad when he called him last month.”
I stride forward until I’m standing right in front of her. “Let’s not ruin this evening by talking about that asshole.”
“But wewillneed to talk about him. We’ll need to keep tabs on him, especially now that we’ve decided to keep the money. What if he gets out of jail in a few years and resumes his blackmail attempts?”
“Not possible. Babe, by that time he will have been disbarred. Not to mention he’ll be a convicted felon. He will get zero protection from anyone he used to rely on. If he so much as comes to town, we’ll slap him with a restraining order. As an ex-con, if he’s stupid enough to violate it, he’ll end up back in jail.” My hands land on her shoulders and I lower my head to look directly into her eyes. “You do not need to worry about him anymore. You’ve been through enough. Time to start enjoying your life, Kenna.”
She blows out a long, deep breath. “I’ve been looking over my shoulder for so long, I’m not even sure I know how to do that.”
I take her hand. “With the help of those who love you.”
She leans into my chest and I wrap her in my arms. Damn, I can’t wait to start the rest of our lives together.
~ ~ ~
The second we walk into her house, Allie hands Kenna and me glasses of wine. Really good wine. “You must be exhausted,” she says, nodding to the kitchen. “Dinner is ready now if you want to eat.”
As if on cue, my stomach rumbles.
Christian, Bug, and Amelia entertain the rest of us during dinner. Bug seems beyond happy. I guess Christian broke the news that we’re staying put. It makes me wonder if Kenna will want us to live in my house or if she’s going to want something nicer. I wouldn’t blame her if she did. But I suppose living halfway across town from each other would still be a win for Christian and Bug. Then again, I think of where I am right now, eating dinner at Allie’s middle-class-ish house. Allie—a millionaire herself, and one of the heirs to a billion-dollar winery.
“Can we go watch a movie now?” Amelia asks.
Apparently, she hasn’t stopped talking about the ‘movie theater’ in Bug’s basement since she discovered it was there earlier today.
“Baby,” Kenna says. “You’ve been here all day. Why don’t we give Mr. and Mrs. Anderson their house back?”
Amelia frowns. “But they haveToy Story. The one with Jessie. Please, Mommy?”
“It’s no trouble,” Asher says. “Listen, I know you’ve had a long day. Bug can put the movie on for the three of them. Allie and I will get the twins to bed while you two relax in the living room with another glass of wine.”
