Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 484(@200wpm)___ 387(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Are you?” My mother’s anger seems to be bubbling up to the surface. She pretends like everything is fine. Always. It has to boil over at some point, and it looks like it’s headed my way. Naturally. “What I see is you prioritizing those friends of yours. You spent two weeks in Europe.”
“One of my best friends was getting married,” I point out, knowing it won’t do me any good.
“You didn’t have to be gone for two weeks. You missed so many family events. You made me go alone.”
“Mom, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not well-liked by these people. And I scarcely think my cousins care whether I show up to their kids T-ball games,” I explain.
My mother’s head shakes. “Well, I care. I care that you don’t seem to want to be a member of this family at all.”
I feel my eyes narrow in anger. “I’ve spent every day of the last two years trying to save this company. I used a good portion of my inheritance to do it. I put myself on the line. Don’t tell me I don’t care about this family because I don’t want to spend every second with a bunch of people who will do nothing but hold their hands out for cash. That’s your thing, Mom. You let them walk all over you.”
“Well, what am I supposed to do when I have a daughter who refuses to do the right thing?”
“Just so we’re clear, what is the right thing?” I’m pretty sure I know, but I like to give people enough rope.
“You should worry about finding a husband and giving me grandchildren. Have you even thought about what this is like for me? Everyone else has grandbabies. I have to go to every party and coo over their babies and know that I have none. What am I supposed to do with my life, Harper?”
Yup. Exactly what I thought she would say. “Personally, I think you should find a hobby. Or, I don’t know, get a job. Find some meaning that isn’t wrapped up in my vacant womb.”
She stands there for a moment, tears in her eyes. “You don’t care.”
I don’t even know what to say. I’m tired. “I’m not going to live your life, Mom. Serving a man to your own detriment was your thing, not mine.”
She turns and strides out, not bothering to look behind.
“Damn, that was a scene. Is that what it’s like to have a mom? Maybe it was best mine took off for Southern France when I was a baby,” a familiar voice says. Jeremiah turns, watching my mother walk away.
My day is getting better. “I suppose my admin is taking a break.”
He shrugs as he walks into the office. “Nah. I explained the situation to her and she told me to go on back. I’m charming. I make all the straight girls comfortable. Oddly, the lesbians tend to see through my bullshit.”
I know who I should hire next. “What can I do for you, Jeremiah? Also, what is the situation?”
He walks around, looking at the pictures on the walls. “The sitch is that you and my brother had a moment, and I wanted to find out why you’ve now blocked him. He tried to call you.”
It was an impulse. “Sorry. I’ll reverse that. He needs to be able to get in touch with me. I gave him my personal cell. I only use that for friends. I’ll give him my business number.”
He glances back, giving me a frown. “You’re not friends now? You looked like friends a couple of days ago. Who is this?”
He points to one of the pictures on the wall.
“My father and uncle. Way back when they first started the company. They’re standing in front of the first building they ever broke ground on,” I explain. “It was built in the seventies. It was an apartment building. They tore it down two years ago for a new high-rise.”
Nothing is permanent. I’ve learned that over the years. That lesson is why Banover Place feels so sacred to me. There’s history. A small part of it mine.
“That’s sad.” He gestures toward the door. “I’m right? That was your mother?”
“I don’t know anyone else who would yell at me for not pumping out kids.”
He chuckles a bit and takes the seat in front of mine before leaning forward and getting serious. “Was it Britta?”
Well, he gets right to the point. “Are you talking about Reid’s fiancée?”
He groans. “I knew it. I knew she would wreck everything. Harper, they are not engaged and haven’t been in a long time. Over a year.”
“It’s not my business.”
He stares for a moment. “It seemed like it was about to be your business. I can see things. You didn’t go back to our room to talk about design plans.” His expression softens. “I haven’t seen my brother react like this to a woman in…ever. He is not involved with Britta. Not anymore. Not the way you think he is.”