Page 98 of The Redemption of Remy St. Claire

He winced. “I meant that. I can’t get used to the fact that this is my home, too. Mira and I lived in that apartment for three years. Sometimes the space here takes my breath away. I have to pinch myself because this is what I always wanted for Mira but was unsure I could ever give it to her.”

“Don’t look back. This is our family home.” How had she not seen he was uncomfortable? That he didn’t see this space as his own as well? “I want you to relax here. If you think it’s too much of a showpiece, then we change a few things. My mother favored the more formal look, and let’s be honest, I have no aesthetics of my own. I’m open to suggestions.”

“No.” He said the word sharply. “I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m just saying that I worry sometimes the girls will knock over something valuable. Or spill on the carpet. Or any of a dozen other things that could go wrong.”

“Rusty, I did all those things.” She chuckled. “My mother never chastised. Instead she assured me there was no sense crying over spilled milk. The really valuable items—and there are only a few—are well out of the reach of a toddler. Remind me one day to give you a proper tour of the house. You should know which items are heirlooms and which are just worth money. Because that’s all they are. Money’s not that important.”

“How can you say that?”

“Because my parents had excellent life insurance policies.”

“That should be for Calleigh’s future.”

“And it is.” On this she could assure him. “My father was an extremely successful businessman. The house is mortgage-free. Calleigh and I could survive on the interest from his investments.” She shifted in the chair. “I don’t work all those hours for the money. I could work less…”

He gave her an odd look. “I never said that. I’m glad your parents left you in a good spot financially.”

There was abutcoming, she could feel it.

“But I’m not quite in the same position. I could be, but I choose not to be.”

What does that mean?

He dropped back onto the couch, fidgeting several moments before speaking. “I told you that Mira’s birth was a nightmare.”

“You did.” Where was he going with this?

“There’s more.”

“Okay…”Be patient. Let him come to you.

“There was a financial settlement by the health authority.”

He named a figure so high she nearly fell off her chair.

“The money is in an account under Mira’s name. The trust will pay it out in lump sums when she starts to attend a university, when she buys her first home, when she gets married.” He said the words in a rush as if he’d been holding them in this whole time, apparently relieved to finally unburden himself.

“She could live off that comfortably.” The amount astounded, and given Sissy hadn’t died, it meant they had done some serious damage to the young woman. Health authorities didn’t dole out that kind of cash unless there was severe and significant neglect.

He met her gaze. “And she might. But I don’t want Mira to think life is a free ride. Everything I have I earned with hard work. I want Mira to have a normal life. That’s why the money’s locked away. I take a small yearly payment of interest so I can stay home with her. Once she’s old enough that I can work, I’ll stop taking the stipend.”

“But it’s your money too.” He had to know she wasn’t judging him. “And Sissy’s as well.”

Rusty sat up and met Remy’s gaze. “When they paid out the money, Sissy and I agreed the money was for Mira. Sissy can’t touch it. I pay her support, but she can’t touch the principal. No one can. Mira’s money is safe.”

“How much do you pay her each month?”

He named a sum that was reasonable, if a little on the low side. “Do you want to pay her more? I can help.”

The little creases around his eyes deepened as he smiled ruefully.

“Only you would make such an offer, Remy. Your spirit is generous.” He paused. “I don’t want to give her too much money. I’m afraid she’ll use it on drugs.”

“She says she’s clean.”

A hand came up, entreating her to stop. “Please, I don’t want to talk about my ex-wife.” His expression was endearingly serious. “As you can see, I didn‘t need the job as a nanny. I did it for Mira.”

And he hadn’t needed to become her husband either. He’d done that for Mira as well.

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