Page 69 of Between Now and Forever

But what an idea it is.

I’ve seenFrozen. I know he could be another Prince Hans.

But I’m no Anna. I’m not pinning my hopes on love. I know better. I just want something to cling to while I navigate the next few months.

My father told me he needs to talk to me about my role at Wolfe when he gets back. I’m terrified, but ready to step up wherever he needs me. I’ve been reading the latest annual report, just to try and be ahead of the game when he asks me to step up.

James said all of those things when he thought he would be there to work with my father. He would expect me to do the right thing.

New York and Art School will all have to wait. The next few months, I expect to be focused on learning the business.

It also means Carter will have to wait. But before I say bye to him, I want to squeeze as much out of our time together as possible and have memories like the ones from his house to remind me of what I have to look forward to.

His visit to the house touched me so much. He’d only known me for two days and he’d done more than any of the girls I called friends my whole life. None of them even called once the news got out. And until he squeezed my hand, no one but Dina had touched me with any real kindness in days.

I’ve clung to that and him over the last few hellish days.

The funeral was yesterday morning, and I have never been so tired in my life. Everything has moved so fast. Erin and Ziggy left town last night for the set of her latest film. My father left this morning for three days of meetings in Austin. Fiona fainted at the funeral and has been put on full bed rest.

After a few days of too much face time with my family, it feels like a luxury to be able to eat breakfast by myself.

I spread the homemade marmalade my grandmother sends a crate of every fall onto a thick slice of honey wheat toast and sigh in relief.

The door swings open, and the perfume that trails into the room shatters the peaceful solitude of the moment.

Resignation settles like a boulder in my gut. Besides watching them lower my brother’s body into the ground, the worst part of my week was walking into the church and seeing her there.

It’s been almost two years since I saw her last, but all of the loathing and resentment I feel for her is as fresh as it was the day I found out she chose her criminal lover over her husband and children.

“Hello, Elisabeth.” Her voice is as cool and clear as a winter stream. It’s her secret weapon because it hides the toxic, narcissistic bubbling brew that makes up about seventy percent of her blood.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” I say without looking up from my plate.

“Well, here I am.” She slides into the chair across from me. My nerves prickle, but I feign nonchalance as I eat.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I asked the girl who answered the door to have a place set for me.”

“I thought you’d be flying back to Switzerland as soon as the service was over.”

“I’m leaving in the morning. I wanted to see you first.”

“Well, now that you’ve seen me, there’s no need for you to stay.” I say to my plate.

“Please look at me,” she says in a stern voice.

I grit my teeth and take a deep breath before I obey. She’s smiling, and so beautiful and I think how unfair that she gets to look like that when she’s caused so much pain. Her dark hair cascades over her slim shoulders and frames her face in a way that highlights her high cheekbones and wide set brown eyes. She looks like she hasn’t aged a day since the last time I saw her. I feel like I’ve aged a hundred years.

She takes me in, her gaze critical and intense.

“Do you wear your hair short because mine is long?” she asks suddenly.

I flush hot, but my heart whirs as her missile hits its target.

“Of course not,” I deny fiercely.

“I know I haven’t been around for a long time, but I still know my daughter. And you’ve always been crazy about your father. When you were five, he told you blue was his favorite color. And then, it became yours.”

“That’s not true,” I gasp.

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