Page 2 of The Exception

“Did she agree?” her husband, Dan, asked in the background.

“Agree to what?” I asked, hesitancy lining my tone.

She hushed him then asked, “You know how Dan and I are trying to buy that house?”

No. I didn’t know that. But that was nothing new. My family acted like I lived on another planet just because I didn’t live in Small Town, Montana, like the rest of them.

I sighed. I had a feeling I knew where this was headed, but I tried to give Iris the benefit of the doubt.

“That’s great, Iris. Congrats.” I peered around the foyer, looking at all the work left to be done in just this one room. One of forty-five.

What was I thinking?

It had taken weeks to get even half the paint removed—years of white and cream layers applied over the château’s beautifultuffeaustone. I wanted to restore it to its natural finish, with just the original lime render on top.

“It is,” she continued. “But we hit a snag with the financing.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said, glancing at the time.

I needed to finish up here so I could check in with Luc before I had to leave for the airport. He was one of the qualified heritage artisans and a sort of project manager for when I had to be away. I also needed to pack.

“And I—we,” Iris said, “were hoping you could loan us the money. We only need about $18,000, and we’ll pay you back in a few months,” she rushed to add.

Only eighteen grand?I wanted to laugh. She acted like it was nothing.

She planned to pay me back in a few months? Where was she magically going to get this $18,000? In such a short time frame?

I mean, shit. I could really use that kind of knowledge.

“Why not just wait a few months and pay it yourself?” I asked, trying to understand.

“Because the seller had several offers on the house, and we’re lucky ours was accepted. If we can’t get the money to make it happen, they’ll move on to someone else.”

“Did you ask Mom and Dad?”

“You and I both know they don’t have that kind of money,” she said.

And she thought I did? I wish!

“I’m sorry, Iris. I wish I could help, but I can’t.”

“Seriously, Lil? You can’t even lend me ten grand?”

“No. I can’t. I’m stretched thin as it is.” And her attitude was pissing me off.

“Oh yeah.” Her tone was full of skepticism. “It must be really hard—flying first class, staying in all those luxury hotels. You live in a freaking castle, for crying out loud.”

My skin was hot. Tight. “First of all, traveling is my job. And I worked hard for those opportunities. My blog didn’t just explode overnight. I had to cultivate those brand relationships.”

“Whatever,” she huffed. “God, you’re so selfish.”

Excuse me?I jerked my head back, feeling as if I’d been slapped.

Selfish? She was calling me selfish?

In the past, I would’ve brushed off her comment. I was used to my family’s snide remarks. And maybe it was the exhaustion, the feeling of defeat weighing down on me after another intense rainstorm that had increased the damage to the château, but I couldn’t just let it go. I couldn’t.

“Maybe if you ever asked how I was or how the restoration was going, you’d know that I live in a tiny, outdated apartment in the basement of the château. I cook my meals on a hot plate. I don’t even have hot water.”

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