Page 54 of Unmistakably Us

Eighteen

Each minute with her parents was like a lifetime in Hell’s waiting room. Everything about them grated on her last fucking nerve, but she had to find a way out that hurt the least people.

Her mother was oh so happy she had “come to her senses.” That little bit of belief on her parents’ part led to them lowering their guard a little. At least they didn’t have security posted below her window in case she bolted. They even told her if she needed the car today, she could use it.

Of course, the suggestion had been to use it to get something done with her hair so her fiancé’s mother didn’t think she was raised by wolves at her fitting tomorrow.

Sadly, she couldn’t finagle an out before the fitting from Hell so she’d have to plaster that smile on her face a bit longer. Chadwick’s mother and hers were cut from the same cloth. Both were controlling cunts who made an art form out of manipulation. The major difference was their kids. The Chadwick apple didn’t fall far from the dysfunctional tree, but for the most part, she and Augusta were decent human beings.

At least, she had always thought she was, until she saw that look of utter disbelief on Logan’s face. She had done that, her, good person January Snow Thorne. The kicker was, she knew it was coming sooner or later. She had planned to steal away, so as not to witness it. That didn’t really change the fact that it would be there.

Holy shit, I embraced the Thorne gene with gusto.Realizing she was just as bad as the rest of them did nothing to help her current mood or amp up her planning skills. She needed to focus. January vowed on her very own heart to make it up to Logan. And if he gives me another chance, I’ll show him that I’ll always choose him first.

January needed a little space so she took her mother up on the car loan and made an appointment with the only salon open on Sunday, but first, she would hit the Internet café and make some phone calls.

Rolling in to the coffee shop felt surreal, not the café itself, but what she was about to do. Defying her parents was inevitable, but theory and application were two different things. Not to mention she was about to spill all to another person. She’d shared the partial truth with both Andy and Stacy a few days before she sprained her wrist, but shame be damned and she hoped Augusta would survive the ripple effect and the tsunami named Melody that would wash over all their lives.

Something in that final week in Florida had given her a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe she and Gus could handle it. For a few hours of her lifetime, she had lived a fantasy with a future of her own making. Looking at a potential shop and business opportunity, asking Andy and Stacy for legal advice, and actually making a plan of her own. That was short-lived as reality crept in on her dreams. She’d realized she hadn’t had the guts to fight her parents and was grateful at the time for confidentiality.

Now, it was different…her resolve was different, and her motivation was ultimate.

“Hi, Andy, it’s me. Do you have a minute or twenty?”

“Hello, January. How are you doing, hon?”

Andy’s voice was always so soothing, laden with concern and love. “Before you answer, don’t give me some canned bullshit response, I asked because I want to know, really.”

Her exhale was shuddering but beneficial, like letting go. “I have certainly been better. My life is a mess, my heart is shredded, and I need help to fix it.”

“It’s about damn time. You had me testing the limits of confidentiality, I’ll have you know. Now, who do I need to bury first and how far under do you want them?”

She’d figured between Andy and Stacy, they had as much information as was possible. She had signed standard papers with both when she’d first consulted them about leaving Florida, Demon, money, and of course, her parental troubles, some anyway. When she’d mentioned the contracts in general, she had shocked herself. Those were never talked about outside of the Thorne household. It was almost a physical pain in her head to do so, but after she spoke the words, there was an encompassing sense of relief.

She’d even run the possibility of opening a garage past Andy at one point. Hypothetical based information, of course, but neither Stacy or Andy were stupid.

January spilled the rest of the info he and Stacy would need. “My biggest concern with going forward is protecting Augusta from as much pain and humiliation as possible.”

“Of course, honey. There is nothing in the world I wouldn’t do to protect that woman, you know that. She means the world to me, and hell, Stacy would turn into a rabid pit bull in stilettos to protect her.” He paused but January knew it was pregnant with something she wasn’t going to enjoy.

She didn’t have to wait long.

“You do know that it’s better that she’s warned, right? Even if we keep the public stink to a minimum, she will find out that her parents betrayed her. I think it’s better that she hear that from someone who loves her, yes?”

January agreed with it in principal but not in practical application. “Can we wait until the last possible minute? I just don’t…I mean…she…” January trailed off, unable to truly express what she felt.

“Of course, you’re my client. That’s your call, but you know my opinion on it, so let’s move on. How are you holding up? I know the pressure to maintain appearances until we get our ducks in a row is weighing heavy on you, but you don’t have to do any of this. I am the best fucking representation you could have, and I can handle this better than you think. Oh, and when I do, I’ll accept apologies in the form of free tune-ups on my car for a year and your undying gratitude, by the way.”

Andy’s joking mood was contagious, but she was still anchored in a somber place. “I know you are, although Stacy may have something to say about that. It’s just, close to home, you know. As for the tune-ups, well, we need to get this cleared up first, then ask Frank if I can use his place and tools.”

“Orrr, you could dive in head-first and buy that shop you wanted and you and Logan can walk off into the sunset with grease under your nails in soiled overalls.”

January laughed her fist genuine laugh since she’d left with her parents. It was a picture she could see vividly and would give anything to make it a reality. Hell, I am giving anything.

“I thought you’d like that. Listen, if I can’t get you to agree to come back here until this is settled, at least promise you won’t do anything permanent to reiterate the fact that the wedding is your idea. Even if we handle your parents, the Rodgers family could try to sue for damages and humiliation for lack of a better description. So no announcements in the paper, being photographed as a happy couple, or anything like that. If you insist on pretending for your own personal reasons, just keep that in mind, not that I can’t handle it, it will just cost you an additional year in automotive maintenance.”

“Okay, but I do have a wedding dress fitting tomorrow. It’s at a private boutique and the groom,” she grated the word, “won’t be there.”

“I would advise against it, but I know it’s falling on deaf ears, so the best I can say is act flat about it. Don’t lather on the excitement, even to keep your mom’s suspicions down. Besides, from what you’ve told me, she expects you to be less than thrilled. Hey, by the way, remember when I said it would be unlikely I would need to consult any experts?”

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