Page 29 of My Silver Lining

Lulu

We madeour way to the great room first, where Hunter and Charlotte were playing chess. I scanned the room to find my grandfather and my dad pushing to their feet when they noticed us come in. My hand was in Rafe’s, as I knew that Charlotte would be watching every detail.

And if she thought she was going to accuse me of faking a relationship, she had another thing coming.

“Lulubelle is home!” Gramps shouted, and I dropped Rafe’s hand and threw myself into my grandfather’s arms. He was the most affectionate family member I had. Everyone else was a bit stiff, but Gramps and I were clearly cut from the same cloth.

“Happy Birthday, Gramps.”

He set me back down on my feet as I turned to give my father a quick hug. He wasn’t big on affection, and he patted my back stiffly.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now, introduce us to this new fella of yours,” Gramps said.

“This is Rafe Chadwick.” I quickly moved beside him and took his hand again when I felt Charlotte’s eyes on me. “You’re going to love him as much as I do.”

“Oh, my, this is news… She loves him now?” A sarcastic laugh filled the space around us as Charlotte and her husband, Hunter the douche-kabob, made their way over to us. My grandfather and father shook Rafe’s hand, and they were already making small talk.

“Guilty as charged,” I smirked before forcing the next words out of my mouth. “It’s good to see you both.”

“I’m sure it is. Grandfather has been talking about this boyfriend of yoursad nauseam.I was waiting for you to call and say he couldn’t make it due to his—what was it, Hunty? A rare virus?”

“Yes.” Hunter let out this deep chuckle that screamed politician. His dark hair was covered in a thick layer of gel, and his blue eyes scanned my outfit from head to toe in that particularly creepy way he always did. “I didn’t think he’d show either.”

“You must be Charlotte and Hunter.” Rafe turned and extended a hand when my grandfather and father left to let Mrs. Weston know that we were in need of a round of champagne. “I’ve heard so much about you both. And I wouldn’t have missed this for the world. I was just worried about giving you that nasty virus. I’d hate to see you locked up in a bathroom for days. But I was lucky because I had my girl to take care of me.”

I used my hand to cover my mouth because Rafe Chadwick knew how to handle himself, and that gave me less to worry about.

“I see. So, this is serious enough to include caretaking? What is it that you do, Rafe? I think I heard something about you being a cashier? Or a bank teller?” Hunter asked, in that one-of-a-kind condescending tone that annoyed the hell out of me.

“I’m actually a wealth management advisor. But I’ve done all of those things before doing this, so you aren’t wrong. And you’rea congressman, right?” Rafe asked. He could have stuck it to him and said something snarky, but he was respectful that way.

“Yes. I am.”

“That’s impressive.” He turned to Charlotte next. “Lulu mentioned that you are very active in philanthropy. I’d love to hear more about that.”

Her expression softened. My cousin was so difficult and combative in her relationships that she didn’t know how to handle it when someone wasn’t coming for her.

“Yes. I mean, I plan to have children soon, and I’d like to be home to raise them.”

“Ahhh… honorable work right there. My mother stayed home with all five of us kids, and I give her a lot of credit. It’s not an easy job; the hours are long, and the pay is terrible.” Rafe barked out a laugh.

Charlotte’s lips turned up in the corners as if she couldn’t help but smile at the charming man beside me. I didn’t even know Charlotte’s lips could move upward. I assumed her filler had just given her a bad case of resting bitch face. But apparently, she saved that particular look for me and the rest of the family.

“I couldn’t agree more. Some women are cut out for motherhood, and others are just—not. Like Lulu here, she’s all about her career, just like her mother was.”

What the actual hell?

“A woman can have both a career and a family. There is no right or wrong way to do it,” I said, trying to tamp down my irritation. “I think if you want to stay home and raise your family, it’s very honorable. But I also think it’s just as wonderful if you want to work outside the home.”

“I wouldn’t allow my woman to work outside of our home,” Hunter said, and I cringed at his backward way of thinking. “I like my wife to have time to make herself beautiful and havedinner on the table when I come home. Not to mention that she’ll be the one to educate our future children. Can you think of a better teacher for your future nieces and nephews?” he asked, as he looked at me.

Ursula and Maleficent would give her a run for her money.

“Really?” Rafe gaped at him. “You don’t think your wife should choose for herself?”

“Men have been the breadwinners since the beginning of time. I say, if it ain’t broken, then don’t fix it.” Hunter barked out that horrific laugh of his.

“Well, I think that’s the argument,” Rafe pressed. “Limiting a woman’s options is a very broken way of thinking. Would you like it if Charlotte said you had to stay home and raise the children, if that wasn’t what you wanted to do?”

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