Page 51 of The Rules We Broke
Kendra and Benjamin both gave me a look—equal parts apology and compassion.
I smiled to say,It’s okay.
Caroline broke the silence. “Okay, how about puppies?”
I laughed, caught off guard. So did her parents.
Benjamin steered gently. “How about we talk about Miss Ellie’s aunt?”
Caroline shrugged, interest already fading as dinner settled in.
I straightened, waiting. I was all ears.
Benjamin set down his silverware and looked over at me.
“So, Ellie . . . When I came back here over seven years ago to take over as bank president, the economy was in a nosedive. The bank was losing more money than it was making. People were defaulting left and right. Reserves were dwindling. We couldn’t lend to people who were financially stable because we didn’t have the liquidity. But we held on that first year. Barely.”
“But your aunt? She’s sharp. And her funds—now yours, too—make up a substantial part of our reserves. Back then,heraccounts were the only thing keeping the bank afloat. She knew that. And she made the decision to move her money. It was her right. But that move would’ve forced us to dissolve the bank and sell off whatever assets we had left.”
I sat back, stunned. “I had no idea.”
Benjamin gave a half-hearted smile. “I don’t blame her. If I were in her shoes, I might’ve done the same thing. But I’ll say this—and I hope it doesn’t offend you—I think it gave her a certain . . . satisfaction, knowing the weight she carried.”
“I can only imagine.”
“Yes, well,” Benjamin said, “I’ll admit—I was ungracious toward your aunt at first, given the history between our families.”
I set my fork down.
Excuse me?
The history? You mean the history of Jackson men being unfaithful to Eaton women? Or the one where you all teamed up and broke me and Brady for good?
I think the coldness in my eyes gave my thoughts away.
“Please, Ellie,” Benjamin said quickly. “That came out wrong.”
Kendra touched my arm. “Ellie, what my idiot of a husband means is—he realized how wrong he’d been. Especially regarding you.”
Regarding me?“How did that come about?” I asked carefully but curiously.
Benjamin cleared his throat, choosing each word as if it might bite back.
“Well, during all of that uncertainty, I met Kendra. She was helping Brady rehab some torn ligaments at the time. Let’s just say she wasn’t exactly my parents’ idea of a suitable match.”
Kendra rolled her eyes. “What he means is—they’d have hated me if they’d known we were seeing each other.”
“Mommy, Grammy and Grandpop don’t hate you.”
“Of course not, honey.”
Kendra glanced at Benjamin, and they exchanged one of those subtle married looks—this wasn’t a conversation for a five-year-old.
“Maybe we can talk about how we got together later,” Kendra offered gently.
“Good idea,” Benjamin agreed.
Then he turned back to me, tone soft. “Ellie, I owe you a huge apology.”
