Page 139 of An Inconvenient Marriage
Because she loved me and wanted me to be happy, I had no doubt she’d tell me that if I missed Zach so much, I should pick up the phone and tell him.
I couldn’t.
I wasn’t ready to face the truth. The way things were now left the smallest room for hope.
But if we talked, and I found out that nothing was real… what was left of my heart wouldn’t survive.
His feelings might have been fake, nothing but a big fat lie to take my father down, but mine weren’t. They still aren’t. In fact, I was fairly certain that no matter what happened in the future, those feelings would forever be there. Maybe not as strong as they were now, but they’d always simmer below the surface.
Because you never let go of your first love.
And Zach… well, he was a lot of firsts for me.
“So what did that lawyer want?” she finally asked.
I blew out a heavy breath and a few wayward strands fluttered away from my face. “You’re not going to believe this.” I barely did. And honestly, if I had known that this was what my father’s attorney had wanted when he called me the first time a little over three months ago, I would have agreed to meet him sooner.
Or maybe I would have blocked him completely.
“Apparently the will my father produced at the time of my mother’s death was fake. I was the sole beneficiary.”
Everlee choked on her water. “What?”
“Yeah, that’s not all.” I walked to where I’d set up my little work nook in the corner of the living room. Trailing my fingers over my desk, I let the words roll off my tongue.
“According to Mr. Roberts, I’ve inherited quite a substantial amount of money. Enough to pay off my father’s debts and still live a lavish lifestyle.” Leaning my hip against the edge, I crossed my arms and dryly added, “If that’s what I wanted.”
“Oh geez, don’t be so excited about it.” Rolling her eyes, Everlee sidled in beside me. She bumped my shoulder with hers. “This is good news.”
“I know, it’s just…” I shrugged. “Doesn’t the timing seem a little off? Why now?”
Everlee was in front of me with her fingers curled around my upper arms before I had time to blink. “Who cares? If the universe wants to make up for all the shitty years you had to endure, then let it.”
I mulled over her words. “Maybe you’re right.”
“When am I not?”
Laughter bubbled over my lips. “Oh, I can think of quite a few times.”
With a sharp shake of her head, she held up her hand. “We’re not talking about that. But what we are talking about is”—she practically shoved me aside to snatch up one of my sketches—“wow, is this what you’re working on with Aurulia?”
My cheeks heated instantly. “No. They’re just doodles.”
I trailed my fingers over the one I’d started last night when sleep had eluded me yet again. Working on a bridal line with Aurulia had given me so much inspiration. Not just that, it gave me direction.
This was what I wanted.
My own boutique filled with the wedding dresses from my imagination.
“Just doodles, huh?” Everlee interrupted my wandering thoughts yet again. “These are too good to be doodles. Now if you were telling me they’re for your own line…” Placing the sketches in a neat pile, she stared at me.
My gaze flicked from hers to the sketches, then back to her again. “Maybe someday.”
She shook her head. “Sweetie, you’re already livingyoursomeday. You’re doing things you never thought you could. So why not this?”
“I don’t know.” I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “It’s a tremendous step, and I guess I’m scared of failing.”
I was wrapped up in one of Everlee’s hugs not even a second later. “Failing doesn’t matter. It’s the times you get up that do.”
