Page 90 of Roses, Pearls, and Hot Summer Nights
I smiled, imitating her phrasing. “A fair question. I might be enjoying it now, but as I’ve told the guys, I’m going to be sent away. It’s hard for me to imagine permanence in anything, especially the kind of happiness I have when I’m with them. It’s hard for me to imagine it lasting until tomorrow, when I know boarding school looms. It’s hard for me to picture happiness for any extended time, if I’m honest. Plus, I know” —though I wouldn’t say how—“their mother is not necessarily in favor of me.”
“Rosalind is always battling her own demons. She has no issue with you. My daughter-in-law is a wonderful human being who suffered more pain than I would wish on anyone. She’ll come to see what I see.” She squeezed my hand. “I only want you to be happy, Alatheia. If that is with my grandsons, then even better.” She rose. “I am going to the animal shelter to hold cats. Victor was allergic, so I could never have one, and now Eric is, too. So I hold them once a week wherever I am. Tomorrow, you’ll have hair and makeup done starting at noon. I’ll have them cometo your room, so have my grandsons out by then. Not that I know anything about that.”
Well … I guess that explained the futons.
25
Iworked on thePoor Relationfor an hour. The storyline surprised me, but it looked like Gretchen was going to meet anotherPoor Relation—a guy. Was he her Real Deal? I didn’t know yet.Does Gretchen get to have a person?Of course it begged the question: did I? Maybe multiple people?
My stomach grumbled, so I put everything away and headed to the fridge. Dina kept her kitchen well-stocked, so I got busy making myself a grilled cheese sandwich. Just as I was about to put it on the pan, my phone dinged.
Do you want to come eat at the main house?Barrett asked.
I smiled.Would it be rude for me not to? I just started a grilled cheese.
Make me one, too. I’ll come to eat with you. Not rude at all. I don’t even know where Phoenix went.There was a pause.Make one, please.
I grinned bigger.Sure.
I’d started grilling both of them on top of the stove by the time he arrived. Barrett slid his arms around me from behind, then propped his chin on my shoulder. “I missed you.”
He smelled like the beach, and I wondered if he’d spent some time outside. “You were with me most of the day.”
“Not enough.” He audibly let out a breath. “I was just taking a walk with Jeremy, some decompression after the meeting.”
Well, that explained the beach scent, but I found the aroma heady on Barrett, mixed with his natural smell. I loved it. “How did that go?”
“Long.” He laughed and stepped back, grabbing two plates as I cooked our sandwiches. He also snagged a bag of chips from the cupboard, and although I noticed them before, I couldn’t imagine Dina eating them, so I figured she’d gotten them for her grandkids. Quickly, I cleaned up. The maid would likely clean up anything I missed, but I would rather do it myself.
Barrett waited for me at the table. “Thank you for this. It sounded perfect, not to mention the alone time with Alatheia.”
I met his gaze, and my cheeks heated up. I hated officially blushing, and the whole redheaded, pale-skin thing meant he could see it. We ate our grilled cheeses but he stared at me, despite my blush or maybe because of it.
“Barrett, can I ask what you want to do, if not follow your family’s plan?” He had told me, but it had been when we first met. I wanted details now.
He tapped my foot with his own under the table.Are we playing footsie?I tapped his back.
“I want to help open music clubs and teach.” He quickly stopped at the fridge to get us drinks, then returned with one opened for me.
I blinked, surprised at his answer. “Teach what?”
“Math.” He stared at me, as if waiting for my harsh judgement. “And music. Do you think that’s weird?”
“Why would that be weird?”Am I missing something?
He sighed. “Anytime I’ve told my parents that, they act like I just suggested I wanted to don a clown suit to play birthday parties.”
“Well, that’s probably not weird, either. The world takes all kinds, right? What does Dina say?” I took a sip of my drink.
He didn’t answer for a second, his foot playing with mine. “I don’t think I’ve ever discussed it with her, but I probably should.”
I found his response so funny. I would probably discuss anything and everything with Dina if I could. With the constant resource of a person—one who adored him—he hadn’t asked?
Then again, maybe it just meant I didn’t quite understand the way things were yet.
“Your dress for tomorrow is being steamed with my mom’s and Granny’s. It’ll be brought to you tomorrow.”
I shook my head, the entire idea insane. “I’ve never been to a party like the one you’re throwing. I know my aunts and uncles have gone to them, since I saw them get dressed up, usually for events or galas someplace very fancy. I guess your houseisthe fancy place now?”
