Page 26 of That Reilly Boy
“It’s more viable than buying a new hot water heater.”
I pick up my fork, but only to move my food around on the plate so I have something to look at. My delayed emotional breakdown is joining forces with my rising anger to build a perfect storm, and my mother might not like my expression at the moment.
“We’ll get through it, Carolina,” she says in a much softer tone. She might not be able to see my eyes, but she knows. “We always do.”
I swallow hard, determined to keep my voice as level as possible. “We can’t do this for the rest of our lives, Mom. Do you really see us catching water from the leaky roof in metal pails we then boil on the stove so we can take baths? What are we going to do when the stove dies?”
“There’s nothing wrong with the roof.”
“Yet.” I knock my knuckles lightly on the wooden table. “But I don’t remember when that roof was last done, which means it was a very long time ago. And you get the point I’m making.”
“Maybe Sherry can give me more hours at the flower shop.”
Even if she doubled Gin’s hours and gave her a raise, it wouldn’t be enough. “Or we could consider Hayden’s offer.”
“No.” Gin slaps both palms on the table, making me jump. “I promised your father I would keep this house in the family.”
“Dad’s gone,” I say quietly—almost a whisper. “But you and I are still here and I don’t think he would want us to struggle like this. Do you really think Dad would have wanted this for us?”
“Leave it alone,” she tells me, her voice thick with threatening tears.
“I can’t anymore.” I can’t do any of it.
“I’m not selling this house. Not to that Reilly boy and not to anybody else. And that’s my final word.” She’s pushed back the tears and given way to anger. “I don’t want to hear any more about this.”
I take a bite of tuna casserole, hating the texture in my mouth almost as much as I hate cold showers. And drafty windows and wet basements. Except for Pampered Pets, I hate everything about my life.
But now I know how I can change it. All I have to do is marry Hayden Reilly.
Chapter Eighteen
Hayden
My phone chimes while I’m doing a deep dive on a financial statement Taylor, my assistant, dumped in my inbox with an urgent flag. Usually being interrupted while I’m working would annoy me, even if it’s a Tuesday evening, but there’s a reason I didn’t put my phone in Do Not Disturb mode. And that reason has sent me a text message.
CARA
Can we meet? Someplace private, preferably.
I’ve already eaten and Penny’s annoyed with the traveling back and forth between Boston and Sumac Falls, so I’d rather not go out tonight. I will if she insists, of course. But if she’s realized marrying me is her only way out, I’d rather not have that conversation in a restaurant.
HAYDEN
My mother’s at her bingo game and won’t be home for hours. You can come here if you park down the street and wear dark sunglasses and a ball cap.
I smile as I type it, but there’s only one reason I could see her wanting to meet and, if I’m right, her being seen at my mother’s house will make sense to everybody very soon.
CARA
It’s too bad I threw away the Cher wig my mom wore for Halloween when I was a kid after the chipmunks turned it into a birthing center. I’ll be there soon.
By the time I make notations of where I left off in the financial statement and put the work away, I estimate I only have a few minutes before Cara arrives. I make a quick trip to the bathroom and then let Penny out to do the same. She’s very particular about where she pees and by the time she finds a patch of worthy grass, I’m out of time.
The doorbell rings and Penny barks. I’m never quite sure if she’s being protective of me, or if she’s just that annoyed at having her peace disturbed, but nobody ever sneaks up on me. I blow out a breath and then open the door.
She looks like she’s had a rough day—after a rough night and a rougher day before that. The messy bun isn’t even trying to contain her hair, there are bags under her eyes, and she’s so tense, I’m afraid she’ll shatter if I touch her.
“Come on in,” I say, stepping out of the way. As soon as she sees who was at the door, Penny stops barking and even looks pleased to see our visitor.
