Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 129951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Scratch that.
What kind of person could be a friend to a woman who would desert her children so she could frolic in Greece and make everyone call her duchess?
“Vivi, have I lost you?” he called.
“You’re telling me,”—my voice was vibrating with fury—“that woman phoned you after decades of desertion, solely to learn if she can continue to be a duchess after you get married?”
“Yes.”
“You have to be joking!” I shouted.
Snowball glared at me, but I was too incensed to check how Gingerface and Baby Blue, snuggled together on the chaise, responded to me suddenly shouting.
“Sweetheart—”
“Fuck her,” I spat. “What a fucking bitch.”
“Yes, darling, and as lovely as your response is on my behalf, if you’d calm down, I can share I’m calling to ask if you think I should tell the girls she phoned.”
“Fuck no,” I bit.
“Vivi—”
“Did she ask after them?”
“No.”
“Then, again, fuck no.”
“I’ve thought about it, and if she called one of them, I’d want to know,” he shared.
“Did she give any inkling her call was a clumsy attempt to reach out and maybe begin communicating with you again?”
“Not an inkling.”
“What did you tell her about the duchess thing?”
“Strictly speaking, since they never divorced, she’ll always hold that title. Though it has a dowager in front of it, she doesn’t have to use that bit.”
“And you told her that?”
“No, I told her Tempie is very much in love, and I was too, Chassie was dating a fine man, and Prue was on the cusp of signing a lucrative publishing contract. I further told her I hoped she was healthy, wished her well, and hung up on her.”
“Good,” I said shortly.
“Vivienne.”
Okay, he needed me, and he didn’t need me to be an angry shrew.
I blew out an irate breath and said, “Yes. Okay. You’re right. You should tell them. But do it somewhere safe and good, like during Sunday lunch.”
“You think I should wait that long?”
“I think Hamish and Christian should be there to temper Tempie’s tantrum, and soothe Chassie’s hurt feelings, and we can see to Prue.”
“I knew you’d have a wise response,” he murmured.
That almost made me smile.
Almost.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
I heard his deep sigh, before, “My concern is, I just don’t care.”
I looked to the picture of my mom and dad.
I didn’t even remember my dad, but seeing them, young and happy and on the verge of a beautiful life, one that would tragically be cut short for both, I felt the shaft of pain drive through my heart, like it always did.
This was also always followed by a squeeze of tenderness, because at least they had that time, and I hated it was so short, but I loved they’d found each other, experienced it, and Mom was left with a part of him: Solène and me.
I couldn’t imagine not giving a shit your mom phoned, be it just to ask you over for dinner, or after decades of absence.
“I hate that for you, even if I think it’s healthy,” I replied.
“Healthy not to give a damn I spoke to my mother after two decades?”
“Yes.”
“I’m not angry. I’m not hurt. I’m not anything, except worrying about how my sisters will react, Vivi.”
“When someone gives you nothing, it stands to reason you won’t miss it when it’s gone.”
“She’s my mother, love.”
“She’s a womb that nurtured you,” I retorted. “I know that’s harsh, but it’s true, and no matter how much it deeply sucks, somewhere along the line, you’ve come to terms with it, and that, Battle, is healthy. Perhaps your sisters have done the same. But we’ll be there to look after them if they haven’t.”
“We’ll be there,” he said softly.
“Yes,” I confirmed.
“I very much love you, darling.”
Okay.
Now I felt better.
“I very much love you too,” I replied.
And I hoped he felt better.
“We’ll do it over Sunday lunch,” he decided.
“Terrific,” I lied.
I heard a smile in his voice when he said, “It’ll be fine.”
At least I could agree to that.
“It will.”
“Right, you ring for your snack. I’ll text before bed and see you tomorrow.”
“All right, honey. I’m glad you called and worked that out with me.”
“I am too. Get back to work.”
So bossy.
“Will do. Love you.”
“And you.”
He rang off.
I put my phone down and wondered if I could sneak to Greece to deliver an all-mighty bitch slap and get back before Battle returned home tomorrow evening.
Since I couldn’t, I swiveled in my chair to nab the house phone and called for a snack.
I’d gotten into it.
Thus, it was late.
Just after midnight.
And I was bleary-eyed and drooping.
I needed to drag myself (and the cats) to the house, brush my teeth, wash my face and fall into bed so I could keep this clip up tomorrow.
Decision made, I was calling to the cats, heading out, about to flip the light switch, when my eyes fell on the box of stuff by the door, which Harry brought out earlier in the day.