Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“Good to see you, Shannon,” he said, and just like when I was a scrawny, lonely little twelve-year-old, his hug let me know that I was one of the people in this world he cared about. Jace’s parents were so special in that way. They didn’t try to cut me out of the family just because I’d divorced their son.
“You, too. Thanks for offering to drive us to the school. The buses have been getting unreliable lately.”
Hearing this, Jace, who along with Zara had come into the room behind his dad, frowned as he looked to his mother. “Didn’t you give her the car I bought?”
Immediately, I tensed. I’d forgotten about the car.
“What car?” Zara questioned with keen interest.
I turned to Jace. “She did try to give me the car, but I couldn’t accept it. You know I never got my licence.”
A look of irritation crossed his features. “Still? I thought you would’ve taken lessons by now.”
I grew defensive because it was none of his business whether or not I drove. The truth was, it was a sore spot for me. I’d tried learning several times, but my anxiety always got the better of me, and I gave up. Besides, I lived walking distance from Jay and Matilda’s house, plus Zara’s school wasn’t far. It wasn’t like we were out in the middle of nowhere and needed a car to get around.
“You know I don’t like driving.”
“Well, you need to face your fears. What if something happens to Zara, and she needs to be rushed to the hospital?”
I let out a short, frustrated laugh. “Jace, I’ve gotten Zara to school, to the doctor, to her friends, to choir practice, and everywhere else for years without driving. I’ll call a taxi, an ambulance, whatever I need. I don’t need you to act like I can’t handle it.”
He looked taken aback, his brow furrowing, and his eyes flickering with something—surprise, maybe even remorse. I crossed my arms, feeling a surge of irritation.
“Seriously. It’s not that big of a deal. Lots of people don’t drive. I’ve managed just fine, so let’s not turn this into a critique of my parenting.”
Jace opened his mouth, eyes wide, like he was about to argue, but his dad stepped in before he could speak. “Leave it, son.”’
“We’d better get going,” Matilda said, rising from the couch. She ushered Zara out, and I quickly followed, not wanting to be left alone with Jace. He was clearly in a mood because I hadn’t accepted the car he’d bought me. I mean, we weren’t married anymore. Aside from paying maintenance for Zara, he didn’t owe me anything, certainly not a brand-new car.
We hadn’t signed a prenup before getting married, but when it had come to our divorce, I had no intention of taking him to the cleaners. In fact, Jace had wanted to give me a giant settlement, more than half of his net worth, but I’d declined, instead insisting on a smaller sum. I knew I was in a privileged position, but money had never been an issue in my life. My parents had plenty and had set me up with a generous trust fund that I’d come into at twenty-one. My childhood had been cash rich but emotionally impoverished. I knew that some people grew up with neither money nor love, so I was thankful to have had at least one of the two.
My trust fund, combined with the settlement, had allowed me to purchase a two-bedroom house in an excellent neighbourhood along the canal, and my work as a web developer kept Zara and me living comfortably. So, if I ever learned how to drive, I could certainly buy my own car, though personally I preferred to walk and use public transport.
I slid into the back of my in-laws’ car next to Zara, who was still admiring her new brooch. The door on the other side of her opened, and Jace climbed in. Our eyes met momentarily before I turned my attention out the window.
It was barely a ten-minute drive to the school, but by the time we arrived, I was eager to get some air. Well, that and some space away from my ex-husband. After a quick hug and a wish of good luck from all of us, Zara hurried off to join the other choir kids backstage. I didn’t fail to notice the curious, eager glances Jace was getting from the parents who’d arrived at the same time as us. They were used to Jay and Matilda coming by, but not Jace, who was far more famous, or at least more currently famous, than his parents.
“These are our seat numbers,” I said, handing Matilda the tickets Zara had given me. “You guys go on ahead. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Sure, see you in there, honey,” she replied as I headed for side of the school.