Total pages in book: 17
Estimated words: 15942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 80(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 53(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 15942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 80(@200wpm)___ 64(@250wpm)___ 53(@300wpm)
I had to start breathing before I passed out.
“Oh yes.” Her smile was huge. “He went on to say that he and my father had both found your zeal to help the common man admirable, if deluded.” She chuckled. “And that you were a pistol, and the way you had bantered with him had been delightful. You didn’t back down from your moral stance, and he found that refreshing. He told Dixon that he had always been confused by the fact that, as enamored of you as he said he was, the romance was not pursued after college. He found that strange but thought perhaps the two of you had simply drifted apart. He was certainly not about to interfere in the love lives of his children outside of premarital agreements.”
“Oh.” I stared at her, stunned.
“Yes.” She nodded. “I couldn’t believe it, and Dixon was just completely shaken. Sweetheart, he went absolutely ashen, let me tell you.”
“I’ll bet.” I grinned at her, looking over at Dixon. “He broke up with me for no reason.”
“Yes, he did.”
He was standing at the window with his back to us, watching the rain come down outside.
It was surreal… and sad… very sad.
“And may I tell you that his father gave him quite a lecture on eavesdropping and acting on impulse without the facts. He went on, quoting some line from Othello, but by that time, I know Dixon wasn’t even listening.”
“Well.” I sighed. “It’s nice to know that Mr. Bain had a good impression of me. We got along well that day, and so when Dixon told me what he said… I was confused. People normally like me or hate me right off, so it was weird. Good to know that I actually read him right.”
“You did,” she assured me. “I only ever wanted my children to be happy, and even though we come from what is construed as old money, that does not necessarily go hand in hand with racism, homophobia, or prejudice, as much as other people may presume. My father taught me that character was the true test of a man—or woman—and Mr. Bain’s family, my husband, gave him those same values. We instilled that same appreciation in our children.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said softly.
“Lucinda,” she corrected me.
“Lucinda.”
We were silent, staring at each other. She had a great face.
“Where are your parents, Evan?”
“They’re on an Alaskan cruise for the holidays.”
She nodded as she let my hand go and stood up. “Well, I just came to see you, and now I have to get back to the airport, as I have to be back in New York by tonight. Dixon’s father and I are going to the opera.”
“Sounds fun,” I offered lamely.
“It sounds hideous, but it’s for charity, so… but tomorrow I meet with the caterer about Christmas dinner and New Year’s, so… will you come?”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
“Your parents are on a cruise. What other plans did you have?”
“Oh no, Lucinda, I have friends here in town who––”
“Talk to Dixon and then let me know,” she said, leaning over to hug me.
She smelled like musk and spice, not girly, and I liked that. I got a kiss on the cheek after the hug, and she stood over me and smiled. “I think I finally understand why there’s never been anyone else serious in my son’s life.”
I smiled weakly at her.
“Let me know, sweetheart,” she ordered, turning to go.
“Thank you for coming,” I rushed out, catching her hand, keeping her there. “It means a lot to me that you made the time.”
Heavy sigh from her. “I’m late, but it’s genetic really.” She chuckled. “I got it from my mother, and I passed it along to Dixon.”
“Please give Mr. Bain my best.”
“Please come for Christmas and tell him yourself,” she pressed, crossing the room to her son and the fake mink coat he was holding up for her.
He helped her on with it and then spun her around and hugged her tight.
“Oh my,” she said, chuckling, patting his back. “I like being rewarded this way. What else may I do for you?”
He put his face down in her shoulder, and I saw him shudder.
“My love.” She sighed deeply. “I hope you get what you want this year.”
I turned my head away, looking out the window to give them some semblance of privacy. When she called out the goodbye to me from the door, I had enough time to turn and see her wave before she was gone.
Alone with Dixon, I had no idea what to say.
He cleared his throat.
“You could have just told your father to go to hell when you believed what he thought was real. You could have, but you didn’t.”
“No, I didn’t, and there’s no excuse for that.”
“You were a coward.”
“Yes.”
“You didn’t want to be disinherited.”
“No.”
“And so you threw me away, because the thought of losing me was easier than the thought of losing your family and your money.”