by Lori Foster
“My job at the park came with a modest apartment. That’s where I’ve raised Jack.”
“You sold...everything.”
The disbelief in her mother’s tone had her turning to face her head-on. “What exactly did you think I would do?”
Cara’s head snapped up and her eyes glinted. “I thought you would return.”
Without Jack. That’s what she meant, whether she said it or not, and it infuriated Joy. She felt her temper unwinding, control slipping away—
“Jack,” her father repeated, savoring the name and interrupting the flare of hostility. “My grandson.”
Reluctantly, Joy broke her gaze from her mother’s and turned back to her dad. “Yes, you have a grandson. He’s an absolutely beautiful, brilliant, kind little boy.” Love for Jack blocked all other emotions, allowing her an authentic smile. “He’s also a talented artist.”
“Did he get that from his father?” her mother asked.
Joy laughed. “No. I’m pretty sure Vaughn wasn’t into painting.” How absurd. Vaughn had been into sex, cars and parties—in that order.
Her father sat forward. “Is Vaughn out of the picture?”
“Completely.” At her father’s questioning frown, Joy assured him, “He made it clear before Jack was ever born that he had zero interest in a child.” Much as her mother had. “I haven’t seen him since the divorce.”
“Hmm.” Wallace Reed looked at the attorney, then back to Joy. “We should legally ensure it stays that way.”
“No,” Joy said gently. “I’m sorry, but there is no we. I care for Jack. I ensure his safety. And I alone make the decisions that are best for him.” She’d keep it that way, come hell or high water.
It was odd, but something like pride curved her father’s mouth, lifting the lines that age had carved into his features. “You always were strong-willed.”
“Me?” Joy said, unsure how that description applied to her.
Her mother snorted. It was such a rude sound, so uncouth, that it not only startled Joy and her father, it startled her mother, too. The hilarious look on Cara’s face caused another laugh to escape Joy. The laugh might have been part nerves, but was largely hilarity.
Her father tried and failed to suppress his own chuckle.
Cara cleared her throat and murmured haughtily, “Excuse me.” Then, with a frown, she asked, “Could we get down to business now, instead of all the idle chatter?”
Her father checked his watch, and tried for a compromise. “Maybe we should finish this on another day.”
For him, that would be no problem. For Joy, it’d be a major inconvenience. She thought of her life, of the changes she’d made, not only since her parents had made their preferences known, but lately.
With Maris as a sister of her heart.
With Royce as a lover and a friend.
With a home at the park where she cared for people, and they cared for her.
She said to her father, “Today is good for me.” To the attorney, she asked, “Do they need to be here for the rest?”
“Actually... I’ve already explained the details to them, so there’s no reason for them to remain. I can update them on the decision later.”
Joy wasn’t sure what that meant. What decision? Whose decision?
Whatever the explanation, Joy preferred that her parents go. Not because of the heart pangs caused by proximity to them. Not because hurt ruled her. No, she realized her life was currently so full she had new defenses, new emotions, to counter the old.
Happiness to repel the sadness.
She’d already had that with Jack. Never, ever would she regret the choices she’d made. But now the contentment was bigger, richer, brighter.
She’d gone from a flashlight in the dark, carefully picking her way toward the future, to the full illuminating scope of the sun.
Now, thanks to those additional changes, she had the ability to forgive. Not that either of her parents had asked for forgiveness; it was just that, for her own sake, it made sense to shrug off the depressing weight of resentment.
“We’re not leaving.”
Joy tipped her head at her mother’s militant stance. Clearly, she wouldn’t budge. Was it worth a debate? No, not really.
“Fine.” Standing, Joy moved down the table, aware of her mother’s gaze burning against her. She took the seat to the immediate right of Ms. Wickham. “If you would continue?”
“It’s easy,” her mother stated. “Reconcile with your family, and you inherit.”
Ah, so it was as she’d suspected. There were strings attached...and that meant her business here was done.
To Ms. Wickham, Joy said, “In that case, I should be going. Thank you for your time.”
“You will not leave yet.” Cara cleared her throat. “Not until I’ve finished.”
Joy tried to keep her back to her mother, but it proved impossible. No matter what, she was her mother and deserved some respect. Inhaling a deep, bracing breath, Joy swiveled on the seat and lifted one brow.
Hands clasped before her, chin elevated, her mother said, “If you return to your family, we’ll...double the inheritance.”
Double her... “What?” A slap couldn’t have confounded Joy more.
Her father seemed equally surprised. “Cara—”
“It’s time for you to return home,” her mother said. “End the rebellion. Move away from the trailer park—”
“It’s an RV park!” Without thinking it through, Joy found herself on her feet again. “But FYI, Mom, there is nothing wrong with living in a trailer park. They’re good, close communities for kids. Small homes are wonderful, too. Even an apartment is terrific when the people who live there make it a home.” Since Joy lived in an apartment, she felt compelled to make the point. “There’s nothing wrong with working for a living, and staying within your means.” Arms out, she said, “There’s nothing wrong with my life.”
“Except that you have no family.”
“You’re wrong. The people I work with are my family.”
Slashing a hand through the air, Cara said, “But you don’t have to work.”
Fist to her heart, Joy assured her, “I enjoy my work. I enjoy where I live and I enjoy the people there, too.” How dare her mother try to buy her? Did she honestly think it’d be that easy? That Joy would throw away everything that mattered to her just to have a pampered life? “Actually, I love each and every one of them.” She lifted her chin to match her mother’s expression. “And I especially love my son.”
Shooting to her feet, Cara stepped forward, her tone nearly shrill, to insist, “Since you kept him, we have a right to know him!”
Ice ran through Joy’s veins. “You have no rights, not when it comes to Jack.” Somehow they were now toe-to-toe. “Not since you discarded us both.”
Oh damn. That just sort of dropped out there, hostile and filled with hurt. It gave away far too much, things Joy would prefer her mother never know.
They stared at each other.
As if this particular battle had taken all their strength, they each breathed heavily.
Slowly, her mother pulled her dignity around her like a cloak. “You were a spoiled, ungrateful child, refusing our advice, and for all your bragging about the wonders of your new life, I can see that hasn’t changed.” With that parting remark her mother turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
* * *
Joy was still troubled a half hour later when Ms. Wickham finished explaining the details of her inheritance. It was...well, she refused to call it life-altering, because she refused to alter her life.
Her grandmother, in her misguided way, had hoped to put them all back together by offering two choices. Joy could have a nice inheritance, enough to upgrade to a newer car, or add a comfortable cushion to her bank account, no strings attache
d.
Or, with strings—maybe more like chains—she would be given enough to purchase a house with cash, to ensure a higher education for Jack, to never again have to worry over a budget.
All she needed to do was make amends with her parents.
Easy to say, not so easy to do.
With the second choice, she’d be able to give Jack things she couldn’t before. But at what risk?
Her son was a sweet, caring child in part because she hadn’t spoiled him.
He’s an artist, and art supplies cost money. I could give him an art tutor, or send him to classes...
Again, Joy mentally shook her head. Jack was still only five, for crying out loud. Despite Royce’s assurances and Jack’s obvious inclinations, no one knew who they were at such a young age. Why, Jack could turn to a sport, or music. Favorites changed as people matured.
And those things cost money, too.
While Joy struggled with the stipulations of the inheritance, her father remained silent at the end of the table. He hadn’t joined her mother in the outer area and Joy wondered if they’d decided together that one of them would remain with her. Maybe her father wanted to give Cara time to cool down.
Or maybe he wanted to spend more time with Joy.
Feeling very uncertain, she glanced at him.
The second their eyes met he smiled, the same warm, indulgent smile she remembered as a little girl, a teenager and a young woman. She’d missed it.
Ms. Wickham stood. “I have a phone conference in a few minutes. This room is free for another hour, so take your time deciding.”
Joy shook her hand and thanked her.
Once the attorney had gone, her father stood, as well. “I can’t tell, honey.” He didn’t yet approach her. “Are you pleased with the money, or upset?”
Good question. “I’m...numb?” She truly couldn’t decipher her own mood. “I don’t know what to do.” If she had Royce here, or Maris, or both, they could help her decide.
No, she corrected herself, this is not their problem. But it’d be nice to have a sounding board at least. Someone she truly trusted.
Gruff, trying to give her a nudge, her father said, “It should be an easy choice.”
“It’s not.” Seeing the hurt on his face caused her to hurt, as well. “Try to understand, Daddy. Jack and I have a nice, comfortable life. That kind of money...it could change everything.”
“It’s not such a staggering amount as all that.”
Not to him. Not to a man who had never lived on an inflexible budget.
Very seriously, he said, “Your mother meant it, you know. We will happily double that amount.”
Joy twisted her mouth. “Until she said it, you knew nothing about it.”
He nodded. “That happens a lot actually. But I don’t disagree with the idea. Just think, you could buy a house for you and Jack.” He held up a hand. “I know you said you like your apartment. I wasn’t suggesting you leave it. Only offering ideas for your future. For Jack’s future.”
Hearing her father say Jack’s name brought home all the ramifications. “I can’t drag my son into that life.”
“That life?” He looked down at the table, and when he lifted his gaze, she saw a touch of anger in his eyes. “I tried to give you everything you needed or wanted. Did I spoil you? Yes. Not because I didn’t care, but because I did. Were we the best parents?” He shook his head. “I’m not sure perfect parents exist.”
“You disowned me, Daddy.” She loved him, yes. God help her, she loved her mother, too—if she didn’t, none of this would be so difficult—but she wouldn’t let him delude himself. “I never asked for perfection, but to be told to toe the line or else? That if I had my child, I would no longer be your child?”
His mouth firmed and he looked away.
No, her father hadn’t said those words, but neither had he gone against her mother’s wishes. “You sent me away, alone and pregnant, very unprepared to deal with life. How can you call that love?”
“It was misguided, I agree, but we were so worried for you. Vaughn was never a good person, certainly never good enough for you. We feared how he might destroy you.”
“And instead it was my parents who almost did that.”
He flinched, his breath catching before he regained control. “Your mother thought it would shake you up, that you’d come to your senses and return to her.”
“Minus my baby?” Joy could barely get those words out of her constricting throat. All of this—rehashing the past, seeing her parents, having to defend her position all over again—wore on her.
“As I said, it was misguided. Worse than misguided, it was wrong, but it was a decision made from love. How could a future child who we didn’t know ever compare with what we felt for you?”
More importantly, Joy wondered, how could they make her feel so all alone if they really did care?
“You think you won’t make mistakes but you will.” Hands in his pockets, her father gave her a sad smile. “Different mistakes, sure. But would you want them to damage your relationship with your child for life? Or would you hope that your son would forgive you, that he’d understand you meant well.”
Had her mother meant well? It was hard to imagine.
Before Joy could reply, he added with heartfelt emotion, “Would you want Jack to understand that you were doing the best you could with what you knew of life, and your own experiences?”
Was this his way of saying her mother hadn’t known any other way to deal with the situation? Did that make it excusable? “She tried to control me,” Joy stated, tears burning her eyes. “It was my decision, and she tried to insist on making it for me.”
“Yes, she did.” With the briefest of smiles, her father whispered, “But instead of giving in, you countered Cara’s bluff and managed just fine on your own.”
Had she? Joy recalled that day, how devastated she’d felt, how scared. With her voice emerging small and wounded, Joy said, “It didn’t feel like a bluff.”
“I’m sure it didn’t. Cara might not have realized it was when she spoke it. She was so relieved that Vaughn was out of the picture. We both were. But a baby could have caused long-term ties—” His jaw worked as he sought more explanations. “Honestly, we were afraid if Vaughn stuck around he’d drag you down with him.”
“If I’d let him, yes.” Joy couldn’t deny that. “If only you’d trusted me.”
“You chose Vaughn,” he reminded her, his own eyes suspiciously red. “How was I supposed to trust you when I still don’t understand why you hooked up with that bum in the first place?”
Because Joy didn’t understand it, either, she couldn’t explain. She couldn’t recall ever feeling a great love for Vaughn.
Not like the things she felt for Royce.
She closed her eyes. With Royce, everything was bigger, stronger, richer and deeper than any emotion that had driven her to Vaughn. Mostly, she’d gone to Vaughn because...
Her eyes popped open with the realization. “He was the first thing you denied me.”
Her father’s bushy, graying brows scrunched together. “What?”
“You gave me everything, no matter how extravagant. Then I wanted Vaughn, and you and Mother both flatly denied me.” Oh God, this didn’t speak well of her decision making at all. With a self-deprecating laugh, she admitted, “It’s just this second occurred to me that I never learned how to cope with no.”
He blinked at her, and then scowled. “Should we have given our blessing to that bum?”
“Of course not.” What an amazing, awful realization. “You’re right that I was spoiled.”
“Your mother said that, not me.”
“But you were thinking it, too,” she pointed out, her heart starting to lighten a little, “and neither of you were wrong. I was also horribly immature. The truth is, I really c
ould have ruined my life.”
“You didn’t,” he insisted, belatedly affronted on her behalf.
“No. My life only expanded, showing me new challenges and teaching me things about myself that I never knew.” She was a stronger person now, her priorities in proper alignment. “Jack is a blessing. In every conceivable way, he’s made my life wonderful.”
“I can see that.” He edged toward her, that slight smile in place again. “You might have been slow to mature, but you’ve made up for it.”
“Having a baby will do that for you, teach you what’s really important and show you what you can do, instead of what you can’t.” Because it was necessary. Because Jack depended on her. Her throat tightened. “With Jack, I’ve learned who I truly am.”
His tone softened, went husky. “I’m proud of you, Joy.”
Hearing it felt wonderful, she could admit that now, but was the sentiment too little, too late? Could she and her parents ever repair all the damage? She glanced at her mother outside the office, and it didn’t seem possible.
“If you think about it,” her father said, “if you go over everything we’ve discussed here today, you’ll see that we were all a little to blame for this current situation.”
Yes, Joy acknowledged that she did have blame, at least as much as her parents. “That’s fair—though I’m not sure it can change anything.”
Her father stopped before her. He looked so solemn, so grave, it surprised her when he said, “You’re as beautiful as I remember.”
“Daddy.” She shook her head. “I was never beautiful.”
“You are.” He clasped her shoulder for a gentle squeeze. “Regardless of whatever decision you make here today, if you find it in your heart, I’d like to meet my grandson.”
Joy had gotten so used to the idea of them not being in Jack’s life, she almost gave an automatic no.
At the last second, she caught herself. Something this important deserved more than a gut reaction. She needed to consider everything. And she’d also talk with Maris and Royce before she came to a decision. Not so they could make the choices for her, but because they cared and could possibly help her weigh possibilities.