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I eased off the gas in my car. “How do you know?”
“Your parents know. I figured you told them.”
A sick feeling washed over me. “I haven’t spoken to them. They are too cowardly or don’t care enough to return my calls. Are they spying on me?”
“Would you put it past them after everything you know?”
“No,” I whispered. “But it doesn’t matter,” my voice increased, “Ryder is my choice and there is nothing they can do about it now.”
“You keep that attitude, darling, because they will try to convince you otherwise.”
“Why?” I cried. “I don’t understand.”
Memaw was quiet for a spell. “I’ve never understood your mother, to be quite honest. But this I know—she’s never liked to lose, and whether she would admit it or not, she never wanted to lose you. I know you never felt like she loved you the way she should have, and I would agree with you, but when you were born, she used to look at you as she would a fine piece of art, her greatest creation made in her own image. She thought you, above all else, would love her more and better than anyone. But she did her best to push you away. Not intentionally, mind you.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that.”
“Sugar, sometimes people can’t stand to lose something or somebody so much, they hold on so tightly that it allows them to slip away, just like you.”
“My parents only care about the control, not me.”
“I believe they care about both. If not, they wouldn’t keep trying to keep you in their lives.”
I wasn’t sure I believed her. “Well, if they think trying to separate Ryder and me again is a good way to go about it, they’re dead wrong. We love each other and aim to stay together.”
“Be on alert,” she sighed.
“Did they say something?”
“No, but your momma is fit to be tied, and good never comes from that.”
Didn’t I know it. I gripped my steering wheel tightly as if it would brace me for whatever she had up her sleeve. “Thank you for the warning.”
“We haven’t talked in an age. Tell me how you and your beau are?”
“Well, maybe if you would answer your phone,” I teased.
“Darling, at my age, I answer to no one. Besides, I’ve had my phone turned off ever since I’ve left the states. I find it unnatural that people can get ahold of you any time, day or night.”
“I can understand that.”
“You didn’t answer your Memaw’s question.”
“We’re happy to be back together.”
“That boy has a lot of spirit, starting up a new company and following you out there.”
“That man was crushed by the games my parents played with us and he’s brave to want to be involved with any of us again.”
“That boy,” she refused to ever call him man, “would be a fool not to want you. You are the sweetest and prettiest peach Georgia ever produced.”
“You’re biased.”
“I may be old but I’m not blind. So, you two getting hitched now?”
“We don’t have any plans to.”
“Take my advice and run to the nearest courthouse and start having me some great-grandbabies.”
I laughed at her. “We’ll get there, but we need some time to get to know each other again and decide where we want to live.”
“I thought you were buying that house you were going on and on about.”
“Not anymore. I’m not going to be able to afford it.” Those words were still a new thing for me to say, but it’s funny how I didn’t find them as devastating as I thought I would. I had gone over and over the numbers yesterday, and even if the boutique kept doing as well as it was, it would take me several more months to afford the down payment. Then the thought of a large mortgage payment plus the business loan I had frightened me.
“Sugar, how much money do you need?”
“I don’t want your money.”
“For heaven’s sake, why not? I’ve got plenty to go around.”
“I appreciate that, but I want my home to be something that is truly mine. Never before have I had anything that I could say that about.”
“Well, child, you have certainly made me proud. You better watch out or I might leave all my money to you after all.”
I giggled.
“Darling, I must say goodbye. I have a hot date.”
“Do you really?”
“No, but I love to mess with your momma. She thinks I’ve run off with a man named Pierre. I’m just here with some old biddies drinking wine and shopping until my bunions start barking at me.”
“I love you, Memaw.”
“I know, darling, that’s why you are my favorite. If you change your mind about the house, let me know.”
“I won’t but thank you.”
“Love you, sugar. Give your momma a run for her money.”Chapter Twenty-EightBefore I could even knock on Ryder’s door early the next morning, I found myself being pulled in and wrapped up in Ryder’s arms. It was exactly where I needed to be. I had hardly slept after my conversation with Memaw. Not only was I sick and worried that someone was following me, I was afraid of what my parents might try to do to tear us apart.
