“He caught the umbrella midair… in the wind?” Mom didn’t look convinced.
“Y’all did see the segment.” Whitney raised her hand. “I swear it’s true. That is exactly what happened.”
“He’s a very talented artist,” her father said. “But an artist? Aren’t they usually temperamental, and I don’t know, sort of have wanderlust?”
“Matthew is talented, kind, giving, and successful. He makes me feel like a million bucks.”
“And that is the vibe that you can’t make up,” her mother said with pride. “I like him. And I think I like him for you. You are simply glowing just talking about him. You must invite him to the next family gathering.”
“Chloe’s birthday,” Dad clarified. “We’re all going to the lake house the weekend of July 26th to celebrate together. There are plenty of bedrooms for everyone. Invite him. I’d like to get to know him. I wasn’t paying attention the night I bought all those paintings for your mother. He’s in for scrutiny this time.”
“You better be nice to him.”
“He better be nice toyou,” Dad said.
“He is. I’ll invite him.” She picked up her laptop. “This segment will air again on their weekend show. I wanted to be sure you knew that.”
“It’s fine. Water under the bridge.”
It was almost a little anticlimactic. She’d expected to have to plead her case, stand up for herself, take her punishment even,but none of that had happened. It was easy, and she was so thankful to put all the worry behind her.
“We’re exhausted. Your father and I danced all night. Like all of it,” Mom said.
“We’re getting too old for those all-nighters,” her dad said. “But it sure was fun.”
“It was,” her mom cooed. “He’s still got it.”
Even now that she was grown, that was a weird thing to picture.
“We need a nap. You’re welcome to stay.”
“No thanks, I’m going to go on home. I have some work I can do.”
Mom kissed her on the cheek. “Good night, dear. Well done, today.”
“Thanks, Mom.” She pulled her purse up on her shoulder and walked to the door.
“You know, Whitney,” Dad said. “No matter what you decide you want to do, or how you want to do it, if it doesn’t fit into the mold and mission of the firm, you can step away if that’s what you desire. Truly, your happiness, yours and your brother and his family’s—that’s what means the most to both me and your mother.”
Dad pressed his hand against the back of her neck and kissed her forehead. “I’m very proud of you.”
Her breath caught. She’d longed for those words. Years of hard work and hopes. “Thank you, Daddy. You have no idea how much that means to me. All I’ve ever wanted was to make you proud.”
“You do. Every day. You and Carina have what it takes to set a higher standard for the entire discipline. Of course, that’s just this old man’s opinion. I’m happy to sit and discuss that with you. Please don’t ever be afraid to talk to me. It doesn’t have to be my way, to be the right way for you.”
Whitney’s head was swimming. Those words replayed in her mind as she pulled the door closed behind her.
Her father’s support, his approval, had been something she’d wanted desperately for so long, but he’d never vocalized it. “I had it all along,” she whispered in wonder.
Chapter
Twenty-Eight
Whitney texted William as she walked to the car to see if they were still awake. Instead of a text, her phone rang back.
“Hey, hello.” It was William and Carina in stereo. “Come over,” Carina said. “We want to hear everything.”
“Would you rather talk about it in the morning?”
