Page 52 of Passion and Privilege

“Very funny.”

Paisley was looking properly sullen until she heard a group of teenagers. “Hey, I know them,” she said and sat up. “I’m going to say hi. Is that cool?”

“Of course,” I said, nodding. “We’ll be here. Just don’t go too far or your father will murder us both.”

Paisley laughed and headed toward the lanes to meet her buddies.

Amber looked at me. “What happened? You said it was an emergency.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Paisley is going through a tough time. She wants to stay here with Timothy, but her mother won’t allow it. She’s stuck in a situation she hates.”

Amber nodded, her expression sympathetic. “Poor girl. She’s lucky to have you looking out for her.”

I gave her a small smile, grateful for the support. “Thanks, Amber. I’m just doing what I can. I feel so bad for her.”

“And Timothy?” Amber asked, her gaze fixed on me.

I paused, thinking about the man who had just laid his pain so bare in front of me. The man who had silently confessed his love for a child that wasn’t his own and his fear of trusting anyone again on such a level. The man who felt helpless in a situation he couldn’t control.

“He’s struggling,” I replied finally.

“You seem really upset about it,” she said. “More upset than someone that just works for the guy.”

“I know,” I groaned. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

“What happened?”

“When we were at the wedding, he played his part a little too well. He kissed me.”

“Wait, you kissed him? And now you’re feeling something for him?”

I nodded, admitting defeat. “I never expected this. I thought our relationship was strictly professional. But now I don’t know.”

“If you have feelings for him, you should tell him. Life is too short to keep things bottled up. Besides, he might feel the same way.”

I chewed on her words as we continued to talk. The idea of revealing my newfound feelings to Timothy was terrifying. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said. “At least not while I’m working for him. I don’t want to complicate things.”

“Girl, life is complicated.”

“It’s not just me and Timothy,” I reminded her. “I don’t think Paisley would appreciate me mixing it up with her dad. She’s going to think I’m taking him for her.”

Amber nodded, understanding the complexity of the situation. “Understandable. But what if Timothy finds someone else before you can clear up your feelings for him?”

I sighed heavily, frustrated at the mess I had gotten myself into. “I can’t control that. If it happens, it happens.”

“Paisley may not even be around,” she said gently. “I don’t want to sound callous, but if the situation is as bad as you say, the ex might never let her come back. Do you really want to give up on your chance with him?”

“What if he doesn’t feel the same way?” I mumbled, my heart pounding at the mere thought.

Amber shrugged, seemingly untroubled by my predicament. “Then you move on. At least you’ll know you gave it a shot.”

Later, as I drove Paisley home, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Amber said. Paisley seemed to be in better spirits after getting to hang out with her friends, but now that we were on our way back to the manor, her sour mood returned.

“Paisley, do you think your mom would let you stay if you asked her?” I ventured, glancing at her.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve tried several times, but she always says no. She doesn’t really pay attention to me when I’m around. It was always Timothy who was there for me. He was the one that was always putting band-aids on my knees and reading me books before bed. He would take me to dinner and let me order ice cream first. It was like he was the only one that saw me.”

I heard the ache in her voice. “I always thought he’d remarry and have a family and forget about me. But now he’s in that big house all alone, and I don’t want him to be alone.”