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“Greenville.”
If Ryan was determined to mine her background, Zoe intended to keep her answers short and vague.
“What brought you to Charleston?”
“I came here after college.”
She left out the part about being a brand-new bride b
ubbling with optimism about her new life with her handsome, wealthy husband. In the early days of her marriage she’d thought her life was going to be perfect.
“Where did you go to school?”
“University of South Carolina.”
“Major?”
“I never graduated.”
He cocked his head at her defensive tone. “You say that like you expect me to judge you.”
“You’re a brilliant engineer and a successful businessman,” she said. “Your sister is a lawyer who’s running for state senate.” I’m not in your league.
“And because you didn’t graduate college that somehow makes you less worthy?” He paused a beat before adding, “Or are you just passing judgment on me by assuming I think I’m better than everyone else? Is that why you wanted to come here? To point out that you’re one of the people while I’m an entitled jerk?”
“No.” But wasn’t that exactly why she’d chosen Bertha’s Kitchen?
“Then why make such a big deal about me being successful?” He asked like he was curious about her motivation. As if he was interested in getting to know her. Like he intended to uncover all her secrets. Her breath hitched at the danger this presented.
“I guess I’ve become accustomed to being judged for my choices.”
“Are you happy with the decisions you made?”
“Is anyone?” The items in her poor judgment column definitely outweighed the accomplishments she was proud of.
“What would you go back and change if you could?”
Over the last few years Zoe had given the matter a great deal of thought. Her marriage to Tristan hadn’t been all bad. He could be kind and funny and generous. At least, early on that had been the case. She’d been a naïve twenty when they’d gotten married and easy for him to control. She’d wanted to please Tristan and most of the time she had.
“That’s a tough question to answer. The decisions I made helped me to become who I am today. I like that person. Other choices might have resulted in me becoming someone else.”
“Do you wish you’d graduated?”
“Of course I wish I’d graduated.” Yet was that completely true? She’d disliked the major she’d chosen and had struggled through her classes. When Tristan had insisted he couldn’t wait to make her his wife, she’d happily forgone her senior year. It wasn’t until she’d moved to Charleston that she’d realized her mistake.
The social circle Tristan moved in had been filled with beautiful former debutantes—with college degrees—who’d loved to talk about their alma maters. Zoe had always felt a little foolish for not completing her education.
“What did you major in?”
“Hospitality management.” She made a face. “I went to college because everyone expected me to.” At eighteen she’d been unable to visualize her future without that step. Unable or unwilling? Her family had expected her to go. Had she even considered what would be best for her? “I really didn’t have a sense of what I wanted to do.”
“Looking back, what do you wish you’d done instead?”
“Sociology or counseling.” For a while she’d considered going back to school, but Tristan hadn’t seen the purpose, pointing out that she didn’t need a degree to be Mrs. Tristan Crosby. “I’d like to be able to help people.”
“I’ll bet you’d be good at it.”
She wanted to point out that he didn’t know her well enough to make that assessment, but the compelling light in his gray eyes left her wondering if maybe he saw deeper inside her than she realized. The thought unnerved her. And yet she was also flattered that he was making the effort to look beneath her surface.
