AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Josh heard Brad snickering. “You didn’t understand that right, buddy. Olivia wants to marry me. Okay?”
“But Aunt Charlie doesn’t?”
“I didn’t ask Aunt Charlie. I only asked Aunt Olivia. She’s the only one I want to marry. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Now say goodnight. And we’re off to bed.”
When Josh came back out from tucking Jace in, he found Olivia and Grace in a tête-à-tête. “I don’t like the looks of this,” he growled.
Grace was chewing on a fingernail, her brows furrowed in concentration. “What happens if Olivia doesn’t marry you?”
Josh felt a familiar sinking in the pit of his stomach. “I’ll probably still get custody of Jace. But the grandparents will get Chloe, so they won’t get to grow up together, and I’ll probably never even get to see her. And I don’t know how I’m going to explain to him that his grandparents wanted his sister, but not him.”
“Are you one hundred percent positive you can’t get custody of Chloe if you’re not married?”
“Not a hundred percent, but the ad litem sure made it sound like that. You can ask Olivia. She heard him.”
“Okay,” said Grace.
“What does ‘okay’ mean?” Josh asked. “Are you with me on this or against me?”
“It means, okay,” said Grace.
“Yes, but are you supporting me on this? Are you on my side?”
“You know, Josh, there shouldn’t be sides in a marriage. A marriage is about teamwork and compromise.”
“I know that.” He held back a frustrated groan.
“Good,” said Grace, with a wide smile. “So, who wants to see the honeymoon pictures?”
“NICE APARTMENT,” SAID Derek.
“Yeah, I feel guilty about it. My stepdad’s letting me live here for free.”
“I think Steven Gherring can afford to pay for your apartment. It’s like pocket-change to him.”
“I know, but I don’t like to feel indebted to anyone. Up until now, I’ve managed to pay for school with scholarships and working part time. But I need to take out loans to pay for Columbia.”
“Tell me about it. Everybody in law school has loans—don’t sweat it.”
“Steven offered to pay for law school if I’d agree to work in their International Law department when I graduate.”
“And you didn’t take the deal? Are you crazy?”
“I may take him up on it next year. I want to make all A’s and prove I’m worth the investment.”
Derek shook his head. “You’ve got a little pride issue with your stepdad, huh?”
“Actually, I probably just have a little pride issue. Period. I can’t help it. It runs in the family.”
“Your sister?”
“Yep, and my mom, too. She still likes to shop at the secondhand clothing store so people won’t think she married Steven for his money.”
“Seriously? That’s insane.”
