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“It can do that,” Lori agreed.
“Bastian kept insisting that together we have a lot of social influence, but I thought he was living in a dream world. Anyway, he used social media, and he hired bodyguards. You know, just in case.”
“My baby had bodyguards?”
“Mama, don’t panic! Okay? Everything was fine. They followed me around for a few weeks, that’s all. It all worked out. So come the next Christmas, I’ll bet you can’t guess what happened.”
“You came here again, didn't you?”
“Yes, yes, we did. But it wasn’t just us. Practically the whole city boycotted the Spencer Christmas party. Belinda was…um…enraged is probably an understatement. There was a huge fight. She kept saying the scandal was Bastian’s fault for making an issue out of nothing.”
“Bastian, not you?”
“He tookallthe heat, Mom. He told her she made the issue, she should blame herself. He was just cleaning it up.”
“He saidcleaning it up?” Lori gave a peal of laughter.
“Yep. And then his father went and surprised us. Or at least me. Bastian said Art’s a complete snob and finds scandals repugnant. It seems he could deal with Belinda’s bigotry fine when it was kept under the table, but he couldn’t stand for it to be openly exposed like that to all and sundry. He knew it was social suicide and said she had ‘dishonored the family name.’ He filed for divorce this month. Belinda’s out on her butt. And Bastian doubts there’ll ever be a husband number six.”
“Oh, my.”
“Personally, I think she could get married again, but will she ever recover from this as far as the New Highland set is concerned? I doubt it. Getting divorced by a Spencer is…let’s just say it’s a big thing. And Bastian's under the impression there was a prenup leaving her square where she started, so there you have your just desserts.”
“I can't say I'm sorry to hear that. I did not like that woman.”
“Tell me about it. So the current status is, Bastian’s not talking to either of his parents, Art isn’t talking to Belinda, and Belinda isn’t talking to anyone. She’s gone home to Nebraska.”
“Well.” Her mother breathed a deep sigh.
“So as I said, everything is settled. But I’ve got even better news, Mom. Where’s Dad? Is he still there?”
“He went in the other room.”
“Okay, he’ll want to hear this. Brace yourself…I've decided to go back and finish my doctorate….in Seattle.”
“What?”
“Yes! We’re moving. We’ll be splitting our time between Seattle and New Highland until I defend. Then, we’ll see. He’s never lived outside of New Highland, but he’s willing to give it a whirl at least until I get my letters. And guess what? We’ve bought a house, and it’sin Wallingford.”
“In…oh, Paula, oh, my baby.. Stuart! Stuart, she’s coming home.”
Paula giggled to witness a rare freakout from her calm, placid mother. Strong arms came around her and pulled her deeper into the hard, warm lap functioning as her seat. She leaned back against her husband. “She happy?” he asked, kissing her temple, and Paula grinned. “Just a smidge,” she said, pinching the air.
♥???♥End♥???♥
