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Twenty-One
Pen’s mother sprayed the dusting cloth with Pledge and wiped the rungs of a wooden crib. Paula and Louis had driven to Texas, claiming the road trip would do them good. They’d arrived the day after the movers left everything behind and Pen had been so glad to see them, she could’ve cried.
In fact, she had.
“It was yours when you were a baby,” her mother said as she polished the crib. “I honestly didn’t remember that we had it. Your father cleaned out the storage unit and there it was.”
“Thank you, Mom.”
Paula Brand abandoned her work and scooped Pen into a hug with just the right amount of pressure. Pen would have cried more if there were any tears left.
“Are you going to tell me the real reason behind you walking out on your billionaire fiancé?” Her mom held her at arm’s length and waited.
Pen’s lips compressed as she considered doing just that. She was willing to tell her mother a partial truth, but she couldn’t bear confessing that the engagement was never real. Especially since, for Pen, her love for Zach was very real.
“When Zach proposed—” both times “—he did it out of obligation rather than love. I couldn’t settle for less than his whole heart.” Speaking of heart, hers gave a mournful wail. Walking out on him instead of accepting half measures was harder than she’d like to believe.
She’d been comfortable with him. She had a home, combined parenting, and yes, the money was a source of comfort, as well. But she wasn’t the type of woman to let comfort and stability rule her world. If she were, she never would’ve left Chicago.
Hand resting on her swollen stomach, Pen thanked God that she had left Chicago. That she carried this baby in her belly and that, for all the heartache Zach had caused her, she’d finally experienced love.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” Paula shook her head and let out an exasperated sigh. “I wish I could share a story so I could relate, but the truth is I was lucky to find your father when I was young.”
Penelope’s parents were high school sweethearts who married and built a business and had a baby because they were ready. Not because, in the midst of finding companionship, the birth control hadn’t worked. But she didn’t begrudge them their happiness.
“I’m glad you can’t relate,” she told her mother with a smile.
“Regardless, life is not without its struggles.” Paula palmed her daughter’s cheeks and returned her smile.
“I’ll be fine. I’ve picked myself up and dusted myself off more times than I can count.” Pen felt like bawling, but she was going to have to buck up. She wanted her daughter to be as proud of her as Pen was of her own mother.
Pen had done the unthinkable—she’d fallen for a guy who was unwilling to share his heart. His world, his money, yes. But not his heart. And in the end, that was all she’d wanted.
“I have something for you.” Paula went to her purse and came out with an envelope. A very flat envelope. “We had an unexpected windfall after that last house flip—”
“Mom, no.” Pen backed away like her mother held a live spider by the leg rather than an envelope by the corner.
“Your dad and I want you to have this. We’re going to be grandparents. We want to start our spoiling early.” She shook the envelope. “I mean it.”
Pen accepted it with a murmured “Thank you.”
Paula rubbed her hands together. “I can’t wait to go shopping for this baby!”
Pen thought of the Love & Tumble boutique, of the photographer she’d hired and the Dallas Duchess blog. She’d avoided much of the handling of her own potential PR nightmare for the last week-plus. She didn’t care about her reputation—none of it was career-altering—but there were elements to handle that affected the Fergusons.
The mayor.
Stefanie.
Zach.
Penelope resolved to handle them as soon as possible.
“I don’t know what to say,” Pen said, holding the envelope in both hands. Blank on the outside, and who knew how much money on the inside. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that her parents were supportive of her decision to raise her child apart from Zach, and that they loved her no matter what.
Anything beyond that involved items on Pen’s own to-do list. Items like shared custody and drop-offs. Announcing the sex of the baby as well as confirming the breakup for the public.
“I’m going to run to work, if that’s okay?” She phrased it like a question but knew her mother’s response before she gave it.
