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Her eyes clear, and she pins me in her gaze. “Family’s important to us—to my Daddy, to me and Thomas, and now, to Claire, Mads, and Jacob. They’re the next generation. That’s why I like you and Luna so much. I can see how much you care for one another. And with the way you two got on with that sweet Gracie girl, there’s a big, full family table in your future. A whole line up of your brothers and sister, nieces and nephews, and babies of your own. I think that’s what makes this feel right, you know?”
Elena puts her hand over her heart, and I swear to all that is holy, if she starts saying the Pledge of Allegiance or singing Amazing Grace, I’m going to bolt from this room and never return because the guilt of what I’m doing is so heavy with Elena speaking in such a heartfelt way about what family means to her. Not that I’m going to be careless with her money, I legitimately will do her estate well, but because of the means I’m going to ‘get the job’.
And what she sees in mine and Luna’s future is scary as fuck. Still, I picture Luna big and round with a baby in her belly and it’s not a bad image. Luna would be a great mother, I think, remembering her with Grace and the stories she tells about school field trip kids.
It just won’t be my baby.
Eventually, this whole thing is going to come to an end. I’ll get the deal and get to work proving myself to Elena, and eventually, Luna and I will probably get divorced when it’s been appropriately long enough. After that, she’ll find someone and fall in love for real, get married for real, and have a baby . . . for real.
My gut roils at the thought of someone else touching her, loving her, creating a family with her. I swallow thickly and agree, “Family is everything. We love each other no matter what.”
And isn’t that the fucking truth? I’m talking about Luna, but also, my whole family.
We loved Cameron through his darkest days when his wife died, leaving him alone with Grace. We supported Chance starting his own business and the slow days when he wasn’t sure it was going to succeed. We defend Cole even though we don’t really have any idea what the hell he does. We make sure Kayla gets her turn in the spotlight when she could easily be overshadowed by her numerous brothers. And we accept that Kyle is always going to have one foot in and one foot out of the family, even if we don’t understand why. We just welcome him into the fold every time he chooses to come back.
And me too. Look at what they’re doing so I can have a shot at this deal. Going along with my crazy lie and this whole created life with Luna? Well, other than Dad.
Pat clears his throat, and I realize that he and Elena are staring at me. “Penny for your thoughts?” Elena asks gently.
At the same time, Pat says, “That’s enough blubbering on about nothing. We should get down to the details here. I want to see what you have planned.”
He makes it sound as if his shotgun is ready to punch holes in whatever plans I have, but I take Pat’s offered rescue from the emotional bend of our conversations, not needing to analyze any of my family drama or feelings for Luna right now. “Great idea. My research shows that you follow a pretty strict eighty-twenty split for assets, leaning heavily into conservative investments. Correct?”
It’s the jumping off point we need to discuss all facets of the Cartwright portfolio, from stock holdings to property investments, donations to taxes, and everything in between.
Hours later, Elena is nodding off in her chair, even occasionally snoring, while Pat and I hammer through report after report and I show him where I see potential improvements in the management of the Cartwright estate.
But no matter what I say or what actions I suggest, he’s professionally distant, bordering on cold. My charm hasn’t worked on him, my plans haven’t swayed him, and for someone who purports wanting to retire, I don’t think he’s ready to release one finger from managing the Cartwright portfolio. Or at least, not let it go to me.
“Being that aggressive is foolhardy,” he repeats, despite having seen the projections I compiled. “I don’t care what your little cartoon arrow shows, that’s not the best strategy.” He waves at my tablet presentation, which does indeed have a green arrow showing a dramatic rise in investment returns.
Gritting my teeth to control my frustrations, I assure him again. “It would play out this way. I’ve done it before, and it’s even how I have some of my own personal funds invested.”
