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He shakes his head while continuing to smile. “I’ve missed you. Tell me you’re done with travel for a while.”
“For a year or so. I want to go back to Europe at some point.”
He rests against the kitchen island, crossing his arms. “When are you going to stop running?”
This is an old conversation between us. Nate thinks I’m a runner. That I never stay and deal with my shit. I don’t agree. I prefer to think of myself as a free spirit with wanderlust.
“You know, travel is a great way to connect with yourself. You should try it sometime.”
“I connect with myself just fine here.”
My brother is such an arrogant ass sometimes. I love him to death, but he likes to give me advice without ever listening when I try to give him some back.
Before I can get into this any further with him, Mom comes into the kitchen. She frowns as she takes in my outfit, but she doesn’t mention it. Instead, she says, “You’re late, Charlize.”
“Ten minutes is hardly late.”
“It is in my world. I’ve got a lot to do tonight after dinner, and now we’re running ten minutes behind.”
I try not to laugh but fail. “Mom, it’s a family dinner, not one of your galas. We can leave ten minutes early if need be.”
She gives me a stern look. One I know not to even bother arguing with. “Your father is waiting in the dining room for us.”
Ten minutes later, the four of us are sitting around the dining table that I have many memories of sitting around in silence while our parents taught us that children should be seen and not heard.
Dad and Nate discuss their work for a good fifteen minutes. My brother followed our father into the law. To say our parents are proud of this is downplaying it. I could take an actual nap, and no one would notice.
Nate gives Dad his fifteen minutes before eyeing me and saying, “How’s your job hunting going?”
I finish eating the chicken I’ve decided Mom needs to serve at every family dinner. “I picked up some work for a few weeks at North Management. I’ve been working there this week.”
“Any chance it might turn into full-time work?” Nate asks. “That’d be a great company to work for.”
“I don’t think so.” I look at Mom. “I’ve just realized I won’t be able to make the gala next week. I have to go to London for work.”
This news doesn’t make her happy. “I wanted you and Nate to help me.”
“I know, but I can’t get out of this.”
She presses her lips together. “If you’d taken my advice and asked Benjamin for a job, you wouldn’t have to go to London.”
Lord, give me strength.
“I did take your advice. I signed up with an employment agency. They found this job for me.”
“I know Benjamin would give you a job in a heartbeat,” she says.
“I don’t want to work for Benjamin’s company.”
“Goodness knows why not,” she says. “You know how successful his company is.”
My mother would pee herself if she knew I’m having dating moments with Owen. Benjamin is a property developer and, yes, his company is successful. It’s nowhere near as successful as Owen’s, though.
“Goodness knows why you choose to forget he broke my heart, Mom.”
She dismisses this in the way only a woman who believes in uniting families rather than marrying for love can. “I am sure there were many misunderstandings on both sides, Charlize.”
She will go on and on about this if I don’t find a way to stop her. It’s because of this that I blurt, “I met someone.”
