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“I just hope it’s not gold urinals. Again.”
The distinct sound of rifling pages filled the line, and I visualized her going through her designs one last time to findthatonethinghe’d want to fix. Mosby always liked the challenge of beating my father at his own game.
“When do you think they’ll be approved and ready for me?”
“Hmm. Depending on how things go, maybe next week or the week after. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks. You know anything about this place I’m going to?”
“Not too much. Just what your dad told me about it being the next up-and-coming area in southern California.”
I scratched at my beard. It was growing in nice, but I was getting sick of it.
“Why?”
“’Cause it’s in the middle of fucking nowhere. And because this idea came out of left field.”
“Guess there’s an opportunity for major growth—wineries nearby, cute little town. Got a great deal for it too, master negotiator that he is. All I know is Stephanie loves it there. She’s really excited about it.”
“Figures he’d do some major show of love for his new bride. Old man hasn’t learned his damn lesson. Bet they’ll be divorced within three years, knowing him.”
“Don’t be so pessimistic.”
“He can’t keep a marriage together to save his life.”
“I think he might actually keep this one. He’s totally in love.”
Mosby’s defense of Dad’s rushed marriage surprised me. “It’s not only a question of his feelings but hers. Probably after his money like every other broad.”
“I don’t know, Blaire. I think she’s genuinely besotted with him too.”
“Looks can be deceiving. And considering hers . . . well, let’s just say, she reminds me a lot of wife number two.”
“Don’t say that. She was a bitch. Total gold-digging whore. I’m just thankful your dad snapped out of it and came to his senses. Everything about her grated on my nerves. But Stephanie is good people. I like her.”
“Yeah. Well, good for you.” I couldn’t help my sarcasm. I was used to my father’s philandering ways. And while he claimed to have been faithful, there wasn’t a bone in my body that took him at his word. I couldn’t imagine that he’d been any more loyal to them than he had my mother. And if he could cheat on the mother of his children, why wouldn’t he cheat on everyone else?
“You’re such a dick. I’m telling you I’ve got a different feeling about this one.”
“I wouldn’t know since I only met her a handful of times before they got hitched.”
“Maybe if you tried, you could mend that bridge.” That was Mosby, ever the optimist. She’d been like that since I met her in college. Even knowing all the crap I’d been through and dealt with about my father, she always tried to help me stay positive.
I grunted. “Fat chance. I wasn’t even invited to the wedding.”
“Well, they did elope. Stephanie told me the story. It sounded so romantic. She had stars in her eyes.”
I grunted. “More like dollar signs.”
“She comes from her own money, you know.”
“I know it doesn’t hurt to have more money.”
“God, you really don’t give the man a break. You need to fix this relationship, Michael. Before it’s too late.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, well, I’ve learned the hard way to keep Allan Blaire at a fair distance. Any mending he wants done will need to come by his effort, not mine.”
“Jesus. You’re a hardheaded son-of-a-bitch.”
