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The car door closed outside, and I prepared myself for Gypsi’s reaction to the dresses, shoes, and jewelry I had laid out for us.The camper door opened, and her eyes swung to mine, then dropped to the outfit I was wearing.It was not my typical booty shorts and tank top that I wore when at home.
“Mom, what are you wearing?”she asked slowly as she came inside.
“I had lunch with a friend,” I explained.
She raised her eyebrows.“So, you just ran out and bought a Burberry top and high-end linen pants for the event?”The sarcasm in her tone wasn’t lost on me.
I glanced down at the top.“This is Burberry?”I asked.
“Uh, yeah, Mom.That’s their signature print.Don’t tell me you found that at a consignment shop or Goodwill.Because we are selling it on Poshmark if you did.We can make at least six hundred on that.”
My mouth dropped open.“This shirt cost six hundred dollars?”There was barely any material to it.
Gypsi shook her head, grinning, clearly amused with my cluelessness.“No, Mom, it probably runs close to a thousand, if not more.”
“Are you serious?!”I gasped.
Gypsi plopped a hand on her hip and leveled me with her gaze.“Where did you get that?You don’t have a clue about its cost.”
I sighed, then put a smile back on my face.I should have been prepared for the fact that anything Garrett had bought was expensive.The man didn’t know how to buy off the sale rack or hit up Target.
“That’s something I want to talk to you about,” I began.“You know what the Kentucky Derby is, right?”
She nodded.“Yeah, horse racing, rich people, and hats.”
I wanted to laugh at her description, but I held it back.“More or less.Anyway, we have been invited to go.All expenses paid.Even our wardrobe has been provided,” I gushed with excitement, hoping it rubbed off on her.Then, I waved my hand toward the bed, where I had laid out our clothing.
Gypsi narrowed her eyes at it, then shifted them back to me.“Since you saidinvited, I am assuming this isn’t something you won from playing cards or pool.”
I shook my head.“No.I didn’t swindle anyone.This was an invite … from a friend.”
Gypsi’s gaze went back to my outfit.“The same friend you had lunch with?”
I nodded.
“Mom, how rich is the man you’re dating?”she asked me point-blank.
I lifted my shoulders slightly.“He’s wealthy.He raises horses and races them.You’re going to like him.I promise, Gypsi Lu.I can’t wait to see you in those dresses.You’re going to be the most beautiful female at the derby.”
I waited for her to take it in.She was looking at the clothes again.
“I can’t just get off work with this late of notice, Mom,” she began.“I could stay here, and you could—”
“No.You know I would never leave you here in this camper like that.Besides, your work has been handled.You can call if you’d like, but you are being taken off the schedule for the weekend.”
Her eyes widened.“How did you do that?”
This part I hated.Admitting I’d allowed a man to do it.Handle our business.We’d always handled our lives.Now, I was forcing her to let Garrett take over.Not on everything, but some things.
“Garrett did it.He knows the owner,” I guessed.Truthfully, I wasn’t sure.
“Garrett’s his name?He sounds young.Please tell me he isn’t in his twenties.”
I shook my head, relieved I got to tell her something she wanted to hear.“He is in his forties, I think.Although he looks to be about forty, he has a grown, married son with a kid, so I am going to guess mid to late forties, but aging well.”
“Last name?”Gypsi asked.
“Hughes,” I supplied.
