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“She is sixteen,” Lorry defended her daughter. “We’re in Florida, so she can legally drop out of school if she wants to and become independent.”
“Yes, but only withyoursigned consent,” Steph reminded Lorry.
“Can we not do this, please?” Lorry looked stressed. “I know Tammy is becoming more of a handful, but Grant and his new young wife are expecting their first baby.”
“Which means Grant already has his next new wife lined up!” Steph hissed.
“Steph!” Lorry said, exasperated.
“I agree with Steph,” Nicky said. “I know I have no room to talk here, but Grant was a complete womanizer, and the moment he found out you were pregnant with Tammy, he started playing the field.”
“He was a jerk,” Lorry admitted. “But that jerk is also my daughter’s father.”
“And you’ve defended him to Tammy her whole life,” Steph pointed out.
“Yes, yes.” Lorry sighed. “I’ve no one to blame for my daughter’s terrible attitude toward me but myself.”
“No, Lorry.” Nicky reached over and squeezed her sister’s hand. “All you’re guilty of is being a great mom.” She gave her an encouraging smile. “You didn’t want your and Grant’s problems to become Tammy’s in order for her to have a good relationship with her father.”
“Which proves that you were always way too good for Grant Chandler,” Steph said.
“Thank you, my sisters.” Lorry laughed before taking another sip of her wine. “I do miss my little troublemaker.”
“When does she return from Grant’s place?” Nicky asked.
“In a week,” Lorry answered, moving the subject away from her daughter. “We still need to find out about Dad’s secret account.”
“I don’t think it’s because he had a second family,” Steph said. “There has to be another explanation.”
“Steph, honey, having been through it,” Nicky said, “I think I know the signs now, and a mysterious bank account where Dad deposited alarge sumof money every six months is suspicious.”
“Yes, but it could’ve been anything,” Steph defended their late father’s honor.
“I have to go with Nicky on this one, Steph,” Lorry looked at their younger sister. “You don’t see the signs because you were lucky enough to get a one-in-a-billion guy.” She smiled. “And you have every mother’s dream teenage twin boys that don’t give you a moment’s trouble.”
“Yes, sister dearest, you have the perfect marriage and family,” Nicky agreed with Lorry. “I must admit we’re all very happy for you but also a little jealous.” She laughed.
“Yes, I’m lucky.” Steph glanced toward the sea, but not before Nicky saw something worrying flash in her eyes. But when she looked their way again, it was gone. “But I’ve seen what the two of you have gone through, and I’m pretty sure I’d see the signs too.” She sipped her iced tea. “Trust me, I’d have known if there was something like that going on with Dad.”
“We want to believe that too,” Lorry said. “But what I haven’t told any of you yet is that it wasn’t only a large lump sum every six months. Dad paid a smaller amount that would also equate to day-to-day living expenses each month to that account.”
“What?” Nicky and Steph spluttered in unison.
“I wish we could find out more about that account,” Lorry said, staring at the ocean. “But, it’s no longer our concern now that I’ve moved the bank accounts, and we’ve managed to save the house and the hotel.”
“And keep our shares in Bailey’s Ranch,” Steph added, beaming at Nicky. “All thanks to you, Nicky.”
“It’s my pleasure.” Nicky raised her glass. “You should’ve come to me sooner, though.” She smiled and then frowned at Steph’s glass. “Steph, since I’ve been home, you haven’t touched a drop of wine.”
“She’s on this weird diet!” Lorry answered for Steph.
“Why do you need to diet?” Nicky’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“It’s more a detoxing, resetting my system, type diet.” Steph waved it off. “We all should be doing something to prepare our bodies for the next stage of our life.”
There was that look in Steph’s eyes again, Nicky noted.
“Is everything okay, Steph?” Nicky asked.
