Page 10 of Savannah Sweethearts

It felt like a stab to the heart when she made comments like that. “I do love children, Mom. My inability to bear them doesn’t mean I would begin to hate them.”

Her Savannah drawl sounded bored, even though she was the one who had called me. “I know, sugar, but it’s just torturing yourself since you’ll never be a mother.”

Do not engage, Ashley. Do not comment back; it will only encourage her. “What did you call for, Mother?”

“There’s a charity ball this weekend, and I thought you’d like to go. I have two tickets for you if you can find a date. You’re on your own for this one, since you left Mr. Browning searching high and low for you. Do you know how embarrassing it was that you had just up and left?”

I did my best to ignore the fact that I was an embarrassment to her. There had to be a catch to her generosity. I waited for her to announce it, but she remained silent.

“What’s the charity?”

“Oh, something your father is involved in. Raising money for underprivileged people of some kind. Apparently that actress who used to live on Tybee will be there. Tanner and Morgan can’t go.” Ah-ha. There was the reason for the last-minute offer.

My brother and his wife couldn’t attend, so the tickets were being discarded in my direction. That was fine. I would be happy to take them, and I told her as much. After hanging up and pulling into my brother’s driveway, I texted Tyrell.

Ashley: Any chance you’re interested in attending a black-tie charity ball with me Friday night? I have two tickets.

It didn’t take long for a reply to pop up.

Tyrell: What’s the charity? Some of my reporters are going to one this weekend for Savvy Kids.

Ashley: That might be it. My mother didn’t say specifically.

Tyrell: Oh, your parents will be there?

Ashley: Does that change your mind?

Tyrell: Absolutely not. In fact, I would love to see them again and show them how well I’m doing despite their predictions to the contrary.

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. I would also love for my parents to see how well he was doing. Tyrell was pretty much at the top of his game and still only thirty years old. It would be a pleasure to wipe their smug smiles from their faces.

It was a thin line I walked with my family and I knew it. I was the black sheep that had somehow turned into a bitter disappointment to them, but I still reaped the benefits of being a Gloss. I got a monthly allowance from my parents, plus the payouts from my stock in the family business and my trust. Having a job wasn’t a necessity for me; it was a choice.

Still smiling, I got out of the car and headed toward the house for babysitting duty.

Once Tanner and Morgan had left me with a list of instructions for Jonny, I stripped him from his prim pajamas and left him in just a diaper. He seemed so much more relaxed that way without itchy knits on his skin and no tags rubbing him.

“What do you want to do before bed, Jonny?” I held him close, running my fingers along his soft skin.

He was just a year old, so he didn’t have much to say, but he pointed to a few toys and crawled over to them. They were all soft, organic, and as bland as you could get. I scooped him up and took him into the kitchen, where I pulled out Morgan’s expensive pots and pans and her designer mixing spoons.

It took a minute of my showing Jonny what to do before a wicked grin crossed his face and he laughed. Spoon in hand, he began banging the pots and pans as if his life depended on it. I knew he led a quiet, calm life, and little boys weren’t meant to be quiet and calm.

He relished the noise he was creating, and while it gave me a slight headache, it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. Anyway, the poor boy needed an occasional outlet away from Morgan’s smothering. Plus, it wore the kid out. After ten minutes, he was slowing down and rubbing his eyes.

Aunt Ashley for the win. I redressed him, read him a book, sang him a song, and laid him down. As his eyes drooped closed, I felt the squeeze on my heart.

I would be a mother one day. Even if I didn’t birth a child myself, it didn’t matter. I had saved so much of my money and invested it wisely, I could adopt ten children if I wanted. It didn’t matter how it happened. A deep breath caught in my throat, and I left the room before I woke the baby from his slumber.

My phone was ringing from the living room, and I raced to pick it up before it woke Jonny. Looking at the screen, I groaned before answering, “Hello again, Mother.”

She didn’t greet me before launching into why she called. “Ashley, I found someone you can take with you to this gala. You remember Ben Baxter?”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I shook my head as if she could see it. I did remember Mr. Baxter, emphasis on the Mister. He had been my tennis coach and was even older than my father. “Mom, I don’t need you to find me a date. I’ve already asked someone.”

There was no attempt at hiding her shock. “You have? Who? Someone I know?”

I wanted Tyrell’s presence to be a total surprise, so naturally, I couldn’t tell her who it was. “Yes, someone you have known for a long time, so tell Mr. Baxter sorry.”

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