Page 96 of One Wealthy Wedding

My fingers curl into my palms. “You know how my parents are.” If anyone knows, it’s Brenda Archer.

“They wanted you to be a doll. I know. I remember when they would dress you in those terrible outfits and make you sit in the living room, not speaking, not eating, not even smiling.” Her voice is sad, and my insides twist. “I’m sorry, Cat.”

“I know,” I choke out. “I didn’t even mind at the time. I got to spend time with my father, at least.” We’re silent for a moment. Brenda tried to help me as much as she could. I love her for it.

“He wanted me to marry his business partner’s son. If not, he’d disinherit me and publicly disavow any connection to me,” I finally say. “Arnold is horrible. He’s openly sexist, controlling, and mean. I saw a future that looked so much like my mother’s…and I just couldn’t. So I ran.”

She reaches over to squeeze my arm.

“I’m proud of you, sweetie.”

“Thank you.” Emotion clogs my throat. No one has ever said that to me. Even if I hate my family, leaving was still the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

We sit for a minute in silence. Brenda has always been comfortable with silence. It must be where Cole gets it from. Not Theo, that’s for sure.

“What about you?” I ask. “We haven’t talked in…a while. I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” she says gently. “I’m filling my time. Seeing the boys, watching Cole’s games on TV, bragging about him to my gardening club. Traveling. I went to visit Theo in Australia even.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Yes, well, I wasn’t featured in any of those awful tabloids,” she says tartly.

“What was it like? I’ve never been.” I’ve dreamed about going, just like I’ve fantasized about going everywhere, but particularly places that are out of reach for Gregory Peterson. Australia always seemed impossibly, wonderfully far. The other side of the earth. A place where I could disappear and become someone new.

“Oh, it was wonderful. Theo worried like a mother hen the whole time, of course.”

“He did?” That doesn’t sound like the Theo I know.

“Oh yes. You know, with the health problems I’ve been having.”

“Health problems?” I sit up straight, and the compress drops from my eyes into the water.

“Theo didn’t tell you?”

Shit. “You know how he is,” I say airily. Hopefully she does know, because I sure as hell don’t.

“Full of secrets. Always determined to be strong and never show weakness. I know.” She sighs. “He’s been that way since he was a boy. It’s my fault, I’m sure. He never wanted me to worry about him. Anyway, yes. I’m managing fine now. It’s just some trouble with my breathing. A little back pain.” She waves a hand in the air and sinks deeper into the water. “Nothing a little massage can’t fix.”

“That doesn’t sound like something a massage can fix,” I say quietly. My chest pinches.

“Don’t worry about me. Now that Theo is happy, I can finally relax. Cole is so settled, and Theo has always been restless.”

“I know.” I lean back against the jet behind me and try to relax. “He’s wild.”

“He isn’t deep down, though. He’s still a little boy who wants love and approval. At least that’s how I see him.” She laughs. “He’d be so annoyed if he heard me say that. I’m just happy you’re together. It’s what your grandmother and I always wanted.”

“What?” My voice comes out strangled.

“Oh, yes.” She sighs. “We used to talk about it at tea.”

She smiles at the memory, and I smile too, because my grandma used to have me over for tea too. We would go over my latest craft project, or she’d help me pick my next book. She loved to read like I did. When my dad forced her into the retirement home when I was twenty, it nearly broke me.

“We always knew Theo would be able to protect you,” Brenda continues. “You bring out the best in him. And you defended him too. Don’t think I don’t know about that. I’m convinced it’s why your father never wanted you together. You’d make an unstoppable force if you aligned against him.” She squeezes my arm again. I can’t respond. My throat is too tight, and my eyes are hot and scratchy.

This is all a lie, and I feel like a fraud.

31

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