Page 94 of Winning Bid

Elliot takes a deep breath, looking from me to Anderson and then the papers again. “And you two are together, no matter what comes of this, as he said?”

I bob my head as Anderson takes my hand. “You may not like me, Elliot. Hell, you may hate me. That’s up to you. But that doesn’t change how I feel about Anderson. I love him. Always. Come rain or come shine. I cannot wait to be his wife and start that part of our lives together. He’s my person, and I am his.”

The smile on Anderson’s face makes me go all warm and fuzzy inside.

“I see,” Elliot says flatly. “If?—"

“No, I don’t think you do,” I cut him off. “Like I said, you can hate me forever. But I am dedicated to making this right and making some sort of relationship with you work. If that’s pointless, fine. I don’t care. But I want our kids to have a good relationship with you and Kitty.”

He shifts in his seat. I’m pretty sure he is uncomfortable with my honesty, and I kind of love that. “Fine, fine. I’ll consider what you’ve both said. You may go.”

46

ANDERSON

It makes no sense, but as we leave Dad’s office, somehow, my bones feel lighter. In fact, it’s easier to stand straight, even though I’ve always had good posture. Miraculously, the world looks … different. Brighter. Better.

Is this what relief feels like?

“Why are you smiling like that?” June asks as we get into my car.

Didn’t know I was, but when I look in the mirror, she’s right. I’m practically grinning. “I think … I think I feel good.”

She chuckles. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“No, I mean … ” It takes me a moment to put together the words. In some ways, it makes no sense for me to care this much, but I do. Perhaps we all have that inner child, always seeking their parents’ approval of their partner. “Having cleared your name and the air with Dad, I feel good. Like, really, inexplicably good. Like I’m not weighed down anymore.”

“Was I really such a burden?”

I laugh, shaking my head. “I don’t mean it like that, baby. He knows everything now. Whatever he decides to do with that knowledge, it’s on him. If he writes me out of the will, if he opens his arms to you, it’s his choice. He has all the facts, and if he uses them to be cruel, there’s nothing I can say or do to change that, but also, if he does, then Mom and Cole will judge him harshly for it. I think that’s what’s always been missing from my family.”

“Their judgment?”

“Consequences for his actions.” I start the car and pull out of the space to get us on the road, taking my time with everything. Now that I’m unburdened, the tension is gone from my neck and shoulders, and I have to adjust my seat and mirror positioning to make up for the change.

I had no idea how much this stress had affected me until it was gone.

I explain, “Dad has always been able to do whatever he wanted and expected us to fall in line. The times we didn’t, we were the ones in trouble. Now that he has no excuses to be such an asshat to you and me, if he doesn’t straighten up, I feel confident they will tell him all about it.”

“If—"

“More importantly,” I interrupt to save her from saying something wrong, “he likes you.”

She laughs bitterly. “What?”

“He does. He won’t say it now, and he may never say the words out loud, but he does. Otherwise, he would have had security escort us out. Don’t expect an apology … ever. But he would have made his feelings known if he still held that grudge against you.”

She licks her lips, deep in thought. “So, you’re practically giddy because your father did not have us taken away by security?”

“Yes.”

“You have a shockingly low bar for what makes a positive interaction with your father.”

I snort a laugh. “Are you kidding? That was the best meeting I’ve ever had with the man.”

“Then let me reiterate what I just said.”

“This is good news, June. Be positive. We should celebrate. Stop trying to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.”

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