Page 38 of Oz Wisdom

Nealy’s laugh was light but not condemning. “Of course.”

Maybe clubs were all the same. Taylor wanted to ask more but words failed her.

“You look confused,” Nealy noticed. “Haven’t you had someone you trusted help guide you toward the right decision?”

No. No, she hadn’t. Tell, demand, manipulate. Yes. But not for a good ending. “I guess I’m surprised. I never imagined you were told how to live or what to do. I mean . . .”

“Go ahead. What are you thinking? Don’t be afraid to ask,” Nealy told her.

“You look so happy. How does the fear of punishment for not obeying sneak into that?”

Nealy straightened. “I think we’re on two different things here. Jethro doesn’t demand me to obey him. He tells me what I should do at times because he knows better than I do about certain things. And I don’t question those things because I trust him. And he does it because he loves me and wants what’s best for me. I’m fully free to make my own decisions. I think you’re confusing respect and trust for abuse. There’s none of that here.”

Taylor hoped her smile looked sincere. She was happy for her friend. If she could call her a friend. But she had just given her a lot to think about.

“So, what do you believe you should apologize for?” Nealy asked.

"When we worked together, I wasn't the most pleasant person.”

Nealy flipped her hand through the air. "That’s water under the bridge.”

"Not for me. I've come to learn a lot over the past year. A lot about myself.”

"All a part of growing," Nealy told her.

"True. And I've grown more in the past six months than I did in the first twenty years of my life. I grew up, not wealthy, but well-off. I succeeded at everything I did. Failure wasn't an option in the Arison household. Something I came to realize later was a result of my father being in the public eye. And no cost was too high for that success.”

Taylor paused and returned Nealy's smile. "I'm sorry for my actions at the time. I'm no better than anyone else. And I should have never behaved as such. Moreover, I should have never believed it."

"Sounds like we had a similar upbringing. Apology accepted. Think no more of it.” Nealy grinned. “I must admit the bickering between you and Edna were entertaining at times.”

Taylor somehow felt lighter and laughed. “You two did seem tight."

"Still are. You'll be seeing her at club functions occasionally.”

"Oh, I'm not part of that."

"Nonsense. The club is Oz’s family. How can you not be part of that?”

"He just helped me because I had nowhere else to go."

"Oz is sweet but he's not going out of his way to help people. He's happy by himself and never brings anyone home. Never. I hear you can count the number of people, other than the club, who have been in his home on one hand. Including you.”

Taylor was speechless. She was no more special than anyone else. Why would he make an exception for her? Did he feel sorry for her that much?

“Knock. Knock!”

Taylor jerked toward the voice booming from the foyer. Edna.

“Hey Edna,” Nealy greeted. “Speak of the devil.”

“I knew you was thinking about me. So, here I am.” Edna jerked to a halt. “You really did mean the devil.” She pinned Taylor with an unwelcoming glare. “What is she doing here?”

“Taylor came by for a friendly visit.” Nealy patted the cushion next to her. “Come sit down.”

“Uh huh.” Edna eased toward the kitchen. “I brought food for you and sweets for the kids.”

“You don’t have to bring food every time you dart the door.”

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