Page 69 of February

“Bridgette, at this rate, the company won’t exist when they’re old enough to retire. If you convince them to let you take it over, you can keep them on staff, if you want, and pay them a salary, but you’d be making the business decisions. Opening an Etsy shop isn’t hard. Neither is selling on Amazon. You’ve only got about six months of runway here before you’re done for good. If you work fast and get cards up online, you’d be able to get back in the black one day, and you’d know if that’s enough before you’re at the end of the runway.”

“This istheirbusiness.”

“They were going to leave it to you anyway. I’m only suggesting they do it sooner rather than later. There’s only one other option, and I’m not sure it’s what you’d want.”

“What?”

“Arnette Assets can become an investor.”

“An investor?”

“We’d write up terms that stipulated if you didn’t return the investment by a certain date, we take over from there, or if you’re not in a good enough financial position. Something like that, anyway. Normally, I wouldn’t suggest it since we own a competitor, but my dad has a personal connection to Southern, and now… so do I.”

Bridgette stared at Monica for a moment, trying to understand her meaning, but her mind was too focused on all of the options Monica had just given her.

“Can I think about it?”

“Your parents will make the final call, so it’s really up to them, but yes.”

“I just don’t know how to ask them to give me their company when they’re not done running it yet.”

“Theyare, though, Bridge. Six months. That’s all this place has left if they remain in charge. Besides, your dad loves the sale,and your mom told me she missed designing cards. You taking over could be a win-win.”

“I’m not sure they’ll see it that way,” Bridgette replied.

Monica’s phone beeped.

“The ex?”

“No. Aaron. He’s checked in for his flight. He’s excited.” Monica smiled down at her phone. “Are you sure you’re okay taking tomorrow to show him around?”

“Yeah, of course. I’m excited about it, really. I haven’t been back to campus in a while. Should be fun.”

“I really appreciate this, Bridge. It means a lot.”

“He’s your kid. I want him to love this place, too.”

“You’re assuming I already do,” Monica noted with a lifted eyebrow.

“Oh, admit it: the grits won you over.”

Monica laughed and said, “I was won over way before breakfast this morning.”

CHAPTER 16

“Mom!” Aaron yelled.

Monica still smiled just about every time he called her ‘Mom.’ It amazed her how that worked. She’d never planned on having children, and being called that hadn’t mattered to her. In fact, when she’d first met Lily and found out she had a young son, Monica had almost walked away. Then, she’d met Aaron, who had been precocious and interested in learning just about everything. She had spent one afternoon with him, and that had been it. As much as she couldn’t stand Lily now and wondered how she’d even loved her to begin with, she would never regret their marriage because she’d gotten Aaron out of it.

When they’d told him about the separation and subsequent divorce, Aaron hadn’t been surprised. He’d been old enough to understand, but he’d still been hurt. As much as Monica had wanted to save him that pain, she couldn’t keep going on with Lily how she had been. She would only have gotten more miserable in time, and that wouldn’t have been good for Aaron, either. The fact that he still relied on her, still trusted her, and still loved her made her happy beyond measure. She used to wish that she would’ve been there when he was born, when he was a baby and a toddler, and she still did, in part, but truthfully, she was so happy that she’d gotten him when she had and thatthey’d bonded over their love of math and cooking that she no longer worried about those years she missed.

She could still remember the first time he’d called her ‘Mom.’ Lily had just gotten home late from work, and it was already Aaron’s bedtime, so she’d walked into his room right when Monica had been tucking him in. She’d stayed long enough to tell him goodnight and had given him a kiss on his forehead, but then, Aaron had asked his mom to read a story with him. Lily had explained that it was already past his bedtime, but he’d meant Monica, so he’d said it again.

“Mom, will you read with me?” he had asked, looking right into Monica’s eyes, and Monica had been certain then that she’d never loved someone more.

“Hey,” she greeted as she waved him over.

Aaron dragged his roller bag past the TSA agent guarding the exit and walked right up into her arms, hugging her quickly before pulling back. He was eighteen now. Monica knew she should be glad she got a hug at all.

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