Page 117 of The One That I Want

It strikes me sometimes that I’ve married into old money – the kind of people who use ‘summer’ as a verb. Even if Tristan hadn’t inherited his grandfather’s fortune, the Fellows family would be considered wealthy by any standards.

I set the thought aside and focus back on Evie.

‘Would you like to hear what I think?’

She nods vigorously.

‘Do you remember our conversation when you first told me about Tyler’s request?’

‘Yes. And I know what you’re going to say.’

‘What am I going to say?’

‘That he’s not my person.’

‘He is definitely not your person. And I can understand that you hoped to change his mind – even sacrificing what you wanted to suit him – but you deserve so much more. You are kind and generous and loving. You have a beautiful heart and the Tylers of the world don’t deserve someone like you. They only deserve cows.’

She laughs – a lovely sound, especially considering the situation – and runs the back of her hand under her nose.

‘I also promise you this: even though it will hurt for some time, that will fade.’

‘Time heals all wounds,’ she says.

‘It’s a cliché, but a lot of clichés are true. This one is.’

‘I really miss Grandad,’ she says, throwing a non sequitur into the conversation – though, I’m used to those. When I was a psychologist, a lot of my patients would make statements out of the blue. And they were often the truest, most self-aware things my patients would say.

‘I know you do,’ I say, reaching for Evie’s hand, wad of tissues and all. ‘And I know Tristan and Olivia do as well. I wish I got to meet him.’

‘He would have loved you,’ she says, meeting my eye with a smile.

Tears fillmyeyes now. I’m so grateful to have Evie and her sister in my life – to be part of the Fellows family, as well as my own. Granted, it includes Helen, my mother-in-law, but in small doses, she’s bearable.Verysmall doses.

We both wipe away our tears and I sit up straighter, pinning Evie with a look. ‘Right, so what are we going to do about the cow?’

‘Delia?’

‘Mmm-hmm. Is the friendship group aware of what’s going on between her and Tyler?’

‘Umm… I’m not sure.’

‘Well, maybe they need to be,’ I say.

‘How do I do that?’

‘How dowedo that?’ I reply, reaching for her hand again and squeezing it. She smiles through her tears. ‘You know, I have certain resources at my disposal…’ I say with a wicked smirk.

‘You sound like that dad in that movie,’ she says with a laugh.

‘Taken?’ I ask.

‘That’s the one. He has a set of special skills or something…’

‘Well, I can promise there’ll be no weapons – other than the truth.’

She rolls her eyes.

‘Too cheesy?’

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