Page 4 of Phillip

Her mother held up a hand. “Really, Ashley Catherine.”

“I—”

“It’s bad enough that you ended a fantastic relationship without cause—”

“Mother—”

The upheld hand shook for Ashley’s silence. “But that I had to hear the news from Robert Paget is embarrassing.”

True to form, Mother’s concern was the family image, not how her daughter might feel. Ashley knew better, but still, disappointment roiled in her stomach. She also knew better than to say, “It’s my life.” Instead, Ashley offered, “We weren’t a good fit.”

Her mother’s lips puckered. “That’s not an excuse.”

It wasn’t supposed to be an excuse. It was a simple fact. She and Sean Paget were not the least bit compatible, not in love, not in life, not even in general. She couldn’t see how Mother thought they were a good fit in any way except for the Paget surname. Still, the ever-present disappointment niggled at the back of her head. Even though Ashley was committed to living her own life and refused to kowtow to her mother’s expectations, the sense of failure was never very far.

Ashley focused on the rhythm of her breath and regained control of her emotions. “That’s what people do. They date, and if it’s not right, they move on.”

Her mother folded her arms over her cream-colored blouse. “The Paget family are notpeople.”

“Actually, they are. I checked. Sean was human.”

“You know exactly what I meant,” Mother snapped.

Her shoulders slumped. “Yeah, Mother, I do.”

As though the conversation made Mother weary, she pinched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you.”

“You could donothing.” But that suggestion never helped. Ashley could be straightforward, shouting that she was her daughter, not a business in the market for an acquisition. Or she could mention a hope for romantic love.

Her mother clucked. “If I’d known you’d become harder to manage the older you got—”

Ashley called upon years spent with a therapist to stand up to her mother’s iron will. “Please, stop. My love life isn’t a topic for conversation.” Even though she knew it was the topic du jour when her mother demanded an appearance.

The sleeves and neck of her shirt seemed to cinch tighter. She rested her palm over her stomach and carefully monitored each slow breath, reminding herself that she was in charge of her response. Then Ashley offered a different approach. “I’m sorry you were put in an embarrassing position.” She swallowed her aggravation. “I never meant to upset you.”

Mother’s chin lifted as she placed both hands on the top of the chair. A small grin formed in place of the scowl. “I appreciate that.”

But silence lingered. Ashley hadn’t said enough.

She searched for what else her mother wanted to hear, then offered, “The relationship ended amicably.”

That comment got no reaction.

“And… and we intend to remain in close contact.”Still nothing.“As friends.”

“Ashley Catherine…” Her mother eased into the chair. “I’m looking out for you.”

“I promise I’m fine.”

“You have no companion. No one in your corner.”

Ashley bit her tongue. Mother didn’t see that as the job of a family. Her father was happily aloof in his own world, which revolved around Wall Street. Her mother’s life revolved around making everything perfect. Together, Glenn and Agatha Cartwright made a terrific power couple, happy together as it served their individual and professional needs.

“I have my friends,” Ashley pointed out. “My company.”

Pity creased the corners of her mother’s mouth. “I can’t see how you have provided for yourself.”

The truth was, she was lucky. Still, Ashley’s molars sawed together. Yes, she came from a well-off family, she’d inherited an amazing place to live, and she’d had the privilege of a Harvard education to top off family business lessons. But in addition to that, she was tenacious, even if a bit stubborn. That had given her the gumption to provide for herself, even if she hadn’t pursued the corporate executive lifestyle her mother had assumed she would take within Cartwright Media, the conglomerate corporation that owned the corresponding companies for the magazine, television show, home goods, and whatever else existed.

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