Page 34 of Beyond Question

When my daughter shows up at Turn the Paige halfway through Monday, I’m not surprised; I’d been expecting at least a phone call since I ran into her Friday night. What surprises me is why she’s here.

Because it’s not to grill me about what the hell I was doing with Travis Wilder.

It’s to convince me to give him a chance.

And my world feels knocked right off its axis because in what timeline does any of this make sense?

I stare at her across my desk, unable to grasp the words coming out of her mouth.

I’m not old fashioned. Anyone who knows me knows that much. And I certainly am not a prude, by any means.

But hearing my daughter, mybaby, confirm Travis’ description of their relationship, the absolute casualness of it, still throws me for a loop.

I mean, good for her, I guess. I definitely raised her to be strong and independent, and I never made her believe that sex was dirty or wrong or that her virginity was anything other than a construct created by men to keep women shamed and compliant.

But it’s still strange to hear—and made even stranger by the fact that we’re discussing a man I’m interested in.

No,was. Iwasinterested in him.

“Bronte, enough.” I lift my hand to make her stop. “It’s over between us.” I pause then shake my head. “It's not even that,because nothing ever started between us to end. He’s set his sights on me for some unknown reason, and—”

“Why do you say that?” She scowls as she crosses her arms over her chest. “Why do you act like it’s some unknown reason and not because you’re beautiful and badass?”

I roll my eyes. “Thank you, honey, but your flattery attempts won’t work in this case.” I motion toward her. “Besides, I’ve seen the kind of women that man dates.”

My daughter’s nostrils flare as she glares at me. “That’s the least feminist thing you’ve ever said to me, you know that?” She leans forward and I lean back. “I have never, not once, heard you compare yourself to other women, Mom. Not one single time. I’ve never heard you talk down about yourself or doubt your worth. Hell, look at me. You raised me to be so damn sure of who I am I’m borderline arrogant.”

I snort and she shrugs.

“But this…” Bronte motions toward me and shakes her side. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you.”

Silence blooms between us and, frankly, I don’t know how to respond to that. She’s right. Of course she is. My daughter knows me better than anyone.

“Why are you so opposed to giving him a chance?”

I keep my mouth shut as nothing but excuses that wouldn’t hold up in court and certainly won’t hold up here run through my mind. Eventually, when I can take her knowing glare no longer, I sigh. “You know why,” I finally say. “Men like that are no good. Unscrupulous and dangerous.”

Brontë shakes her head. “I know, Mom. You’ve told me that my whole life. But what I don’t know iswhy.” She pauses, searching my gaze for answers. “Why are you so sure that any man with any sort of wealth is bad?”

“Just trust me.”

She groans. “I have, Mom; you know I have, but you’re asking me to trust you blindly. To believe what you say just because you say it…” She leans forward. “You raised me to be smarter than that. You raised me to be wise and open-minded, to always thirst for knowledge.” She throws her hands up with a huff. “And I cannot follow anyoneblindly—not even you.”

“Brontë…”

“No. Enough. Give me one good reason why you won’t give Travis a chance. Tell me why you refuse to even entertain the idea. I’m sitting here telling you that I know him; I’ve known him for years. He’s a good man. He’s nothing like what you think—”

Rylan knocks on the door jamb and we both look up at her.

“I’m sorry, but I…” She drops her gaze and I chuckle.

“You were eavesdropping?” Why am I not surprised? Shaking my head I motion to the chair beside Bronte. “Might as well come on in and join the lecture.

Brontëtsks. “So dramatic, Paige. I’m not even to the lecturing part yet.” She turns to Rylan. “Team Travis?”

“Oh, for sure. He’s such a good guy.” Rylan beams as she turns her attention to me. “I feel calm when he’s around… do you ever feel that?”

“Hmm,” Brontë says thoughtfully. “You know what, you’re right. That’s a good point. He is, like, really easy to be around.” She looks at Rylan and they nod in unison, then she swivels her attention back to me.

---