Page 35 of The One I Want
Then there is Magnolia. Good Lord, that child will give you a run for your money. And it’s impossible to say no to her. Hence the pink nail polish on Wes’s fingers today.
“Why do you look sad, Betsy?” Magnolia asks. “It’s Thanksgiving. You should be happy.”
I don’t know whether to smile or cry at her sweet words. “I am happy, sweet girl. I’m happy now that I’m talking to you guys. I miss you!”
“You just saw us yesterday,” Hank says.
“I know, but that’s how much I like spending time with you.”
“Hey, kids,” Wes chimes in. “How about you go get your shoes and jackets on so we can go to Gram and Grandpa’s house. I need to ask Betsy something.”
They all tell me goodbye and exit the room like he asks.
“What’s wrong?”
“What?” I ask, wondering how he knows. I thought I was playing off this wonderful display of family quite well.
“There’s something off.”
I let out a sigh. No use in hiding it. “It’s just my parents. No big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” he says.
“I swear, it’s not Wes,” I say. “We just…our relationship right now is a bit strained since they shared their disappointment with my life choices and cut me off, which led me to Rolling Hills. I hoped today might be a little better, but it’s not. Not even a little bit. And I haven’t even told them I’m working for you now and not Whitley. I just can’t muster up the courage.”
Wes doesn’t say anything, and I don’t know if it’s the lighting in the room or what, but I think his face is turning red. “That’s how you ended up in Rolling Hills? Because your parents cut you off?”
“Yeah,” I say. “Now before you think anything, yes, they were helping me pay for things, but I had jobs. Just not good ones. Or ones they approved of. Or, if none of that were to work, a husband. So I was told to do it on my own. I doubt being a nanny is going to be to their idea of a promotion.”
“You are a what?”
I snap my head around and drop my phone in the process. My mother is standing at the door, looking utterly horrified.
“Did you just say that you are a nanny? What happened to your job with Whitley?”
Well, glad to see that the lie I told earlier is now biting me in the ass.
“I was working for Whitley, but it wasn’t panning out. And a new opportunity came up.”
“A new opportunity? Betsy Sullivan, you are not the help. We did not raise you to take a service job. My goodness, where did we go wrong with you? Why can’t you just—”
“Why can’t I what, Mom? Why can’t I get a job that you would approve of? That’s rich coming from a woman who never worked a day in her life. Or maybe I’ll be like Ingrid and fuck my way through Fraternity Row before convincing some finance bro to marry me.”
“Watch your tongue, young lady,” Dad says, suddenly appearing behind Mom. “You do not speak to your mother like that.”
That’s it. I’ve had it.
“Or what, Dad? Are you going to cut me off? Take away my credit cards? Oh wait, you already did that. And—I’m sure to your complete shock—I’m doing just fine.”
I switch my glare to my mother, because she needs to hear this next part loud and clear. “You think that being a nanny is slumming it, Mom? Well, I have news for you. That family is the best thing in my life right now. It’s rewarding being a part of their lives. And you know what? They appreciate me. The Dad? He has put more trust in me in a week than you two ever have. So you know what? I’m not ashamed. I’m proud. They are more of a family to me than either of you two are.”
I lean down to snatch up my phone and storm out of the study. Luckily, my purse and keys are at the entryway.
“Betsy!”
I stop and consider turning around. I don’t know what they want to say, but frankly, right now, I don’t want to hear it. So I make a good decision for once and walk out.
I don’t look back. I just keep on trekking forward until I’m in my car. Luckily enough, the driveway is so long that neither of them will be able to see me sitting in the driver’s seat, catching my breath.
