Page 31 of The Grumpy Billionaire
“That’s why I like Ricardo. He’s fun. He’s uncomplicated. Brianna was right all those years ago.”
“But…” I started to argue but then realized I didn’t have a leg to stand on.
I had actually followed that same advice my mom’s old friend had dispensed that long-ago day on the front porch. Unable to have the one guy I really wanted, I’d dated only the least complicated of men, the just-for-fun guys. Those I knew were no threat to my heart.
At the moment I couldn’t stop thinking of the one guy who was.
“Mom… do you ever think you and Dad could get back to that place? Like in the early days? I’ve heard he’s not seeing anyone.”
She laughed out loud. “He keeps asking for another chance, but I really don’t see the point. He wouldn’t even go to counseling since he was sofamous, and Rhode Island is so small. He didn’t want it getting out that our marriage might be in trouble—wouldn’t ‘play well’ with the voters, you know. Did I ever tell you he pressured me to take fertility drugs before I got pregnant with the boys? ‘Voters love cute little kids,’ he said. Apparently, more than one polls better than a single child.”
Her eyes rolled heavenward. “I was so busy doing what I was ‘supposed’ to do, I forgot to livemylife. You havenoidea what all I put up with over the years.”
“I have some idea,” I muttered then added, “He thinks you’re having a mid-life crisis, by the way.”
“I’m having mid-lifefun, and believe me, I deserve it. I was the ‘perfect’ wife and mother on and off camera for thirty years. I was an ‘asset’ to his political career. Unfortunately, that wasallI was to him.”
“I don’t think that’s true. I think he loved you in his own, admittedly flawed, way. I think he still does.”
“How do you know what he thinks, by the way?” she asked, suddenly suspicious. “I thought you two weren’t in communication.”
“He called me at work, and I picked up without realizing it was him.”
I paused a long time before adding, “He sounded really defeated. And sad. He seemed very concerned about you.”
Mom’s face hardened as she scooped up the pictures and dumped them back into the plastic bin. “Well, he should have thought aboutthatwhen he was acting like a horse’s ass all those years. I should throw these all away.”
She gave me the box. “Here—sort through and take out the ones you want to keep. I’m going to get rid of the rest.”
“Um… okay.” I took the box and slid off her bed. “You want to watch something? Or talk?”
“No.” She pulled back the comforter and got underneath. “I’m exhausted. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Turning over, she switched off the lamp on her bedside table.
“Good night.” I stepped into the hallway and closed her bedroom door but didn’t go to my own room right away.
I stood in the hall, wanting to go back in to her, wanting to tell her it wasn’t right to throw away your entire past, a lifetime of good memories because of a few bad ones. Even if theywerereally bad.
And then I heard the crying. It started low and escalated to muffled wails that ripped at my heart like exposed carpet tacks on bare feet.
And I was angry at Dad all over again. He still had so much power in her life. He hadn’t set foot in this house for months, yet he was here, hurting my mother still.
A charred ugliness sparked to new life and smoldered in the center of my chest. She was right. No one wouldeverhave that kind of power over me.
And that’s when I decided to do the interview with Reid.
In fact, Iwantedto do it—like I’d never wanted anything in my life. I would not let him determine whether I kept my job or not. He couldn’t run me out of my hometown or my home state.
And he couldn’t make me feel anything I didn’tallowmyself to feel.
I was a grown-up now. I was a professional, a strong, independent woman. And I was going to give Mr. Reid Mancini, billionaire web entrepreneur, his money’s worth.
He wanted an interview?
He would get one.
TEN
