Page 65 of Red Mountain Burning
“I just hate bringing you and Jasper into this.”
“Don’t even think like that,” Margot said. “I am happily marryingyouandeverythingthat comes with you. We will get through this together.”
He glanced at her. “I told her I’d buy her a car if she’d just get a job. I think she has too much time to sit around and think.”
“How did she respond?”
“Nothing interests her.” He shook his head. “This is what money does to kids. I think her mom’s been spoiling her. Now she’s acting entitled. It’s exactly what Amber and I used to fight about.” He choked up. “I’m afraid I’ve screwed up so badly with her.”
Margot’s heart sank. Nestling next to him, she said, “You didn’t abandon her. Amber took Carly away. You had your own growing up to do. No one is perfect, Remi.”
His big chest heaved. “What do I do?”
It all came down to love, Margot thought. “The only thingwecan do. Be patient and loving. And lead by example.”
“I think she needs a job.”
“What she needs, Remi, is a reason to leave her room. A reason to smile. Let’s give her the space she needs to find it. Don’t worry about a job right now.”
He choked up again and dropped his head. The tears rolled down his cheeks, and he reached for them. “I’m desperate for another chance to be her father.”
“You’ll get there. I promise you.” Margot wondered what she could do, how she could be a better stepmother. For two weeks, she’d spritzed around in a ditzy fog, pretending like everything was just fine. How absurd that felt now.
She could hear her silly high-pitched voice. “Oh, Carly, good morning! So good to see you.” Or, “I know you didn’t mean to be a jerk, Carly. Would you like to go to lunch?”
Bottom line, Margot had turned into a pitiful bobblehead and wasn’t doing anything effective to help the situation.
