Page 35 of Crazy In Love
Jacoby laughed. “‘Handouts’? I mean, she’s doing this all on her own. You own the newspaper. It’s a family business. It’s far from a handout to let her advertise a little in there. I mean, she gave up her dream so she could run the flower shop for this family. I think you could throw the girl a bone and let her run an ad for free until she gets on her feet.”
Go, Jacoby!
I’d forgotten what it felt like to have someone on my side. It had been a while. He didn’t come home often. Gram would stick up for me at times, but she always backed down when my mom got upset.
Which was all the time.
Shana’s eyes were wide as she looked up at me.
My mother startled at his words, then set her fork down and blew out a long breath.
“She gave up her dream?” Mom scoffed. “Please. She had no plan. We handed her that business to give her a purpose.”
Now it was my turn to drop my fork. “Are you for real? I had a plan and you know it. I’d been offered a position at the design firm where I’d interned. And you didn’t hand me anything. You both begged me to come back and do this after Gram got sick. Do not offend me by saying you needed to give me a purpose. I’ve always had a plan and a purpose. You actually derailed me, if you want to be honest with one another.”
“I told you to sell the flower shop,” Gram hissed at my mother. “You insisted she wanted to do this.”
“All right, let’s all settle down,” Dad said, trying to keep the peace, per usual. “If Jacoby thinks it’s a good idea to allow you to run a free ad in the newspaper, then Mom and I will talk it over and reconsider charging you.”
If Jacoby thinks it’s a good idea.
My brother looked up, his gaze locking with mine. My heart pounded in my chest as I tucked my lips between my teeth to tamper my anger down.
“Why does it matter what Jacoby thinks?” I asked, knitting my brow as I looked between my parents. “Why wouldn’t you ask what I think?”
A chuckle left my mother’s mouth. It was disingenuous, as always. “Jacoby is a lawyer, Emilia. Of course we would take advice from him.”
Shana’s face fell, as if she couldn’t believe the words coming from my mother’s mouth. I wasn’t remotely surprised, because it had always been this way.
“That’s ridiculous,” my brother said. “Emilia is brilliant, and I wish I had half of her creativity. She’s taken the family business and completely turned it around, which frankly benefits you more than her, seeing as she’s on salary.”
Jacoby did the books for both the flower shop and the newspaper. My mother would never trust me to do the books, and she’d made that clear.
“No one is doubting that Emilia is creative. She’s our sweet daydreamer,” Dad said, and I had to fight not to roll my eyes right here at the table. If I had a nickel for every time he made that comment in the most condescending way, I’d be a very wealthy woman.
“Dad.” I cleared my throat, looking directly into his dark brown eyes. “Being creative does not make someone a daydreamer. You can be creative and run a successful business all at the same time.”
“Right. That’s what I meant.” He smiled.
I closed my eyes for a few beats, trying to figure out where to go from here. I wasn’t going to change their way of thinking here at the table, and this was getting more heated than I wanted it to. My brother and Shana were only home for a few days, and it was rare to have the whole family together.
This wasn’t the time or place.
“Okay. Let’s just table this conversation for now.” I reached for my water, since my appetite was suddenly not as ravenous as it was before the insults started flying. “We have Jacoby and Shana here, and we should enjoy this lovely meal.”
“Thank you,” my mother said. “We can revisit the price of the ads next week, if you’d like. I’m open to discussing it. But not during dinner.”
I nodded, but there was a thick lump in my throat now, and I desperately tried to shake it off.
“Emilia, did you make these floral arrangements?” Shana asked as she looked to the center of the table, where the three arrangements sat.
“Yes, I did.”
“You are so talented. And I’m looking forward to staying in your guest cottage tomorrow night. Jacoby said you have an eye, and that your home is spectacular.”
I’d purchased a little house with a guest cottage shortly after I graduated. I had a nice nest egg, as my grandparents had started a college account for my brother and me when we were young, and since I’d received an academic scholarship, I was able to use the money toward purchasing my first home. I’d then spent the last two years renovating the place and making it my own.
Jacoby and Shana would sleep at my parents’ house tonight, and then they’d come stay with me tomorrow night.
