Page 4 of Last Call Lindy Hop
“You left me no choice. Don’t you know by now that I can tell when you’re hiding things?”
“Mom… I…”
“I’m thinking about coming out and staying with you for a couple weeks.”
I froze. “Wh-what about work?”
“I think your dad is capable of handling things for a bit.”
“Um… you remember what happened last time, don’t you?”
“Don’t remind me,” she grumbled.
I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see it. “Don’t risk it. Stay there. You know Kenzie is here.”
“Honey, you know you’re more important than the company. And I can fix whatever your dad fucks up… well… usually.”
I chuckled. I couldn’t help it. My dad was a disaster when it came to the family business, but he tried, so mom put up with it.
“I’m not worth that level of stress,” I replied.
Mom huffed. “Don’t say things like that. I’d sell the company tomorrow if it meant I could take away your pain.”
“But it makes you happy.”
“Yes, but you’re more important.”
“Mom…”
There was a beat of silence. I could hear in her voice that she was serious, but selling the company wouldn’t do anything. It couldn’t erase the past two years.
Money couldn’t buy happiness.
She sighed. “I called to let you know that your stipend will be in your account a few days early because of a bank holiday, but…”
“But?” I asked after a couple seconds wondering if she was going to cut me off or force me to start drawing from my trust.
“I’m going to put in an additional five hundred.”
“Why?” It was the opposite of what I’d expected, and I couldn’t hide my shock.
“You are to spend it having fun, and I’ll check in with Kenzie to make sure that actually happens.”
“What?”
“Yes,” Mom stated, seemingly having made up her mind. “And don’t spend it all on a single dinner or a night at the theater. I want you to get out and find some happiness.”
“Mom…” I sighed.
“And if you refuse, or Kenzie says you try to minimize what you do, then I’ll come out and spend time with you.”
“I don’t know if that’s actually a threat or not.”
“It will be when you have to listen to me wondering what your dad is doing to my company.”
“Oh, anything but that,” I groaned.
“You’d better make an effort to have fun then.”
