Page 149 of Love ad Lib
‘What do you mean, he “let” Mom? It was her money.’
‘Yes, it was, but she didn’t pay for me when I asked her to go to the Royal High.’
He sat back, his head pounding. ‘You asked her to pay for you to go to private school?’
‘Yep.’
‘I had no idea.’
‘I know.’
‘What about Connor? Leo? Willow?’
Her laugh was hollow. ‘Connor didn’t bother after it didn’t work for me. Leo and Willow were the same. And it wasn’t like Mammy had any money.’
‘Fuck. Estelle, I’m so sorry.’
‘It’s not your fault.’
‘But if I’d have known, maybe I could have—’
‘Changed Dad’s mind? Maybe, but unlikely. If Mom couldn’t change his mind, I doubt a thirteen year old could have. I was so mad at the time, but I just sucked it up and got on with it.’
‘I’m so sorry.’
She shrugged. ‘What’s done is done, but now we need you back in Somerset. Look, I know Libby complicates things, but maybe Winterblossom Press can let her work remotely for at least part of the week? And if that doesn’t work, there are several publishing companies in Bath she could approach.’
He didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t ask Libby to give up her whole world in London for him. And was he ready to throw awayhislife just when he’d finally got it how he wanted?
‘Henry,’ Estelle began. ‘One day, Foxbrooke is going to be yours whether you like it or not, and at this rate the only thing left of our family home will be a conference centre or an old peoples’ home. Neither of which you would own. You need to make a decision. Come home, or accept the consequences.’
30
Footsteps sounded on the stairs and Libby caught Brandon’s eye with a frown. An early punter must have ignored the rope across the stairwell. She put down the chair she was carrying and straightened with a smile.
The smile froze as Lucas appeared.
Her heart ran double time. He wouldn’t accept that she had no more money to give, so she’d stopped answering his texts altogether. Despite the summer heat, she shivered.
‘Sorry, Brandon, this is a friend of mine. I’m just going to have a quick chat with him, okay?’
Brandon looked uncertainly between her and Lucas. ‘Yeah… Yeah, sure. I’ll be over there, warming up.’
Libby started across the room to the window, wishing Henry were here rather than across town with Estelle.
Lucas followed. As they faced each other, she crossed her arms.
‘Oh, Lib-Lob, don’t be like that.’ He gave her a hug.
She tensed. Everything about him now felt off.
‘Lucas,’ she said as he disengaged. ‘I’ve told you, I don’t have any more money. I can’t magic it out of thin air.’
He ran his hands through his lank hair. She used to think the move was sexy. Now it made her shudder.
‘Lib-Lob, for someone who does improv for a living, you’re not very creative.’
What the fuck?
