Page 106 of The Duke Who Saved Christmas
“I realised that when we spoke the other day on the phone. I also realised I was missing everything. Danny’s growing up so fast, and if we want another baby…”
“There’s no—” I stopped.
Shit.
She didn’t know that Beth was pregnant yet.
I’d forgotten that.
“What?”
I blinked as if I’d forgotten. “Sorry. Lost my train of thought. Carry on.”
She waved her hand through the air as if brushing my words away. “I just can’t do it anymore, Tom. I’m not happy. I’m miserable. I miss everyone. I miss Castleton. Earning as much money as I was seems futile now.”
“Why did the money matter? If you were somehow struggling, you know you could ask.”
“I wanted to buy us a house. With money I’d earnt,” Zara said softly. “Not your money, not the estate’s money. You already did enough by helping Beth open the shop.”
Ah.
“Is that worth missing out on time with your family?” I asked, raising my eyebrows. “I understand where you’re coming from, but Dad left you enough money to buy ten houses.”
“I didn’t want to use it.”
“Why? Nobody else has an issue with using inheritance to buy a house or pay off a mortgage. Why should you be any different?”
“It just feels wrong.”
“Then buy a house and donate the same amount of money to charity if it makes you feel better.” I sipped my tea. “This is a very first world problem, Zara. I know you like creating entire mountain ranges out of molehills, but this is a bit daft, don’t you think? Besides, it’s not like there’s a rush for you to move out. Nobody is kicking you out of here.”
“Like you’re going to want your sister and her family around when you get married.”
I held up one finger. “One, I’m single. I’m nowhere near getting married.” I added a second. “Two, this house is far too big for just me and Mum. And three,” I said, holding up a finger. “It’s almost time for the school run.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“Since you’re here, you can save me a job and walk into town to pick your son up from school. I’ll call and let them know you’re coming today,” I said. “And while you’re walking, you can think about how you’re going to come back and beg your brother for a job.”
“I’m not going to beg you.”
“Then I’m not going to give you one.”
“Dad always promised that there would be a job for me with the estate.”
“Well, I’m not Dad. And any intention I had of honouring that promise died when you pissed me off and ran away. I might have a job for you, but you’re going to need to show me you’re sticking around first.” I opened my document again, taking my focus back to my work. “At the very least, you can start doing Beth’s Christmas deliveries to help her out while you get back on everyone’s good side.”
Zara sighed as she stood up. “I don’t know why I ever expected any sympathy out of you.”
“Neither do I,” I said, reaching for my phone. “You haven’t forgotten the way to the school, have you?”
She thumped me in the shoulder as she walked past. “There’s a reason you’re single.”
“There might be a reason I’m single, but Zara? You’re lucky you’re not.” I dialled the school’s number as I glared at her. “Now get out of my office.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO – THOMAS
ME: What are you doing?
