Page 10 of Bound By Love

“You guys, calm down. I have a large savings account and investments. I won’t be broke. I promise.”

“How much do you have?” Tate asked.

Miranda stayed silent.

“Sweets, how much?”

“Half a million.”

The room fell silent. Miranda sure had a knack for astounding us.

“How?” Lily asked in disbelief.

“Will pays all of our living expenses. And…” She chewed on her lip. “He’s deposited money into my bank account every month since I moved in.” She shrugged, exhaling a long breath. “I haven’t needed to spend any of my own money, so I’m more than okay financially.”

“And you never thought to tell me?” Lily asked, clearly offended.

“I was too embarrassed to say anything.”

“I think Will’s generosity shows what a good man he is,” I noted aloud, putting my two pence into the mix.

“Oh sure, take his side!” Tate huffed. “Agoodman doesn’t cheat on his girlfriend. Giving her money is nothing. It’s like setting her up to be his mistress.”

Gasps echoed in the room.

“Don’t be a jerk!” Miranda crossed her arms over her chest. “Will is generous, and he wanted to take care of me because he loved me, not to make me his mistress, you asshole! Are you guys going to take my offer or what?”

Lily looked at Tate. His gaze darted to me, then he nodded at Lily.

“Okay, we agree to your stipulations.”

By Monday afternoon, the lawyers had prepared new documents and the business was taken care of. Miranda was now a silent owner.

That morning, Tate sold her BMW for a very nice profit. He took half the money to purchase Miranda a used car. I about wet my pants from giggling so hard when she stuffed the remaining cash into her treasured Kate Spade black-and-white polka-dot handbag.

“Kate will protect it,” she had said, then glanced up at the heavens in remembrance. Today, Miranda was more levelheaded and less emotional, but the plan hadn’t changed. Neither had my feelings about it.

“What do you think?” Tate asked, grinning at the car he had bought Miranda.

“It’s... nice. Red is a pretty color,” Miranda replied, with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Come on, a Subaru Outback is a very reliable car. It’s not as luxurious as your former Beamer, but it’ll be a good family car. You’ll need all-wheel drive in the snow.”

“I’ve never driven in snow before,” Miranda admitted, her blue eyes full of concern.

“All the more reason to have an Outback.” Tate proudly admired the vehicle, nodding. “I checked it out. They’re one of the top-selling cars in the Spokane area. You’ll do fine, sweets.”

“I for one can’t believe you found a job in one day.” Tate had told me last night that the speed at which everything was coming together was proof it was meant to be. Maybe he was right.

“I know. I was shocked to get a call an hour after I submitted my application. Truthfully, I’m a little nervous about managing a small bridal boutique. It wasn’t my first choice, but knowing the wedding industry should help. Plus, with the baby, I need something with regular hours so I can navigate motherhood. My most important event ever.”

Miranda’s face lit up, a first since Will had left.

I was glad she had calmed down and found it within herself to move forward, even though I didn’t care for the plan at all.

The last issue to be dealt with was Miranda’s name. If Will decided he wanted to find her, it wouldn’t take him long with his money and resources. It was what had driven Miranda to change her name toAnna Gordon.Anna, after her favorite babysitter from when she was a little girl, and Gordon was her mother’s maiden name.

Changing names, cashing out her accounts, and transferring what I felt was an obscene amount of money into a new account under Lily’s name put an uneasy feeling in my stomach. I watched in awe as the three completed the tasks with purpose and determination, while I remained doubtful any of this was necessary.

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