Page 20 of Vow To The Devil

Talia's phone buzzes in her lap, Olive's name flashing on the screen. Talia bites her lip then makes an aggravated sound as she reads the message. I arch a brow, nodding at the phone.

"What's the news?" I ask.

She shakes her head and grimaces. "Aunt Minnie's gone back to the shop. The doctors told her to rest for another week, but she wouldn't listen.”

Talia grits my teeth, heat rising in her cheeks. "That stubborn old bat. I've given her everything—took care of her medical bills, offered to renovate her store, fund her retirement—but she won't be satisfied until she works herself into an early grave."

My knuckles tighten on the steering wheel. "For God's sake. I told her we'd take care of the shop and hire someone to run it for her. Why won't she listen?"

Talia sighs, the fight draining out of me. "She's always been independent, but... I just wish she'd accept our help for once."

I reach over to squeeze her hand. "We'll figure something out. Try not to worry—it's not good for the baby."

My touch seems to soothe her frayed nerves a bit. "I know you're right, but how can I not worry? Aunt Minnie raised me after my parents died, and now she's all alone. I won't rest until I've made sure she's safe and cared for, no matter how difficult she makes it. Family means everything, after all."

I give her hand a gentle squeeze. "I know. I can see how hard you're working to keep the boat steady."

Her lips twitch and she moans. "Thanks for listening to me complain."

The warmth in her gaze wraps around me like a blanket. Whatever challenges we face, we'll face them together. Aunt Minnie, the baby, all of it.

She leans her head against the window, watching the countryside fly by. I can tell that she's still puzzled over the situation, though.

After a few minutes of silence, I finally speak. "Maybe we should consider selling Minnie's store or hiring someone new to run it for her."

Talia shakes her head. "I don't know..." she sounds hesitant.

"It would take the burden off of you and Minnie," I suggest.

She nods slowly, still unsure of the idea. "But then where would she live? We can't just ship her away from everything she knows!" Her expression is filled with worry and concern.

I take a deep breath, searching for something more comforting to say. Then, an idea strikes me. "What if we offered to buy a house for Aunt Minnie nearby so that she could still be around familiar surroundings? We could have someone look after her while we go on about our lives."

Talia hesitates, torn between what's logical and what Aunt Minnie might want. "She's always been fiercely independent—relinquishing control of her store, even temporarily, would be difficult for her. I don't know. Aunt Minnie can be stubborn. I doubt she'd go for it."

"We have all the money in the world to fix this problem," I say. "Use it."

Talia bristles at my flippant tone. "This isn't one of your business deals that can be solved by throwing money at it. Aunt Minnie's happiness and well-being are at stake here. If you can't understand that, then just stay out of it."

"I'm trying to help," I protest. "You're the one who isn't being practical."

"And you're the one who doesn't understand that money doesn't fix everything!" Talia hisses. "How can I expect you to grasp the complexities of family and loyalty when you’ve never had to work for anything in your life?"

My jaw clenches, my eyes going icy.

"Sorry I tried to help. I'll stay out of it," I say, venom dripping from my tongue.

"Thank you." Talia gives her head a little shake and looks down at her phone, typing.

All the warmth and positive rapport that we spent building this morning has been wiped away, as quickly as a cat swipes away an offending insect from midair. I can feel the tension thick in the air, and I wonder if we'll ever be able to truly understand each other.

ChapterEleven

TALIA

Istare at the blank brick wall, a canvas of possibility. The early morning light casts shadows across its uneven surface as ideas swirl in my mind.

I can feel the tension between me and Dare lingering like an oppressive fog. I have to shake it off, bring my entire mind back to this mural. I take a deep breath to clear my head and focus on the task at hand. This blank wall is in need of some love and attention. I scrunch up my face, thinking that the left side could be the perfect place to start.

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