about what we were discussing earlier?"
"Sure," she said. "What do you want to know?"
"You said, growing up…there wasn't a lot of money. So what changed?"
She chuckled a little. "You won't believe me when I tell you. Dad hit it big at the casino. I mean, really big. I still think he was trying his damnedest to gamble away everything he had…mom had just passed, and in spite of everything I guess he just didn't know what to do without her. But instead of losing, he won the biggest jackpot they'd ever had. His picture's still on the wall, if you go there - a sad sack in flannel and overalls, just holding up this novelty sized check like it's a death sentence. After that, he turned everything around. He could have squandered it all, but instead he went downtown and handed a pile of cash to a financial planner. I never knew him to be like that - but I guess something about having all that money just scared him." She let out a long breath. "A few good investments later, we found ourselves moving into a nicer house in a much better neighborhood, and suddenly we weren't hoping and praying for scholarships and applying for tiny scraps of federal aid anymore. We could go to any college we wanted. After all these years, I still think back on that time and how strange it was. It was like a waking dream. You know?"
I did know. I knew all too well.
"Wow," I said.
"Wow is right." She stood up. "I'm guessing you're more than a little bit familiar with the feeling, though."
"Yeah," I said. "Going from all my credit cards maxed out and bills overdue, to this…"
Speaking of which, my credit cards were still maxed out, and quite a few of my bills remained overdue. I'd been so busy focusing on adjusting to my new life that I had completely forgotten to ask Daniel about the possibility of taking care of a few of my immediate financial needs. I should probably get on that.
"I know," she said, resting a hand on my shoulder. "It'll feel strange at first, but eventually you'll adjust to it. And you don't have to become one of those obnoxious Old Money-type people who wear skirt suits to the country club and yell at their cleaning ladies. Just keep your head on straight, you'll be fine."
I smiled at the mental image. "Thanks," I said. "But can I at least get a little dog to carry around with me?"
"Whatever you like, hon." She grinned. "The world' s your oyster now."
Chapter Nine
Ray had to get back to work, so all four of us visited the art gallery on Monday morning, and then we bid them goodbye. Lindsey had been right - it was gorgeous, with a massive hall of historical sculptures and statues that they recommended for the ceremony. They were surprised when Daniel said he wanted to book it "as soon as possible," but they were able to get us a date in a month. He put down a deposit, but he wouldn't let me look at the full quote.
Lindsey left me with pages and pages of notes. Daniel had already put Emma on the task of finding me a dress, and I'd picked a bakery whose cake was both beautiful and edible. Even with all of the preparations that were underway, the whole thing still didn't quite feel like real life. But I was sure I would adjust to it. Eventually.
I put in my last day of work on Friday, and Daniel asked me over lunch if I wanted him to hire a moving service. As usual, he was ten steps ahead. In the flurry of wedding preparations, I forgot that I'd also be expected to move in with him immediately afterwards.
"No, I'm fine," I said. "I don't really like strangers touching my stuff."
"At least let me come over and help you pack." He sounded genuinely concerned.
"All right, sure. Thanks." He wasn't a stranger, after all. He was my fiancé. A thought occurred to me. "Hey, are we like…going to go on a honeymoon, or something?"
The corner of his mouth quirked up into a secretive smile. "Just leave that to me," he said.
-
Between shoving all of my worldly belongings into boxes and returning vendors' phone calls,
"Sure," she said. "What do you want to know?"
"You said, growing up…there wasn't a lot of money. So what changed?"
She chuckled a little. "You won't believe me when I tell you. Dad hit it big at the casino. I mean, really big. I still think he was trying his damnedest to gamble away everything he had…mom had just passed, and in spite of everything I guess he just didn't know what to do without her. But instead of losing, he won the biggest jackpot they'd ever had. His picture's still on the wall, if you go there - a sad sack in flannel and overalls, just holding up this novelty sized check like it's a death sentence. After that, he turned everything around. He could have squandered it all, but instead he went downtown and handed a pile of cash to a financial planner. I never knew him to be like that - but I guess something about having all that money just scared him." She let out a long breath. "A few good investments later, we found ourselves moving into a nicer house in a much better neighborhood, and suddenly we weren't hoping and praying for scholarships and applying for tiny scraps of federal aid anymore. We could go to any college we wanted. After all these years, I still think back on that time and how strange it was. It was like a waking dream. You know?"
I did know. I knew all too well.
"Wow," I said.
"Wow is right." She stood up. "I'm guessing you're more than a little bit familiar with the feeling, though."
"Yeah," I said. "Going from all my credit cards maxed out and bills overdue, to this…"
Speaking of which, my credit cards were still maxed out, and quite a few of my bills remained overdue. I'd been so busy focusing on adjusting to my new life that I had completely forgotten to ask Daniel about the possibility of taking care of a few of my immediate financial needs. I should probably get on that.
"I know," she said, resting a hand on my shoulder. "It'll feel strange at first, but eventually you'll adjust to it. And you don't have to become one of those obnoxious Old Money-type people who wear skirt suits to the country club and yell at their cleaning ladies. Just keep your head on straight, you'll be fine."
I smiled at the mental image. "Thanks," I said. "But can I at least get a little dog to carry around with me?"
"Whatever you like, hon." She grinned. "The world' s your oyster now."
Chapter Nine
Ray had to get back to work, so all four of us visited the art gallery on Monday morning, and then we bid them goodbye. Lindsey had been right - it was gorgeous, with a massive hall of historical sculptures and statues that they recommended for the ceremony. They were surprised when Daniel said he wanted to book it "as soon as possible," but they were able to get us a date in a month. He put down a deposit, but he wouldn't let me look at the full quote.
Lindsey left me with pages and pages of notes. Daniel had already put Emma on the task of finding me a dress, and I'd picked a bakery whose cake was both beautiful and edible. Even with all of the preparations that were underway, the whole thing still didn't quite feel like real life. But I was sure I would adjust to it. Eventually.
I put in my last day of work on Friday, and Daniel asked me over lunch if I wanted him to hire a moving service. As usual, he was ten steps ahead. In the flurry of wedding preparations, I forgot that I'd also be expected to move in with him immediately afterwards.
"No, I'm fine," I said. "I don't really like strangers touching my stuff."
"At least let me come over and help you pack." He sounded genuinely concerned.
"All right, sure. Thanks." He wasn't a stranger, after all. He was my fiancé. A thought occurred to me. "Hey, are we like…going to go on a honeymoon, or something?"
The corner of his mouth quirked up into a secretive smile. "Just leave that to me," he said.
-
Between shoving all of my worldly belongings into boxes and returning vendors' phone calls,
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