to her drinks, I head up to the attic space to check on the movers. I have a few more boxes that I need to double-check before I take them. I don’t want Susan to claim that I’ve taken anything that she doesn’t approve of, because if I know her, it will just be another reason to cause me grief at this point.
My phone buzzes in my pocket and I reach for it as soon as I enter the attic space. Flicking down, I see an incoming text message alert. Sliding my thumb over the message, I grin at the sight of the picture that was sent to me.
It’s a picture of a house, or rather a bathroom in a house. I can’t help but chuckle. The tub is freestanding and there are marble countertops, a chandelier over the tub, and a walk-in doorless shower. It looks standard to me, but it must be something special to Tennessee, at least based by her caption.
TENNESSEE: This is amazing. It’s out of this world. I could LIVE in this bathroom.
Judging by the time and the schedule, this is house number two. I quickly begin to type out my text response.
WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE HOUSE?
TENNESSEE: Does the rest matter?
I bark out a short laugh, shaking my head as I respond. IF THIS IS THE WINNER, SEND ME A FEW MORE PICS AND THE LISTING.
TENNESSEE: I’m not sure yet. I have to weigh all of the options. This house is definitely better than the first.
BECAUSE OF THE BATHROOM?
TENNESSEE: That and the pool was really small. This is Texas. Also, the garage wasn’t finished and that’s just wrong. I’m not even going to tell you the condition of the oven, but you would think people trying to sell a house for this amount would clean it before someone came over.
“Who is making you smile like that?” Lucinda’s voice rings from beside me.
Sending Tennessee a quick text back, I clear my throat as I lift my gaze and turn to look over at her. She’s not close enough to have read my texts, not that it matters, there wasn’t anything said in them anyway. But she’s watching me suspiciously, no doubt having already talked with Lawrence before coming here.
“My assistant is looking at property for me today. I had intended on going myself, but your mother wanted my things gone today and only today.”
Lucinda is quiet for a moment, her eyes focused on me and nowhere else. I have no doubt that she’s trying to read me, she’ll probably figure me out, but I’m not sure that I care too much. I like Tennessee, even though nothing will happen between us, that doesn’t change the way that I feel about her or the way that just her presence makes me feel.
“Assistant. Yes, Laurent told me about a new assistant. Lawrence told me not to dig into it too much. I am curious,” she murmurs.
“There’s nothing to be curious about.”
She snorts, then straightens her shoulders. “You’ve officially filed for divorce, leaving Mother with a stigma in her circle. You’re hiring pretty young assistants. Frankly, you’re too old to even go through a midlife crisis, Dad. So please stop before you make a fool of yourself.”
I could tell my daughter a plethora of things, one of them to shut her mouth or I’ll take the access to her monthly trust fund interest away from her. I don’t. Instead, I tilt my head to the side and watch her for a moment.
“Why are you really upset? It doesn’t have to do with your mother or her status, so explain.”
She looks down to her feet, then slowly lifts her gaze up to meet my own. “It doesn’t matter,” she whispers. “Just don’t make me look like a fucking fool.”
I watch as she turns around and stomps off. For twenty-five, she is not showing me the maturity that I wish she would. I blame myself, not only is she my only daughter, she’s my youngest child and I have spoiled her.
Without a doubt, I have done her a disservice in many ways. I shouldn’t let her talk to me that way, but her tensions are high. She never expected this to happen and the thought of me actually moving on is probably upsetting. Even if it’s not what she thinks—well, not completely anyway.
Chapter Twelve
TENNESSEE
Well then. That was probably the most fun and disappointed I’ve ever been in my entire life. Fun, because looking at fancy houses is probably my