The Relationship Pact(10)

I know it’s all because it was something new and exciting. That and Hollis is downright gorgeous. But even with that in mind, it was impossible to set him aside mentally and get things back in regular working order.

“I just had cosmetics delivered, and they pack the tiny boxes in boatloads of paper. You could fill a full-sized boat with this stuff. It’s such a waste.”

“So, stop shopping at those stores. Or may I suggest that you drive to the mall, walk inside, and buy your stuff yourself instead of shopping online?”

She gasps.

“I know. My bad. Forget I ever went there,” I tease.

“You better hope I do if you want to stay in my will,” she says, distracted. Finally, the crumpling stops. “There. Done. Now, what are you doing today?”

“Driving to Aunt Siggy’s.”

“What are you going to do over there?” she asks.

“She wanted me to come by and help her choose a few things for the New Year’s Party. They’re behind schedule, and you know how much she hates that.”

I make a right-hand turn onto a tree-lined street. It’s one of my favorite streets in Savannah. Large southern oaks stand guard at equidistant intervals, their branches heavy with spectacular doses of moss. The late morning sunlight streams through like the effect of a filter, creating the most beautiful and soothing environment.

My dad’s brother, my uncle Rodney, and his wife, Aunt Siggy, have lived here my entire life. I used to beg my mom to let me come to play on the weekends and every day in the summer. Not only was their youngest son, Boone, my buddy, but their next-door neighbor was Bellamy.

It was the perfect situation. Lucky for me, Mom and Siggy maintained their friendship after Mom and Dad divorced when I was eight.

“I bet she’s not behind for long,” Mom laughs, knowing exactly how her former sister-in-law operates.

“I bet not either.”

“When does her new line launch?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe around Valentine’s Day, I think?”

I glance down at the delicate gold rope ring wrapped around my pointer finger. It has chips of sapphires and rubies, my two favorite gemstones. Aunt Siggy had it made especially for me on my twenty-first birthday.

It doesn’t suck to have an aunt that’s a jewelry designer. It definitely doesn’t suck to have one that has five sons and one niece. Me.

“It’s going to be great though,” I say. “I’ve seen a few pieces and they’re incredible. She went super feminine with this collection. Rose gold. Lots of sparkle.”

“She’ll kill it. She always does.”

“Yeah.”

“So, I’ll see you tomorrow night then?” All of a sudden, her voice gets louder again, and I know I’m back on speakerphone. “The fundraiser starts at eight, but Jack wants to be there at seven. You could show up around seven-thirty, if you want.”

My stomach twists into a tight knot.

Most people look forward to the week between Christmas and the New Year. It’s filled with family, food, and free time to vacation or just hang out at home and read.

But me? Nope. It’s one of the busiest weeks of my life.

The week between the holidays is always crammed with end-of-the-year engagements that I’m somehow obligated to attend. I don’t mind them, usually. Jack’s sports events are always fun and full of a ton of eye candy. My father’s side of the family has get-togethers and dinners and is way more intimate and familial. But this year? This year, I’m not feeling it. This year, something feels off and I’d rather stay at home with hot cocoa and Hallmark.

“Do I have a choice?” I ask my mom.

“Is that a serious question?”

“I don’t know. Was yours?”

I can almost hear her eyes roll. “Larissa,” she says with an exhaustion that is more dramatic than necessary. “You act like it’s not a terrific opportunity for you to come and rub shoulders with these people.”

“Did you hear that?”

“What?”

“The sound of my eyes rolling into the back of my head,” I say.

It’s a joke that the audience didn’t appreciate.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she huffs.

I sigh. “That means that you are obligated to attend these things. You’re Jack’s wife. It’s his schtick. I’m his stepdaughter—”

“There are no steps in our family, Larissa.”

I regrip the wheel and say a silent prayer for guidance.

“Has it ever occurred to you that being invited to these things is an opportunity that many people your age would kill to have? These are your future clients, Larissa. These are the people with giant checkbooks that will want their summer homes and expansive landscapes refreshed and beautified. They’ll be looking for a landscape architect and having your name on the tip of their tongue once you graduate in May is how you network. Use this to your advantage, darling.”

“I’m going to have years to build a business. I might not even want to have my business in Savannah,” I say, although that’s not true. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. “I might not want to work on residences and estates.”

“You’re being difficult.”

Learned from the best.