“You were embarrassed for your own actions. I didn’t raise you to behave like that. Christ, Skylar, he’s more than a decade older than you!”
She jumped to her feet. “So what? Pop’s older than Gran, and Uncle Alec is way older than Aunt Sheilagh. Age is just a number.”
“Well, you’re behaving like a child—”
“That’s enough!” Gran shrilled. “I don’t understand why you two can’t speak to each other with more respect. This is nonsense. Anthony, she’s a grown woman. If she wants to sample every man in town, your overprotective opinions can’t stop her. You have to accept that she’s grown up. You would never treat Frankie the way you’re treating her. And while that sort of double standard might fly with your Marcelli side of the family, it doesn’t fly with ours.” She turned her stare to Skylar’s mother. “Katherine, you’ve been awfully quiet.”
Her mom looked at Skylar and it wasn’t quite disappointment in her eyes but something else. “I think you’re too young to get tied down in a relationship right now. You have so much ahead of you, Skylar. This man—”
“Rhett.”
“Fine. Rhett has a child. You’re young. You need your freedom.”
She scoffed at the irony. “Mom, what freedom did I have? I’m always taking care of James or Ciera. I couldn’t even go away to school because of Dad’s work schedule. I have never had the autonomy Frankie or even Hannah has.”
“I think you should go away to school and finish your degree.”
Skylar gaped, her hands spreading wide. “With what money?”
“You could get loans.”
It was a pipe dream. She heard her parents arguing about finances. They had remortgaged the house to help cover her dad’s research expenses while he waited for the grant to come in. They weren’t poor, but there were eight of them. It was a lot.
Her grandmother folded her hands and looked at her. “What do you want to do, Skylar?”
“I…don’t know.” She liked watching Addison, but she didn’t know if she could go back there. No matter what she chose, the governess gig would only be until Addison started kindergarten, so it wasn’t a permanent solution.
“Here’s what’s going to happen.” Gran reached into her bra and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “I have here, a check for ten thousand dollars. It’s made out to Skylar.” Both her parents gawked at the amount, but Gran ignored them. “I’m going to leave it up to Skylar, how she spends it.”
“What?” Her brain still wasn’t caffeinated enough. It sounded like… “I’m sorry. Did you say ten thousand dollars?”
Gran smiled. “You can either use it for tuition or invest it in property somewhere or use it to start a business. It’s your decision.”
“Mom, she can’t accept that—”
“It’s not your decision, Katherine. This is a gift between me and my granddaughter.”
“Maureen, how can you do that?” Her father’s disapproving scowl hit like another betrayal. “It’s not fair to the other grandchildren.”
“You let me worry about them, Anthony. Focus on your own problems for now.” She unfolded the check and slid it across the table. “It’s yours, Skylar. Use it wisely.”
Skylar stared down at the check, afraid to accept such a sum. “I could pay you back—”
“It’s not a loan. It’s a gift. Nonrefundable, I’m afraid. As it turns out, we’re only allowed to give a little over that amount each year. I spoke to the accountant and he says we can claim it on our taxes as a gift.” She grinned. “This year, you’re the lucky grandchild. Merry Christmas.”
Skylar’s eyes flooded with tears. She could do so much with that money. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Thank you will work.”
Her voice lodged behind a lump in her throat. “Thank you.”
“Then I think we’re finished here.”
Her parents pushed up from the table, seeming more irritated than they had been when this started, and her dad walked out of the house. If gratitude was a balloon, his disapproval just punctured it, and Skylar’s heart sank to the ground.
She stood and followed him. She had some things to say that might break her grandmother’s rules, so it was best if she said her words outside.
She let the screen door slam behind her. “I’m not sorry for what I did.” The statement burst from her, and she shook in the wake of such truth.
Her father pivoted, already in the driveway, and scowled at her. “Skylar, go back inside.”
“No.” She marched down the stairs, stalking him. “Why do the men in your family think they always know what’s best for the women? This is why your sisters never got married. Grandpa was so overbearing and controlling, he never let anyone get close to his girls. Well, I want to be close to people, Dad. I like having someone pay attention to me.”
“Then find someone your age.”
“What does age have to do with anything? If Rhett and I share a connection, you should be happy for me! Don’t you want me to be happy?”