“But obviously she didn’t come here, and I don’t think she finished college, right?”
“She did not because your father thought if she couldn’t afford it herself, she shouldn’t have an education. He told me I could give her everything I had in my account, but after we were married, she was on her own.” She could still remember how trapped she’d felt. It had been that moment that she’d realized her happily ever after wasn’t going to be as promised.
“That sounds like dear old dad.”
“I had to choose between being a single mother and taking care of my sister, and I couldn’t do it.” Her heart still ached with that choice. “My sister didn’t even blink. She told me to follow my heart and not to worry about her.”
“Mom, he was wrong to force you to choose.”
“But the choice was mine.” She reached for a tissue. The tears that always seemed close now were an annoying side effect of all this self-reflection. “I didn’t follow my heart. I followed my fear. I don’t want to do that again. For four years Seraphina has been a face for all my troubles, and the idea that Harry could fall into the same trap as Wes frightens me.”
“I don’t think she was trying to set a trap. I know you think she’s some kind of gold digger.”
Celeste waved that off. “I don’t anymore. A gold digger tends to know how to dress and present herself. And I offered up you. You’re a much better catch since Harry doesn’t actually have any money of his own, and he has terrible taste in everything from cars to that beer he drinks.”
Cal’s face lit up and he looked younger. This wasn’t his usual arrogant smirk. It was a beaming smile. “You offered me up?”
It was good to know she could surprise him from time to time. “Absolutely, my darling boy. She turned you down flat and then drank some coffee from a fast-food place. And if that motel I found them in is any indication of her standards, well, I don’t have to worry about her looting the family coffers. Though I will have to direct her in how to dress for the wedding events.”
“You’re really letting Harry bring her? This isn’t some wild plan to humiliate her and force them apart?”
It was time to be honest. She was finding a crazy sort of freedom in being honest. So much of her life to this point had been about artifice and protecting the family name. But how could she come to a place of peace inside herself if she wasn’t ever honest about who she was? “I thought about it at first. I thought I’ll be the good guy in this situation and let it all blow apart. I’ll set her up to show her how she doesn’t belong.”
“That sounds more like the mother I know.”
It was a fair assessment, but he was forgetting about something. “But if Sera doesn’t belong because she wasn’t raised wealthy, then Harry doesn’t belong, either. Then everything your father and grandmother said about my sister was right.”
Cal stared at her for a long moment. “You’re doing this for Harry.”
“I think I might be doing this for me.” It had taken days to admit it. Or maybe it had been the sassy e-mails Sera had sent back. She’d been surprised that she hadn’t taken offense. Instead, she’d enjoyed sparring with the younger woman. “I’ve spent most of my adult life following a bunch of rules your grandmother laid down. I’ve started to wonder why I keep doing it even though she’s gone. Is this still her family?”
Cal put his hands on her desk and his eyes had softened. “No, Mom. It’s yours now. You get to do what you want. But don’t forget that I have a life, too. So does Angie. The times have changed. So should the Beaumont family.”
“But I’m still not letting Sera wear that hideous jumpsuit. And you’re going to have to hold her down so I can get her in a proper pair of shoes.” There would be no flats at the wedding. Some things would never change as long as she had breath in her body.
“See, you are trying to scare her away,” Cal said, but there was a grin on his face.
“Well, she’s not going to show up in flip-flops. Silly girl.”
“You like her.”
“I am amused by her. We’ll have to see if that amusement translates to charming dinner banter,” she allowed. “I’m supposed to meet her in an hour at Claudine’s. And don’t look at me that way. I called ahead and told them to expect my nephew’s girlfriend. I know how snobby those clerks can be. I asked Patrice to meet her.”
“Thank you. I don’t think Harry understands what you’ve done for him,” Cal said solemnly. “But Angie and I do. We appreciate that you’re willing to keep an open mind. Speaking of open minds, I have a problem with the accounting this month and I’m not sure how to handle it.”