“Reminds me of a woman I made the mistake of letting go a few years back. Much like you, I was trying to do right by family and ended up losing her. Biggest loss of my life. I hope you and Miranda figure it out and find a way to be together.”
“Thank you. I wanted to come and tell you in person that I wronged Miranda, that she’s a dedicated, talented, honest woman, and that your money, if you decide to invest in her, will be safe. After the dust clears from Pinnacle’s financial issues and I’m liquid again, I’d like to invest as well, though I don’t think she’ll even talk to me, let alone take my money.”
Roman stood, walked over to a desk, and returned with a packet of papers. “When you grovel, give her this. She may reconsider.”
Jack huffed a laugh at the grovel comment, took the papers, and found a check made out to Miranda for half a million dollars attached to a contract.
“Have her sign the contract and send it back,” Roman said. “Then have her cash that check and start doing more of what she’s doing at Warrior Homes. This time for a profit.”
Jack’s spirits lifted. “Wow, this is amazing.” He stood and offered his hand to Roman. “You won’t regret this. I promise.”
Roman took Jack’s hand with a smile and a nod. “Go get your girl back.”
31
Miranda had stayed away one more night to do as Marty had suggested, get her head right before she faced Gypsy again. Now, she to
ok a deep breath and stepped into her trailer.
Gypsy looked up from her laptop at the kitchen table. Her gaze was hopeful but reserved. “Hey.”
“Hey.” Miranda closed the door and tossed her duffel on the sofa where Gypsy had folded all the sheets and blankets and piled them in a corner. “Bet you liked having your own space for a few days.”
“Actually, I hated it.” She closed the lid of the laptop and rested her chin in her hand.
Miranda pulled out a chair and sat across from her sister. “Gypsy, I was so angry that day.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“I’d just lost my job, my guy, and been accused of stealing all at the same time.”
Her gaze was sympathetic. “I know.”
“But I really should have held my shit together better than I did.”
“You said some pretty hurtful things,” Gypsy said.
“I did. I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. Having the pregnancy sprung on me like that, having you lie about it, it was one hell of a trigger. I try so hard to leave the past in the past that when it clashes with the present, I don’t handle it well.”
“I didn’t know Mom lied about you to the men she was dating. That’s awful. I can’t imagine how unwanted you must have felt.” She took a breath and stared at her computer a moment before meeting Miranda’s gaze again. “I want this baby. It took me a few days to adjust to the idea, but when I did, I knew I wanted him or her. But I also know, from remembering what you went through trying to raise Dylan and me, that it would be hell trying to do it alone. I knew I needed your help, but I also wanted to share the joy of it with you. I was really just trying to close the distance between us before I told you. I hope you can eventually love this baby the way I already do.”
The thought made Miranda’s chest tight. “It’s been a long time since I was around babies, but maybe it will come back to me when this one is here.”
Gypsy smiled, and the sight settled Miranda’s nerves. “Between the two of us, I think this kid will do okay.”
Miranda laughed. “More like the four of us. Marty and Elaina are going to dote and spoil.”
“You still want me to live here?”
“More now than ever. And, if you have the money for materials, I’ve now got the time to build you and the baby a home.”
Miranda stood and Gypsy followed. They hugged. Relief, sweet and warm, flowed through Miranda. “This is going to be good, Gypsy. Really good.”
Gypsy nodded, and when she pulled away, there were happy tears in her eyes.
Miranda sighed, and her stomach unknotted. “Now, I’ve got to find Jack and straighten a few things out with him.”
Gypsy gave her arm a squeeze. “Good luck.”