And here it comes, she thought glumly. “Someone at the club told me last week. I spoke to your father and told him he had to come clean. That you were going to find out, and it was better to hear it from him.”
“You knew!” Harlow sprang to her feet, glaring. “How could you not warn me? You’re my mother!”
Her daughter was about an inch taller than her, with the same long blond hair and athletic build. When Harlow had been younger, people had commented on how much they looked alike. Cord had joked that her genes alone had created their oldest—with no help from his.
Harlow’s hurt and anger were a tangible presence, a manifestation of her strength. Robyn focused on how good it was to see her daughter so strong and healthy. Years ago, while Harlow had been fighting leukemia, Robyn would have given anything to know her child would survive to adulthood.
Harlow took two steps away, then swung back. “Everyone knew but me?”
“I told you what happened,” Robyn said calmly. “I spoke with your father. He agreed to tell you himself. As he’s the one who created the problem, he should be the one to fix it. I didn’t want to get in the middle.”
“That’s not fair.”
Robyn really wasn’t in the mood for this. “I find it interesting that you complain I don’t treat you like the adult you claim to be, yet whenever something doesn’t go your way, you get in a snit. So, which is it? Do you want to be treated like an adult or like a child? It’s hard to tell from your actions.”
Harlow glared at her. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“I can’t believe how you’re yelling at me for something that isn’t my fault.”
They stared at each other. Harlow blinked first and resumed her seat on the sofa.
“You’re being difficult,” Harlow muttered.
“So are you.” Robyn told herself to be the bigger person. “I know this is hard for you. Your father’s relationships don’t last long. I’m sure they’ll have ended things by the wedding.”
“The wedding you don’t want me to have.”
Robyn felt her self-control beginning to fray. “Could we please have a pleasant conversation without you sniping at me?”
Her daughter flushed slightly. “You don’t want me to marry Kip. Why is that sniping?”
“You know why. Harlow, I’ve had a few very bad days. I can’t deal with much more. Can we table this until later?”
“Of course,” her daughter said stiffly. “I’m sorry I bothered you with something so insignificant. It’s only my life.”
“It’s my life, too,” Robyn snapped. “Not everything is about you. For once could you please give me a break? Just this one time. It’s been twenty-two years of making everything about yourself, so maybe I’m due for a small amount of consideration.”
Harlow’s eyes widened. “You’re saying I’m selfish?”
“You tend to see things from your point of view and no other.”
“That’s not true. I don’t do that. Give me one example.”
“Seriously? Sure. Me keeping the house for the wedding.”
“But we talked about it. You promised I could be married here.”
“I never promised you anything like that,” Robyn told her. “Yes, we talked about it, and I’m sorry you have your heart set on it, but there is no way I can keep this house.”
Tears filled her daughter’s eyes. “Why are you saying that? It’s not true.”
Robyn didn’t want to get into a discussion of her bad decision-making over the past four years, but there was no way to avoid a few ugly facts.
“I’d have to buy out your father to keep the house. That means getting a new mortgage.”
“So?”
“I won’t qualify for one. I don’t have enough income or assets.”
Harlow brushed the tears from her cheeks. “Then why didn’t you plan better?” She stood and grabbed her purse. “You could keep it if you really wanted. You’re not even trying. You’ve never wanted me to marry Kip, and now you’re doing your best to ruin my wedding.”
Robyn rose, knowing it was better to be standing as she faced the attack. “Amazingly enough, this isn’t about you. I can’t keep the house because I can’t afford it. No bank will give me a loan, so unless you have two million dollars lying around, the house has to be sold. I don’t have a choice. Do those words mean anything to you? Do you understand what I’m saying? Or can’t you think of anyone but yourself?”
“This isn’t fair, and you’re being awful on purpose.” More tears spilled down her cheeks. “Fine. Forget it. We’ll get married at the club. Sell the house. Move away. I don’t care what you do. Don’t even bother coming to my wedding.”
With that she ran out of the house, slamming the front door.
Robyn stood alone in the living room, absorbing the sharp pain of her heart cracking in two. She and Harlow had fought before, but her daughter had never been so uncaring and mean. She knew the words were spoken in anger, but for once, she wasn’t going to make excuses. Harlow was selfish and entitled. She had been for a while now.
“I’m the mother, so it’s probably my fault,” Robyn muttered, walking into the kitchen. She wasn’t hungry, but wine sounded like a good idea.
She’d just pulled the cork out of a nice merlot when her phone buzzed with a text message. She glanced at the screen and saw a picture of a perfect California day. The sky was blue, as was the ocean that seemed to stretch out forever. There were palm trees and bougainvillea and flowers trailing along the balcony off Lillian’s bedroom.
Three dots appeared, followed by another text.
Wish you were here. And yes, I am trying to tempt you.
Robyn stared at the familiar scene. She’d sat there with her great-aunt countless times. There would be a light breeze, zero humidity and absolutely no pressure for her to do anything.
A thought formed. She pushed it away, but it returned, a little more insistent.
She could go to California for a few weeks. Hang out with Lillian, plan her future, escape from everything here. It was the slow season, so Mindy wouldn’t care. Robyn didn’t need to get the house ready to sell for at least two months. Austin was in his own apartment, so he would be fine. Honestly, what was keeping her in Florida?
I’ll admit to being more than a little tempted.
Excellent. Book a flight and let me know when you’ll be here.
Could she do it? Should she?
Robyn thought about everything that had happened in the past few days. She was stressed, scared and sad. Heading to California was a lot like running away—even if it was just for a few weeks. But maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. Lillian had always been there for her. Time to think would be good—she could figure out what she was supposed to do with her life. She had frequent flyer miles to pay for the flight.
Give me a couple of hours and I’ll let you know.
Lillian’s reply was instant.
I can’t wait to see you.
Me, too.
* * *
Harlow stumbled into her apartment, half-blinded by her tears. She’d cried the entire way home, not sure what had upset her more—that she wasn’t getting married in her mom’s backyard or the actual fight. Her mother had been so awful. Selfish and mean. How could she act like that? This was her only daughter’s wedding. That should be more important than anything.