They went upstairs together. Austin went toward Lillian’s suite while Robyn retreated to her own room. She was pleased to see Mason reading on their shared balcony. She pulled a chair close to his.
He closed his book. “Kids all settled?”
“They will be.”
“Did they tell you what’s going on?”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“They both just followed you across the country. There has to be something driving that.”
“We haven’t talked yet.”
Which sounded better than the fact that she and her daughter were already fighting and Austin needed more time before he was ready to share what was on his mind.
She sighed. “I think I might have screwed up as a parent.”
“No way.” Mason shook his head. “I’ve seen a lot of kids their age, and you did just fine. I say that as a professional.”
She laughed. “Thank you. Somehow that makes me feel better. Still, they are going to change the energy in the room.”
“Is that good or bad?”
She leaned back in her chair. “Mostly good.” She looked toward the horizon. “It’s a beautiful day. Were you serious about selling me some land?”
He seemed surprised by the question. “Sure. If you want it. Would you move here?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. My children don’t need me as much, and aside from them, there’s nothing keeping me in Florida.” When Lillian was gone, she would be busy going through the house. That would take a while. It made more sense to open a store near her inventory.
“I like the idea of a little house overlooking the ocean,” she said, smiling at him. “I promise to be a good neighbor.”
“I’m not worried about that. I just hope I can afford to build a house for myself. Everything is more expensive out here.”
She tilted her head. “Why wouldn’t you have enough money? You’re selling this place to the historical society.”
“I know, but they’re a charity group. How much can they pay?”
He didn’t know. She hadn’t realized that until this second. “Mason, it’s a forty-thousand-square-foot house on twenty-five ocean-view acres. Even if you hold back five or six acres for yourself, you’ll get at least ten million from the historical society. You’d get more from a developer, but he would just tear the place down and put up luxury condos, so we don’t want that.”
Mason stared at her, unblinking. His eyes were wide, his mouth slightly open.
“What did you say?”
“Ten million dollars. That’s a guess, by the way. They could be offering you more, but you could probably speak to Lillian’s lawyer and find out. I’m sure they’ve talked numbers. Gregory will know better than me.”
She smiled at him. “Are you in shock?”
“Yes.”
“Do you need a minute?”
“More like a week, but yes.”
She rose. “I’ll leave you to consider your newfound fortune. But think about what I asked before. I really would like to discuss me buying a half acre or so.”
She couldn’t afford it right now, but after she inherited, she could sell a few of the more expensive pieces and pay cash. Even if she stayed in Florida, she liked the idea of having a little something of her own out here, on the coast.
“Ah, sure. It’s yours.” He stood and looked at her, then at the house. “I have to go.”
He walked into his room and closed the French doors behind him. Robyn smiled. Poor guy. Yes, it was only good news, but if he hadn’t been expecting to be rich, then he’d need a minute to adjust.
A big inheritance could change a person. Some people went crazy and ran through their money in months, then ended up with nothing to show for it but a fancy watch and a racehorse. Mason wouldn’t be like that. He would make smart choices. Yet another reason she enjoyed his company. He wasn’t a man who would disappoint a woman. Something, she’d recently discovered, that was getting harder to find.
twenty-one
NOT SURE HOW to apologize for being bitchy （again） and not wanting to face everyone, Harlow had begged off dinner, pleading exhaustion. She’d retreated to her room, had fallen asleep by seven and hadn’t stirred until nearly six the next morning. She woke up feeling better about herself and the world.
She moved two cats that were on her bed, then walked to the bathroom to brush her teeth. After pulling on shorts and a T-shirt, she went downstairs and started coffee. She poured a little cream and coffee into two mugs, then quietly slipped into her mom’s room.
The bed was empty, but the light was on in the bathroom. Harlow put a mug on Robyn’s nightstand, then slid into bed. Leaning against the headboard, she reached for her coffee when her mom appeared.
“Morning,” Harlow said, pointing to the mug. “I brought you coffee.”
“Which is why you’re my favorite daughter.”
Her mom, still dressed in a loose nightgown, got back in bed and stuffed pillows behind her back. When she was settled, she grabbed Harlow’s free hand and squeezed, then smiled at her.
“I love you, baby girl.”
Harlow’s eyes filled with tears. “I was horrible yesterday. You should hate me.”
“You’ll have to live with my love.”
“I don’t deserve it.”
“The love comes for free, no matter what you do. I may not always approve, but I’ll always love you.” She released her hand and picked up her coffee. “All right. Enough with the mushy stuff. Why are you here? And by here, I mean California, not my bed.”
The change in tone made Harlow smile. “You’re telling me to get to the point?”
“You came a long way for some reason. I’m curious.”
Harlow had been thinking about that herself on the drive out. The list was long, and it all needed to be said, but first she had to apologize.
“I was a bitch about the house,” she began. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have expected you to keep it just for my wedding. Especially when money’s an issue. I’m sorry about what I said before.” She glanced at her mom, tears once again blurring her vision. “I need you at my wedding.”
Robyn smiled. “I’ll be there, even if I have to hide in the bushes.”
“Why am I such a brat?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I spoiled you too much when you were sick.”
She noticed her mom didn’t say she wasn’t a brat. Harsh, but true. “So I get to blame you for being emotionally stunted?”
“You’re not stunted. We all forget to look past ourselves sometimes.”
Harlow had the feeling she did that more than most. “Kip and I checked out the wedding facilities at the club. With his mom.”
“How was that?”
“Weird. She nearly lost it at the cost. The deposit on the ballroom is fifty thousand.”
Her mom flinched. “Okay, or a car.”
“I never talked to Dad, so I have no idea what the budget is going to be.”
“That’s a good place to start. I’ll kick in some as well, but first find out what he’s willing to spend.”
Harlow tucked her leg under her, angling toward her mom. “You don’t have to pay for my wedding.”