Chapter 15 Willow
Willow
Itook my time driving to my parents’ house, maintaining the speed limit, making sure I arrived on time, not too early and definitely not late. I raise my hand to ring the doorbell when the double doors open before I’m able to press the button.
“Miss Willow, it’s so good to see you. How have you been?” Larissa is the longest-lasting housekeeper/chef/whatever my father has her do employee. She’s been the one constant and also the woman who’s always been there in my time of need, especially during a certain time when I was a teenager.
“I’d be better if I weren’t spending my Sunday here. When are you going to retire?” I ask her as she escorts me through the house once the door is closed behind us.
“If all goes well, the end of the year, Miss Willow.” I make a mental note to check in with her from time to time, and when she does turn in her notice, I’m going to send her the biggest bouquet ever.
“I’m happy for you. Now, can you tell me what the moods are like this morning?
” I link my arm through hers, a faux pax should we get caught, and while it would give me a tongue lashing from hell, I’m sure Larissa would feel the brunt of this, and I hate that I’m putting her in a potential line of dear old dad.
“Your mother has made a lot of changes. Good ones. I’ll let her tell you that bit of news. As for your father, he’s the usual, you know, what he wants, he gets,” Larissa explains.
“So, the usual.” Though, she does have me thinking about my mother being alert. I try not to get my hopes up that she’s actually sober. Many a time, she’s dried to get sober, and it never fails she’d slip right back into her routine of reaching for the bottle.
“I’m hoping for the best, Miss Willow,” she says as we reach the formal dining room.
It’s a bit ostentatious, if you ask me. I never did love this house.
Just because it was bigger, it didn’t mean it was filled with love.
It’s built with anything but, and while I may not have been physically abused, being abandoned emotionally isn’t an amazing feeling, either.
“Me too,” I say right as we turn the corner into the room where my parents are seated. Larissa introduces me as though I’m an important regal entity. Honestly, I don’t get the hype. I probably never will. I’m just a simple girl who wants to live comfortably and happily, with Jace.
“Willow, you look amazing, my girl.” My mother stands up to greet me when I walk to where she’s sitting. I’m not the only one. She holds my biceps and looks into my eyes. A small smile and a wink are sent my way. I mouth the word wow, and she has to hold back from laughing.
“You look great, too. I think I might have missed a chapter or two.” Mom gives me a slight nod, and I shelve that for now. The giant elephant in the room is becoming impatient by the sound of him clearing his throat.
“Father, how are you?” I don’t bother giving him a hug or a kiss. He doesn’t show affection and doesn’t give it freely.
“Very good. Please have a seat, make yourself a drink and some food to eat. We have much to discuss.” He folds the newspaper he was reading in half and sets it off to the side.
The spread in front of us is massive, entirely too big for three people to eat, and I hope that Larissa boxes it up to feed the rest of the employees my father has working around this McMansion.
When I lived with my parents, we’d sneak it to everyone on the grounds, and if there were still leftovers, I’d help her make to-go boxes for them to take home.
I go about making a plate, adding some orange slices, strawberries, kiwis, and a muffin.
There’s a smorgasbord of food—waffles, pancakes, bacon, sausage, biscuits, and gravy, more than I could ever eat in a week, let alone a day.
This is overkill. Plus, I highly doubt I’ll be able to touch a quarter of this with the knots in my stomach twisting and turning.
“What is it we have to discuss, William?” Mom goes in for the kill. Okay, something is really going on here, and I don’t have a clue about what’s it is. She isn’t even picking up the bottle of champagne to add to her flute to make mimosas.
“The arrangements with Grandmother, of course. As you know, I’ve been paying for her care.
Well, the money is running out. Her estate is at the end of its rope.
Which means you either move her in with you at your house, or I turn her over to the state and she be handled however they deal with things.
” William Ashford slides two folders across the table, one to my mother and the other to me.
She’s remained quiet during this small altercation.
Meanwhile, my world just imploded. I’d do anything to keep my grandmother comfortable, but her staying in my house would be impossible.
Even with around-the-clock care, which would be expensive.
I’d figure it out, though. What I can’t do is keep her in the facility she’s in currently with the high cost while live myself.
“What?” The four-letter word slips from my mouth as I open the folder. “Mom, is this true?” I look from my father to her.
“I’m not sure how your mother could ever be aware since she’s been drunk for most of her life.
” Okay, well, it seems he’s out to be a dickhead once again.
I look at the financials Dad sent my way, it shows the cost of her facility and what’s left of her estate.
There’s no way Grandmother is nearly destitute.
Things aren’t adding up, and while I don’t have the trust in front of me, you can guarantee I’ll be requesting it, and soon.
“It shouldn’t be true. Your grandparents were and are very wealthy.” Mom chews on her bottom lip. I’m sure she’s having a lot of regrets, and even if I never get an apology, that’s fine. I just hope she’s on the road to recovery for herself, finally.
“That’s what I thought. Where are the financial analysis, the trust, and their profit and loss for the multiple companies?
” My grandparents come from what you’d call old money, deep in roots and history.
They own a plethora of companies, and from what I’ve looked at recently, all are very successful and have acquired a few new companies along the way.
Anything from cement to welding and metal. You name it, they’ve got a share in it.
“It’s none of your concern. You should be more concerned with what you’ll be doing with your mother now.” I look up from the paperwork and see evil lurking just below the surface in my father’s eyes.
“You won’t be doing anything until I look into this.
I’ve spent a lot of years allowing you to walk all over me.
I’ve taken your verbal and emotional abuse.
I hid under a bottle, and you had no problem feeding it to me.
It stops now.” Mom stands up, her palms flat on the dining room table, and while I have my own issues with my mother, I’m silently clapping for her, cheering her on for standing up to her husband, when I’m not.
I clearly also had no idea what was going on in my own childhood home.
“Willow, as much as I would enjoy your company. I think your father and I have a lot to discuss.”
“Sit down, Willow. Nobody is going anywhere. Nobody will question me, and what I say goes!” William Ashford slams his fist on the table while his shouts echo throughout the room. And the plot thickens. I pull my phone out of my purse to quickly type out a text to Jace.
Me: Shit has hit the proverbial fan. Mom isn’t drunk and is standing up for herself. And dad is losing his ever-loving mind. I’ll be leaving as soon as I know Mom is okay.
I no sooner hit Send before I’m getting a response.
Jace: Not liking the sound of that. I’ll be on standby. You need me, I’m there. Be safe, peaches. Need you to come home to me.
Me: There’s no place I’d rather be. <3
Through my text exchange, my parents continue their back-and-forth argument. I’ve tuned them out for the most part, until I notice Larissa standing at the entrance to the dining room with a gentleman next to her in what looks like a three-piece suit.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Ashford. There’s a Mr. Gibbs here to see you.” My eyes volley from one person to the next.
“Thank you, Larissa. I appreciate you showing our guest in. Mr. Gibbs, did you look at the paperwork I asked about?” It’s clear as day I’m missing some key points.
“I did. Would you like to read over it?” Mr. Gibbs replies.
“What’s going on here? What is this all about?” Father isn’t getting the attention he desires, and there’s nothing more that will piss him off than that. Which is why everyone is ignoring him.
“You can explain it to me before I call the authorities. Unless you’ve already done that as well?” Mr. Gibbs sets his briefcase on the table, opens it, and hands Mother a file.
“They’re on their way,” Mom’s attorney says.
“Thank you.” She nods at Mr. Gibbs then looks at me and says, “Willow, I’m sorry you’re going to have to witness what’s about to happen.” A look of sorrow surrounds her eyes like I’ve never seen before.
“I’m okay. Do you mind if I, umm, text a friend to let him know what’s going on?” I stutter in trying to find the right words, which is so unlike me.
“Of course, Willow. I look forward to meeting the man who’s captured your attention.
” Mom kisses my cheek, and I pull out my phone once again.
I’m not the least bit astonished that she’s gathered that I’m seeing someone.
I noticed the change myself when I got ready.
There’s a happiness in my eyes, a glow surrounding me, and this conversation would usually have me strung tight.
But now, I’m stronger, more confident, and a lot more relaxed.
Me: Um, so apparently, there’s some big stuff going down. Would you mind coming to my parents’ house? I don’t know what’s happening, but it’s big. HUGE. I know this is a big ask, and if you say no, I understand.
Jace: Send me the address. Already on the bike, peaches.
Me: God, Jace, you’re the best.
I send him a pin to my location along with the gate code and cross my fingers that he gets here before the cops do, a task I don’t think will be possible when I hear the sirens in the distance.