Chapter 1 #2
“Sometimes I don’t either. She never worked, as far as I know, but she seems to have money when she wants something.
Or she tries to take mine. I live all right, but when she comes around and wants me to treat her to a day of things, I run a little short.
I guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore.
I have become really good at telling her no.
” He nodded as if he understood. And he did to a point.
The more time he spent with Debra, the more he thought she was like his own mother.
He wondered if she’d ever hit on Sen. He wouldn’t put it past her.
Not like his mother beat them, but just hit her around enough to keep her in line with the way she was thinking.
“I guess we’re ready to start again. I’m actually having fun here today.
It’s something I’ve never done before, and I’m having a blast.”
“I’m glad you are. It’s good to see you smiling.
” He thought of how he wanted to protect her from people like her mom and thought that was silly of himself.
He’d protect her from people like her mom without any trouble, he supposed, but it still bothered him that she had that effect on him.
Not bothered, but it was weird that he did.
“I have this brother that you should meet. He’s a vet.
I think that the two of you would hit it off great. He’s neat as a pin, like you are.”
“I don’t get out much. I don’t remember the last time I had a date. I’m forever working, and I love my job. Judge Rainer takes really good care of his staff.” He said that he knew him from college. “Yes, he teaches there a few days a week. I help him with that as well sometimes when he needs it.”
“Have you thought of being an attorney? With the knowledge that you have, I’d bet you’d be a shoo-in.” She said she could certainly afford to become one now. “That you can.” They both laughed, and he sat down where he’d been sitting before the break.
“No, as for being an attorney, I don’t think I’d like that.
I’m not lazy or anything, but it seems like a lot of work to put into it for something that I don’t think I’ll like.
I enjoy clerking for the judge, but that’s about the extent of my law classes I want to take.
You’d have to be dedicated all the time, and I want to do things when I’m off work.
Don’t you ever just want to be free of your tie and job? ”
“Some days more than others. Not today. It’s nice having someone who isn’t guilty of something trying to get off.” They both thought that was funny and were still laughing when David, he finally remembered his name, came back in the room with them. They still had a lot to go over, it seemed.
By the time they were finished, it was coming up on four o’clock.
His mind was full, and he was sure that Sen was still as overwhelmed as she had been.
But she was polite in thanking him for his help.
The next thing he talked to her about was filing her name on everything that she had.
He said he could do that for her as soon as next week. She was fine with that.
“The next thing you should do is fill out a will. You have a lot of things that need to be done with your newfound wealth, and you don’t want to leave it to just anyone.
I’d get on that soon so that it’s taken care of.
” She asked him if she had to leave it all to her mother.
“No. There is nothing that says you have to leave it to a relative at all. You can leave your money to whomever you wish. Is there something to do with your mother that you don’t want to include her in your will?
Something that I should be looking out for? ”
“I don’t know why that popped into my head like it did.
It was as if you said that I needed a will, and I thought of her knocking me off for my money.
” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. She’s never beaten me before, but that’s a great deal of money that wasn’t left to her.
And I’m going to not tell her either. But if she were to find out… ”
“You just have to be careful.” She nodded, and he was more worried for her than he was before.
“I’d not tell her if I were you. You don’t have to tell her anything other than you were left the house and some money to make sure that it’s kept up with.
If she finds out, then deal with that when it happens. ”
“I will and thank you again for your help today. I might still have questions, but for now, I think I got it. I’ll just have to take it one day at a time.” She smiled at him, and he felt that overwhelming need to protect her again. “I’ll call you if I have any questions for sure. Thanks again.”
As he made his way home, he wanted to go by Ivan’s house and see if he smelled funny to him again.
The last time he’d been around her, Ivan said he smelled of sunshine or something along those lines.
It was weird how he wanted this woman in his life but knew that she wasn’t his mate.
Time would tell, he supposed. But he was going to get the two of them together.
~*~
“I think you should allow me to live in the house with you. That way, I can keep track of you.” Her mom had been hounding her all evening about the house and money she told her that she got.
“I’m going to put the money on my house so that I can borrow against it to buy me something bigger.
I’ve always wanted a bigger house than your uncle and his wife. ”
“His name is Robert, and her name is Cindy. Please get it right.” Her head was beginning to hurt worse, and it had all to do with her mother.
“I told you everything that I know. And no, you’re not living with me in the house.
You have one, stay there. I want to live in the house alone and enjoy my solitude. ”
“Why are you so selfish all the time? It’s just a little house, and you should want to take care of me.
I took care of you when you were little.
” She explained to her for the fifth time that she’d been taken care of by nannies and had been in boarding school when it was time for her to go to school.
“Well, I had to be there when you got home, didn’t I?
It wasn’t always nannies and fun times for me, you know. ”
“No, you got to claim a daughter that you had nothing to do with until I was older.” Her mother didn’t like that, and she found that she didn’t care.
“I’m going to be moving into the house over the next couple of weeks.
After that, I’m going to make sure that I live alone for the rest of my life and work to make that happen.
I don’t want you as a roommate. I have enough going on without you right up in my face all the time. ”
“Well, aren’t you a selfish bitch. I see how you are.
You get yourself some money and a house, and you’re suddenly too good to hang out with your own mother.
I’m guessing that Robert left you secure in the house, too, didn’t he?
Did he tell you to change the locks on the house?
I have a key, you know. I got it once when he wasn’t aware.
Fat lot of good it did me. They were forever home and never went anywhere, so I could get in.
That’s just selfish of them, too. They had that nice place and wouldn’t allow me to live there with them either. ”
“You hated Aunt Cindy. Why on earth would you want to live there with them?” She said she got bored living alone.
“Well, you’re going to have to get used to it because you’re not living with me.
And I’ve already had the locks changed before I left the attorney’s office.
He suggested it because I didn’t know who had keys. ”
“Selfish is all you’ve ever been, all your life. I don’t even know why I bother with you anymore. You never want to take me out.” She pointed out that she had money now to burn. “But you should be treating me to those things. I’m your mother, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are. But I’m an adult now and need my own privacy.
I like my own company too. So live in your house, and I’ll live in mine.
It’s the way it should be.” Mother huffed and stomped her foot.
“That won’t do you a bit of good. I’ve made up my mind, and I’m going to stick to it.
You have your own money from the estate. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
“Then you’ll allow me to live with you.” She said that she was never living with her. “Why not? Damn it, Sen, you never were a good daughter to me. I just want you to allow me to live with you so that we can have fun together.”
“You want me to spend my money on you, and I have to keep it for taxes and such in owning a new to me home.” She told her that she’d never paid taxes. “Then how are you living in that house without getting into trouble?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care so long as I can do it.
You should find yourself a nice, rich husband and have him take care of the taxes so that you and I can have mother-daughter dates.
That would be fun, wouldn’t it?” She said that she didn’t want to find a rich husband.
“With your all right looks, it shouldn’t take much to find yourself one. ”
“It’s time for you to leave now.” Her mother said she’d only just gotten there.
“You’ve been here too long. I’ve had enough of you picking at me, and it’s time you left.
I have to go to work tomorrow, so I don’t want to see you for the rest of the week.
Go do whatever you want with your money and leave me alone. ”
“Well, I never.” She could feel a headache coming on and didn’t want to deal with it with her mother. “You might call me up one of these days, and I won’t want to have anything to do with you. See how that will make you feel.”