11. Chapter Eleven #2
And none of these ruminations were getting work done. Because I needed to be distracted until—
“You can come out now, Sam.”
I hustled through the office door and out into the store.
Desiree was pocketing her phone. “So, I have some news.”
I pressed a hand to my sternum. “How bad?”
She blinked. “Sorry. Not bad. Not bad at all. Just…well…”
“Spit it out. Better I find out now sooner than later. I can cope with just about anything—if I know what it is.”
Slowly, Desiree nodded. “She’s met a man. He’s twenty-six and a graduate student and—”
“He’s too old for her. She’s barely nineteen. She’s a child. Hell, she isn’t even legal to drink, and—”
“Sam.”
Said sharply enough to stop me in my tracks. “Uh, yeah?”
“Quinta is a very mature young woman. Laurent is doing his PhD in molecular and medical pharmacology. He wants to be a professor and a researcher. I didn’t understand all that Quinta was saying—but it was what she wasn’t saying that really mattered.”
I cocked my head.
“She’s over-the-moon in love with him.” Desiree’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, young love.”
“Emphasis on young. She’s barely a woman. Hell, she’s still a teenager.”
“And she’s legal, Sam. Not only that, but she’s mature beyond her years. We both know that. She’s been through so very much—you both have. It’s a credit to you that she has such a great head on her shoulders. She’s got the wherewithal to make difficult choices.”
“Choices?” The word came out a little softly.
“She wants to stay in LA for the summer. She got a job in the lab—not working for her boyfriend—but for another researcher. If she’s careful, then she has enough to live off of.”
“I can send her money.” I scrambled, in my mind, to put the pieces together.
I had her banking information—I sent her money every month to help with living expenses.
Her parents’ life insurance policy remained untouched because I wanted her to have that when she was ready to buy a house.
To set down roots. We were managing to keep up with her schooling expenses with scholarships and my salary and—
“Stop.” Desiree rolled her eyes. “I can see that mind of yours working. She doesn’t want your money. In fact, what she wants is your blessing to move into an apartment with her boyfriend at the end of the summer. She wants you to be okay with her staying in LA.”
I blinked. “She wants to move in with this man? But…” I rolled my hand—encouraging Desiree to tell me that I was wrong. That I was somehow misunderstanding all this.
“She doesn’t want to come home, Sam. She’s hoping you’ll find someone else to take her place in the store.
” Desiree smiled. “She’s in love. And maybe it’s just young love.
Maybe it won’t last. But for her, right now, he’s the center of her universe.
She’s got a smart brain. Okay? You raised her right.
She wants to take the summer to get to know him better, and only then will she consider moving in with him.
But she can’t get to know him if she’s up here in Hartsville and he’s at the other end of the state. ”
Knowing Desiree was right and actually admitting it to myself were two different things. “I need to talk to her.”
“I told her that you’d call her tonight after work. You can do a video call. She says she’s looking forward to it.”
“But—”
“She took my call because she thought there might be something wrong with you. But she’s at work. You’re at work. Tonight will be plenty of time. Unless your man will mind—”
“Of course Soren won’t mind.” I blinked. “My man?”
Desiree arched an eyebrow.
“He was comforting me after Carlos died.” I’d texted Desiree once we’d gotten home, and I’d had a moment to compose myself.
“At the vet, right? What did that cost? I mean, I’ve heard Dr. Jones is reasonable—”
“What do you mean?” For the umpteenth time, I blinked. “Cost?”
“The vet bill?” She arched an eyebrow.
“I didn’t…” I replayed yesterday in my mind. Carlos being put to sleep. Soren encouraging me to take the kittens home. And he— “He paid, didn’t he?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just was wondering how you’re affording all this. You’re spending a lot of money.”
My salary at the store enabled me to have a good life. That said, supporting Quinta wasn’t cheap, and everything was expensive these days. Hence only having basic cable for television and an old laptop. “I need to pay him back.”
“Or you can just thank him. I hear that works.” Desiree offered an empathetic smile. “Just live your best life, Sam. He puts a sparkle in your eyes—even after yesterday. Grasp that. If you want, go ahead and make him yours. If he feels the same way.”
I wanted to explain everything. The asexuality, my confusing feelings, as well as the fact I’d never done anything with anyone before—including dating. All I managed was a weak smile. “I don’t know how.”
“Maybe ask him? You’re a great communicator. That’s your super power. It’s how you’ve kept the lines of dialogue open with Quinta all these years. Talk to your man tonight. Talk to your niece tonight. Do whatever you need to do to be happy, okay?”
Until that moment, I’d believed the way for happiness was to have Quinta home and back under my roof. I’d never thought another way might exist. Certainly, I’d never foreseen Soren being part of my future.
And yet…
I squared my shoulders. “I’ll call Quinta tonight.”
Desiree beamed. “Good man.”
Yeah. I’ll see if I can hold it together.
I wasn’t convinced that I could.