Chapter 20 #2
Michaela’s gaze sharpened on her. “Do you think Walter had them send this?” Troy had mentioned that he wanted the yacht in time for Lyssa Spencer and Cal Danniger’s wedding. But he’d never said anything about inviting her .
Flo shrugged, picking up the invitation. As she read it, her smile could have added another few beams of sunlight to the kitchen. “I suppose.”
Michaela could only hope it was Walter, but she feared this was Troy’s doing. “Are you sure you want to attend?” She specifically didn’t ask if her mother was sure about Walter.
Flo clasped her hands. “I’d love to go. I want to dance with Walter. And I hope you come with me, too, because it could be a lot of fun for both of us.”
Everything inside Michaela seemed to bubble over like an acid bath. “I can’t go. I just can’t.”
Her mother knew her so well. “Did something bad happen between you and Troy while I was gone?”
There it was, a flat-out question. She could try to evade; she could even lie again.
But this was her mom, and she’d always told Flo everything.
It was time to confess. “I lied about bingeing those movies when you went to the city. I invited him over.” She didn’t even pause before adding, “And we made love.”
She felt a tad shamefaced; after all, this was her mother. And while she hadn’t needed to ask if Flo had slept with Walter, it was somehow worse to confess that she’d slept with Troy.
But Flo, her eyes shining, asked, “Was it wonderful?”
Michaela groaned. “It was so much more than wonderful. Wonderful seems—” She shrugged, not able to find the words before she finally said, “Minimizing.”
Flo rubbed Michaela’s arms. “What’s the problem, then? Doesn’t he want to see you again?”
Michaela deflated, falling into a kitchen chair while her mother finished brewing the tea. “It’s exactly the opposite. He says he’s in love with me.”
Standing beside her chair, Flo pulled Michaela into her embrace, holding her head against her heart, the way she used to when Michaela was a child. “Oh, sweetheart, shouldn’t that make you happy rather than sad?”
“But he’s not like us.” Her voice was almost a wail. “He’s a billionaire. He’ll get tired of me because I don’t fit into his world.”
Michaela had to look up as Flo stepped away. “Why do you think you can’t fit in with all those Mavericks and Harringtons? They’re not your run-of-the-mill billionaires. They’re remarkable, and they’re exactly like us.”
Michaela gulped air to keep her tears at bay. “I know they all come from humble beginnings. And I know the Harringtons had huge financial problems after their parents died. But now they have more money than King Midas.”
“But your business is incredible too. You bought us this house.” Flo swept out an arm to encompass the kitchen and everything else.
“We live this comfortably because of you. I no longer have to strain my eyes sewing into the wee hours so we can put food on the table.” Flo sat down and curled her fingers around Michaela’s. “You made all that possible.”
Michaela battled on. “Yes, but?—”
Flo cut her off. “Why do you think you’re not good enough for Troy?”
She was quick to say, “That’s not what I’m getting at.”
But her mother didn’t let go. “It’s essentially what you mean.”
Michaela shook her head. “I’m just saying that he’ll get tired of someone who doesn’t fit into his lifestyle.”
Her mother’s eyes held a world of sadness. “Maybe that’s even worse. You think you’re not good enough to keep his interest and that he’ll tire of you.”
Flo put it so succinctly Michaela couldn’t help hearing those words, letting them seep into her very marrow. She didn’t think she was good enough to hold his interest. Her mother was right. It was why she never dated billionaires.
She had to admit very softly, “That’s what Troy said.”
Michaela’s hands in hers, Flo squeezed. “You’re so remarkable. But all along, you’ve dated men who aren’t good enough for you . But now that you’ve finally met your perfect match, it scares the heck out of you. Sweetheart, don’t let your fears get the better of you.”
Michaela wiped away a tear she hadn’t even realized was falling until it tickled her cheek.
After several beats of silence, her mother asked, “Do you think I’m good enough to be friends with Susan Spencer? Good enough to date Walter Braedon?”
Michaela snorted. “Of course you are. That’s not what I was driving at.”
“Then tell me why you aren’t good enough for the Mavericks or the Harringtons… or Troy.”
Michaela could only whisper, “I don’t know, Mom.”
Flo sighed, then smiled softly. “Then let’s go to the wedding and see if we do fit in.”
Sniffing and blinking back another tear, Michaela finally said, “Okay.”
Jumping to her feet, Flo clapped her hands and danced around the kitchen. “We’re going to a wedding,” she singsonged. Then she stood in the middle of the kitchen, arms flung out. “We need to make the most marvelous bathing suits and cover-ups.”
Michaela could only echo, “Bathing suits and cover-ups?”
Flo laughed. Her mother had the most beautiful laugh, the most marvelous smile.
No wonder Walter Braedon couldn’t help but be entranced by her.
“Didn’t you read the invitation? It’s a beach party with swimwear instead of cocktail dresses.
Let’s go pick out the perfect material to make two stunning outfits. ”
“We can’t possibly make something by Saturday.”
Her mother snorted in disbelief. “I’ve made floor-length ballgowns overnight. I can certainly make two swimsuits and a couple of sarongs.”
Of course she could.
They were going to a wedding.
Troy would be there.
And Michaela didn’t know how she would avoid throwing herself into his arms.