Not Quite Over You
Page 60

It took Silver a second to piece together the couple. “You mean giraffe Millie and giraffe Dave?”
“Who else? I really hope they’re doing it because I would love a giraffe baby. Of course we won’t know if she’s pregnant for months.”
Pallas looked at Carol. “We could all be pregnant together. That’s so sweet.”
“Giraffes gestate about fourteen or fifteen months,” Carol said. “We don’t want to share that with her.”
Pallas shuddered and touched her stomach. “No, we don’t.”
“Pregnant giraffes,” Natalie said. “That’s so nice.”
“She’s weakening,” Silver murmured. “Just wait. She’ll be pregnant by the end of the year.”
“Not happening,” Natalie said firmly.
Conversation moved on to other topics. Silver joined in even as she kept an eye on Wynn. Since making her confession, there was no sign that anything was wrong. Was Wynn really over Jasper that quickly? Had their relationship really been that casual for both of them?
What must it be like to be able to move on that easily? Something she would never know. If Drew left or walked away from her, she would be devastated. She’d spent the last decade unable to get over him. There was no reason to think she would ever be able to recover and move on. When it came to Drew, she was well and truly stuck—for life.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
DREW’S PERFECTLY ORDINARY day hit the fan when he got a text from his father. It wasn’t hearing from his old man that bothered him so much as the message itself.
Thanks for letting us stay at your place while we’re in town. Looking forward to seeing you.
Last he’d heard, his mother was still at Grandpa Frank’s place. Drew had assumed his father would join her there, but obviously he’d been wrong. He wasn’t worried about how they’d gotten into his house so much as why they were there.
He finished out his day, then headed home. As he pulled up, he saw an unfamiliar rental car in the driveway. So his dad hadn’t been kidding. His parents had moved in.
He told himself he could deal with whatever they had going on. They would stay through the royal party, and then they would be gone. As a rule, his mother was the more intense parent—his dad erred on the side of normal.
He braced himself for whatever was to come, vowed to be pleasant and understanding, then walked into the house.
“I’m home,” he called.
“We’re in the kitchen,” his mother called.
He went into the back of the house and sure enough found his parents at the island.
“Darling, you’re home,” his mother said, hugging him. “Your father is here.”
“I can see that.” Obviously the fight was well behind them, never to be mentioned.
Howard, his father, was tall and fit. Drew had inherited his height from his father, along with his sense of humor.
The two men shook hands, then his father hugged him.
“You’re looking good,” his father said. “Very exciting about the party. That’s going to be good for us. I have to head back home after that but your mother will stay for the board meeting next Monday.”
“Good to know.” Drew turned to his mother. “Mom, when did you decide to move in, and why didn’t you tell me?”
Howard frowned. “What do you mean, move in?”
“Mom’s been staying up at the big house.”
Irene waved away the information. “I didn’t want to impose for too long, so I decided to stay with my father until you arrived, Howard. I borrowed the key from the rack in the pantry and here we are.” She smiled. “We’re going to have a lovely visit.”
He thought of the spare key he kept at his grandfather’s house and thought perhaps he needed a different place for it, although that was a concern for later. His more pressing problem was the fact that he had no idea what his mother was up to, although knowing her, it was something.
His father offered him a Scotch. The three of them settled at the kitchen island.
“As I said, I’m going to have to head back to D.C. right after the party,” his father said. “I have meetings I couldn’t get out of. I’m very much looking forward to when you join us. You mother says you’re thinking two years. Is that right?”
Drew stared at his mother, who carefully avoided his gaze.
“Mom,” he said tightly. “What is he talking about?”
“Drew, we’ve been over this and over this.” She touched her husband’s hand. “This is why I came back to Happily Inc early. So I could speak to Drew and spend time with my father. We have to make sure he runs the bank and not Libby.”
“Of course. That’s always been the plan.” Howard looked between them. “What am I missing?”
“Nothing, dear,” Irene said. “Drew, you have to be more cooperative. We’ve gone to a lot of trouble to make things right for you. Now we’ll talk about this later. Right now you have to meet Julie.”
“Who’s Julie?”
His father smiled. “You’re going to like her. She’s one in a million. When she came in for her first interview, I sensed something special about her. The more we’ve worked together, the more certain I’ve been.” He patted Drew’s arm. “Son, I think she’s the one.”
As Drew was reasonably confident his father didn’t mean that Julie was the one for him, it stood to reason that he meant she was the one for Drew. His mother, it seemed, had told his father nothing.
“Okay, that’s enough.” He stood and walked around the island so he was facing both his parents.
“Dad, there are some things you should know.”
“Drew, don’t,” his mother said. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Am I? Okay, then I’m going to keep on being ridiculous.” He looked at his father. “Dad, while I’m sure Julie is lovely, I’m not interested. I’m already in a relationship.”
“You’re not,” his mother protested. “You’re sleeping with some woman. There’s a difference.”
Drew felt his temper flare. “Don’t push me, Mom. Silver is important me. You may not like her but you will respect her. Is that clear?”
His mother sighed heavily. “Fine. You’re sleeping with Silver and it’s magical, but in time you will come to see that you need and want more.”
Howard looked at his wife. “You knew he was with someone and you let Julie come with us anyway?”
“Once he meets Julie, he’ll forget all about that other woman. Silver’s not all that.”
“Mom,” he said slowly. “Stop it.” Silver was the mother of their child and someone he cared about. Some great truth lurked just out of mental reach but before he could get to it, he was forced back into the conversation.
“Drew, you’ve always had a problem knowing what is best for you,” his mother continued. “We’re just trying to help.”
“You’re trying to make me do what I don’t want to do. You’ve always seen me as a way to further what you want. That stops now. Whatever happens with the bank, I’m not joining you in D.C.”
His father stared at him. “Drew, is that true? You’re not interested in our firm?”
“I’m not. I’m sorry, Dad. I’ve been telling you both for a long time now, but you won’t listen. I belong here.”