Monica, meanwhile, closed her eyes. She was still in that sweet space between reality and fantasy, and she would cling to the fairy tale for as long as she could.
“It could get expensive,” Monica said. “Even for us.”
They were properly turned in for the evening, long after showering and collecting their daughter from the other wing of the family manor. Abigail was half-asleep as her father lugged her to bed and Monica helped her change into her pajamas. The two of them kissed her goodnight and left her asleep before they even stepped out of her room.
Now they were entwined in bed, Henry’s nightstand light on and the soft fabric of his T-shirt an angelic touch to Monica’s cheek.
“Nothing we haven’t survived before,” Henry said.
“Yes, but if the IRS…”
He patted her arm. “If nothing. Let them audit you. You’ve got the best tax lawyers on this side of the state border. We also have our other lawyer on retainer should they feel frisky with possible criminal charges…”
“Henry, no. Don’t even speak that into existence.”
“I don’t think it will get that bad. But you know me, Monica. I’m a catastrophizer. My parents trained me well.”
She had no comment on that. “I also had the realization that I can’t take Abigail with me. She’s old enough now thatshe’s possibly seeing things that none of us want her to. It’s bad enough I’ll have to explain everything to her once she can understand… whenever that is.”
“Too soon. She’s growing up way too fast.”
Monica grinned into his chest. “That’s what they’re supposed to do. Before you know it, she’ll be telling us that she’s in love.”
“Hopefully after she’s already had her teenage rebellion. That way I’ll be used to the idea of my baby girl moving away from me.”
“But she’s also not old enough to be left here with just Matilda. We have to figure something out. Especiallybeforeyour mother gets here and has something to say about it.”
“God, why are you reminding me about that? Not just my mother, but myfather,too.”
“They seldom come together.”
“Only for Christmas.”
“Well, there you go. We didn’t do Christmas this year, so now they’re here to torment us in a New England winter.”
“Abigail will be happy. For some reason, she loves her grandma.”
Monica sighed. “I’m glad she does. She’s too young to understand that her grandmother is a toxic person.”
“Some people are like that, Princess. They treat their children like shit, but grandchildren? Can never do any wrong.”
“I hope you’re right.” Often, Monica wondered what her mother-in-law really thought about Abigail. This was a woman who had been appalled by Monica coming into the family, never mind getting pregnant right before the wedding.The constant derisive comments leading up until when Abby was born…Yet as soon as that baby was in Isabella’s arms, she softened – to Abigail. She had a hand in hiring Matilda, whom Monica signed off on as soon as she vetted the young nanny.
But Monica still didn’t trust Isabella’s intentions toward Abigail. Right now, Monica’s daughter was the only member of her generation and would be until Eva and her wife Nadia had one of their own (if that ever happened.) Isabella put a lot of stock into family legacies, including her own. She had raged against Nadia’s inclusion in the family as well, and not just because she was a woman.To this day, that woman is convinced that Nadia is Jewish-Irish, and I’m still wrapping my head around that one.The layers of bigotry!
Everyone who currently lived in Warren Manor agreed that Isabella’s influence over Abigail was kept to a minimum. Maybe that was why Abigail looked forward to her grandmother’s visits.It helps she looks like her father, not me.Because Isabella cared about that too.
Henry tightened his hold around his wife’s shoulder. “It will be fine.” Monica breathed again when he lowered his hand. “My mother is a piece of work, but she cares about propriety above all else.”
“And your father?” Monica croaked.
“Easier to handle than my mother.”
At least that was true. Gerald came by so rarely, mostly out of embarrassment, that even Monica could count the number of conversations she had one-on-one with him on a single hand.
God give me strength these next few weeks.They would both need it.
Chapter 3
