Page 80 of Best Kept Vows

“Who pays for this wedding?” I asked.

“We do,” Mama snapped. “The bride’s family?—”

“Can’t…afford it,” Dad said more forcefully than I’d ever heard him speak since his stroke.

Everyone looked at him in shock.

Lia leaned back, and I saw amusement in her eyes. I didn’t blame her. These dinners were usually staid and boring—but today, with me changing my tune and my Dad addressing the elephant in the room, that the family’s finances were going under faster than a rowboat with a busted bottom—there was an almost dramatic comedy flair to the setup.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Mama thundered.

“Daddy?” Coco blurted out, her blue eyes swimming with hurt.

“Technically, Bryce,youare the bride’s father,” I reminded my brother-in-law.

“Sebastian Michael Boone, we will not discuss money at this dining table,” Mama declared, her fist landing on the table in a very unladylike manner.

Lia cleared her throat. “Technically, Dolly, Sebastian isn’t talking about money but rather who should pay for Birdie’s wedding. Darling, Birdie, congratulations. That is a beautiful ring.”

Birdie puffed up with pride. “It’s four carats and from Tiffany’s.”

Lia peered at the ring. “Are you sure?”

Craig cleared his throat. “Well, it’s three carats…give or take.”

Birdie looked wounded. “You said it wasfour.”

Oh, for crying out loud, who the fuck cared? I thought as I gripped Lia’s hand.

Pamela came in then with plates of food, and the conversation stalled.

“I met someone you know last week,” Lia said to me, as if we were alone at home.

All eyes were on her and me.

“Who?”

“Diego Perez.” She set her fork down. “He said you did work with him in Arizona.”

“Yes.” I wasn’t sure what she was doing, but I had a feeling it was trying to divert my attention from impending chaos. “He’s a good guy. Works for Larue Homes.”

“Anson Larue is a has been,” Bryce decided to add his two cents to a conversation that had nothing to do with him.

“His Sentinel Heights project is a huge success,” I countered.

“Well, he sold the family home.” Bryce shook his head in disgust. “Heard that he kicked his own mother and sister out of the estate.”

Well, buddy, that kind of thing is going to probably happen here as well.

Even though Bryce and Coco didn’t live with my parents, they lived in a property owned by the Boone family, one that was mortgaged to the hilt and would also need to be sold. Dad had made a mess of the family finances in trying to save Boone Metals. It was such a waste, and I was happy that I’d come to my senses, or rather Lia hadbrought meto my senses before I’d lost everything, including myself.

“The estate is going to be a Rhodes Hotel.” Lia set her plate away. She’d eaten about half of what was served. I didn’t blame her. My appetite was shot as well. “Savannah Lace has the project.”

“A bunch of women behaving like men!” Bryce commented. “I can’t believe you’re letting her work there, Sebastian.”

“Yes, Sebastian, what were you thinking?” Mama wanted to know.

I smiled at Lia and was happy to see no trace of insecurity in her eyes. It looked like I had managed to convince her that I was onherside as I should’ve always been.