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thirty-eight

Warren stepped into the library, and Abagail narrowed her eyes at him. He wasn’t supposed to be here. She’d been expecting Ivy, not him. Setting her book down, Abagail crossed her legs and stared at him expectantly. This wasn’t the time to make things easy for the promised, entitled child. He needed to work for whatever he was here for.

Abagail put on the most stoic face that she could possibly muster, and she thanked every breathing second that Nicola wasn’t at the house. Seeing a conflict between Warren and Nicola again would surely throw Abagail over the edge and she’d completely blacklist Warren from her life.

“Aunt Abagail.” Warren nodded at her, standing there with his hands crossed in front of his body, looking like a kid who’d just been scolded.

Was that what he was expecting now that he was there?

“I wasn’t expecting you,” Abagail said, keeping her tone as cool and despondent as possible.

“I know. I just… you said to tell you how the interview went.”

Abagail narrowed her gaze. That was weeks ago at this point, maybe even a full month had passed. She dashed her tongue across her lips as she waited in silence, needing to know exactlywhat he was there to say to her. Because he was clearly here for something—a phone call would have sufficed otherwise. Or hell, this was Warren, it’d be a text or an email that his mother sent.

“It didn’t go well. They didn’t like that I had no experience.”

“Right.” Abagail nodded, already knowing that was likely the outcome of any interview that Warren was going to go on. Mid-twenties and he’d never held a job yet—hell, she wouldn’t hire him either. Even his sex and skin color wouldn’t land him that privilege. “And do you have another interview lined up?”

“Chaya’s father said he’d get me a job.”

Using connections? That was a step up for Warren. But also, Chaya? Were the two of them on talking terms.

“Which brings me to why I’m here.”

“Oh, I thought that was to tell me about the interview that didn’t result in a job.” Abagail picked up her book again and pretended to read it. She really wanted to feign disinterest. Warren had never done anything to deserve the accolades that he received from the family other than being born and being born male—neither of which he had any control over.

“No, I uh… I was hoping to get Nana’s ring.”

Abagail snapped her head up and the book closed simultaneously. “The ring?”

“Y-yeah,” he stuttered. “Chaya and I worked through our issues, and the engagement is back on.”

Pursing her lips, Abagail clenched her jaw and waited him out. She wanted to pry so much, and she had so many questions that she wanted answered just for her own damn curiosity, but she wasn’t going to ask them either.

“W-we set a date for June of next year.”

“A June wedding?” Abagail raised an eyebrow at him. How classic. She forced herself not to roll her eyes at that thought. “And who do you think is paying for the wedding?”

“Chaya’s father said he’d split some of it.”

“But you for the rest?” Abagail asked, dropping her gaze over him. “Better get that job quickly. I won’t be helping fund that adventure.”

“I know. I just…” He shuffled his foot slightly. “I just wanted the ring.”

“It’s not yours.” Abagail opened her book again, skimming the words on the page. “And I won’t be giving it to you.”

“It’s the family ring. It needs to stay in the family.” Warren’s voice took on the whining tone that Abagail absolutely despised. It was back to when he was a kid and not getting his way. Maturity took a long time to learn, and Warren was far behind the learning curve.

“And it is… in the family.” Abagail flicked her gaze to him. “Buy your own ring for Chaya. I’m not giving you a second chance with this one.”

“Ms. Kerr,” Ivy said, her voice reaching Abagail’s ears.

“Ah, yes.” Abagail looked directly at Warren. “Let me know when the wedding is. I’ll make sure to show up, and congratulations.” That word grated at her. “I’m sure you two will be happy together.”

Abagail stood up and ushered Warren out of her library before bringing Ivy in. She’d never invited Ivy over to her house, but she didn’t want to have this conversation at the office during formal working hours. This was going to be a conversation that would take time for them to explore possibilities and for Ivy to get a handle on what exactly Abagail was asking.

She looked over Ivy’s shoulder to make sure that Warren was leaving, but he was still standing there.