Page 3

He sighed and crossed his legs. “Had, everything I've done I've done for you and your sister and brother. I've never begrudged you a thing. We're a lucky family, and I know that you know that.”

“I do,” she allowed.

“But it's time you got your act together, Hadley. You're twenty seven. You need to decide what you want in life.”

“How can I do that when I haven't tried everything yet!” she burst out.

Her father nodded. “I get it, Had, I do. Probably I've spoiled you more than a little. You have a good university degree, I've supported you through every phase you've gone through. But life is about more than spending money.”

“I know that.”

He held up his hand. “I'm not saying you're a rich brat. I know that you help others, I know that you volunteer sometimes, I know that you're not just spending on yourself. But I also know that until you find what you want out of life you're not going to be happy.”

“Where is all this heading?” she asked, voice small because she was kind of afraid now.

“I'm not helping you by giving you money, I realize that now. All I'm doing is giving you the means to keep dancing from one passion to another. You're never going to find fulfillment that way.”

“So you're cutting me off?”

He nodded, looking sad. “It's for your own good, Hadley. I'm not doing this to be mean. Show me that you can stick with something, show me that you can hold down a job and I'll reinstate your allowance.”

Her mouth had dried up. Not because he was wrong or unfair, he was making perfect sense, even she could see that. But because she was afraid. She couldn't hold down a relationship for more than a couple of nights. How was she supposed to hold down a job? And what kind of job was she supposed to get?

“Hadley, are you alright?”

She looked into her father's green eyes, mirrors of her own, took a deep breath, and then nodded. Because after all, he was only trying to help.

“That's my girl, always one to rise to a challenge,” he smiled.

And she nodded again because she didn't trust herself to speak.

Just what in the hell was she supposed to do now?

Chapter Two

Florence didn't believe in fidgeting. She kept her feet pressed together and her hands firmly on the arms of the expensive leather chair.

“It's nothing to do with you, of course,” Mrs. Angleton was saying.

Of course not, thought Florence. It never was.

“We're more than happy with how focused you've kept Adeline on her schoolwork. Her reading is much improved, to say nothing of her manners. You've done a fine job.”

But... There had to be a but here. And Florence was fairly sure she knew what it was.

She sighed internally, keeping her face pleasant and relaxed, schooling herself into a look of polite interest as though this wasn't her entire future that was being discussed.

“The thing is, with summer just around the corner, we're looking for something a little different for Adeline. Something a little more...” Mrs. Angleton paused here, then forced herself to look Florence in the eyes. “A little more fun,” she finished up.

Florence nodded. “I completely understand,” she said. “Of course, there should be room for interest in education, which is why incorporating museum and library visits into a summer vacation schedule is so important. This may also be the time to begin cultivating other outside interests. Cooking, perhaps.”

Mrs. Angleton cleared her throat and Florence wondered if she'd just made things easier or harder for her. What was coming was inevitable. She should know. This was the third time in as many years.

“I'm afraid that my husband and I are looking for something rather outside your scope of expertise.”

Which, given how immensely well-trained Florence was, was less of a surprise than one might have thought.

“I am quite happy to take potential schedule changes on board for evaluation,” Florence said, still polite.