Page 9 of Her Greek Inheritance
Gemma smiled as she hung up the phone.I’m so lucky to have a friend like Aimee.The woman had stuck with her through the worst time of Gemma’s life. When her parents died, Gemma’s life changed drastically. She’d taken full responsibility for raising her younger brother. At the time, she’d been romantically involved with Jason Stephens, her college boyfriend of two years. She’d believed they were heading for marriage.
Jason had been very supportive of her handling her parents’ affairs—until she announced Tyler would live with them till he was finished with school. Jason threw a fit. He’d tried to force her to let her brother go into foster care. Gemma shook her head. It was still hard to believe the man she thought she’d knew intimately was so selfish, lacking any compassion for others. She’d tried to make him see her brother was her responsibility, but he’d finally made her choose between her brother and him. She’d chosen Tyler.And I’d make the same decision again today!
Aimee had been there as she’d struggled with being not only an older sister, but both mother and father to a teenage boy. She’d encouraged Gemma to find some normalcy for herself. Gemma had gone on several dates, but the moment the guy learned she was raising her younger brother they’d broken things off.
Gemma exhaled loudly.So what! Aimee’s worth a thousand dates.At first, the rejections had hurt, and then she just stopped putting herself out there to be hurt. Even the thought of getting romantically involved with anyone left a sour taste in her mouth.Men are an additional problem I just don’t need in my life!
At least I have Paris.Gemma smiled. That was the only break in her self-imposed isolation she’d allowed—and what a break it was. Aided by too much champagne and a suave Mediterranean man who’d swept her off her feet. Her smile faded.That disappointment was the worst of all.
She’d found herself pregnant and all alone, no knowledge of where the father had gone, or if he would ever return. She wasn’t even completely sure he’d told her his real name, a fact that still grated on her nerves even two years later.God, I was such a sucker back then!
Gemma had quit believing in her own judgment where men were concerned after that. Now she kept to herself, worked as many hours of the day that she could, and loved on her little man. It was hard and lonely, but Aimee was always there to cheer her up. Besides, the minute she walked into the apartment this evening and held Damien in her arms, all of the day’s troubles would disappear.
He was her world, and none of this other stuff mattered in the least. The money needed for Tyler’s schooling was concerning, but she’d figure it out just like she’d done numerous times before. The fact that this was almost twice what she’d needed to come up with a year ago was like getting punched in the gut, but it was for her baby brother.I want him to succeed, and if I need to cut back to see that happen—well, that’s just what I’ll do.
Gemma pushed the tuition letter into her purse, trying to forget she’d even seen it. She turned to the work in front of her.Past and future can just take a backseat for now. Things have always worked themselves out before. They will do so again. Somehow…