“Is he a mob boss?”
That caused me to stop scrubbing my hands with the few remaining shreds of a napkin.
“The mob? Why would you think he’s in the mob?”
Lydia sat back and folded her arms. “It’s just that you told me you were running from your brother. That he expected you to marry someone you didn’t want to marry. I asked if it was a religious thing, and you said no. So, I can only assume this is some mob thing.”
“No one in my family is in the mob. They are just very controlling.”
“Does your brother know about Jenni?”
Crap. I knew it would get out someday. I hoped Jenni would be in college, or I’d be on my deathbed before that confession came out. Sometime long in the future, where I didn’t have to deal with it now.
“No.” I took a fortifying breath. “No one can know about Jenni. It’s for the best.”
Lydia frowned. “I’m so sorry, Lola. You should be able to have your family and the father of your child around you.”
What was I doing? Sure, I needed to keep myself hidden from Eric and Jenner, but Lydia didn’t know them. Who would she tell?
“I’ll explain what happened, but please, don’t tell anyone.”
Her eyes widened, and she quickly scooted her simple wooden chair closer, ready for me to start.
“I grew up wealthy.”
“Really? Did your family lose the money or something? Is that why you had never worked before in your life?”
“Yes and no... No, my father never lost our money. If anything, it grew and grew with him until we were billionaires.”
Lydia gasped, which turned into an intense cough. She sat up straight, trying to catch her breath. “Oh god... I just... can’t even.” She gulped some air and then took a sip of her water in the red plastic cup. “There, that’s better. Did you say billionaire, with a B?”
“Yes. I know what you’re thinking. Why did I leave all that money behind?”
“Yes, but the way you described your brother, I can see why you left. Was there no way you could get some of your money without him finding you?”
I shrugged. “I took a lot with me, believing it would last longer. But Jenni is a little more expensive than I thought.” I leaned over and kissed the top of my daughter’s head.
“But what about now? You should have access to something.”
I did, and it was the exact reason my brother wanted to see me—and the only reason Jenner wanted anything to do with me. He was only at The Blue Spot, looking for me, to make my brother happy.
Now I wondered if he became friends with me all those years ago because my brother told him to. If every word, every touch from him was all a lie to make his client’s sister happy.
“I do, but if I go there, my brother will find out.”
“Go there? As in a building?”
“A house. Well, it’s more like a sprawling estate. There are gardens, a pool, tennis court, a pool house that’s bigger than the size of the home I rent. There’s stuff too, but I’m sure you don’t want to hear about that—”
I lifted my head to discover Lydia staring at me with her mouth wide open.
“It’s not as great as it sounds.”
She tilted her head. “Even I know that’s not true. Any estate that has all those things and more is already the gold standard for housing. Where is it?”
I rolled my lips over my teeth, worrying how she would react when she found out where the estate was located.
“Lola, where is this fairy-tale home?” Her tone shifted deeper.