Read Online Choosing Happy (Madison Square #2) by Samatha Harris - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Samatha Harris
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head as I took a sip from my water glass.
“What have you done to your hair?” she asked. Her tone of voice made it perfectly clear she was not a fan.
“I decided it was time for a change. Do you like it?” I said with a smile. When in doubt act dumb.
“Hmmm,” she said. It could have been worse, so thank God for small mercies.
The waiter approached, and my father looked relieved as he ordered his drink. I stuck with club soda while Dad and Liam both went with a double scotch. Lucky bastards. I could use a scotch right about now, but Mother insisted it was not ladylike.
My mother looked regal, as ever—her blonde hair styled into a tight chignon, her cream Chanel suit perfectly pressed, paired with her usual double string of pearls.
I did my best to keep the polite smile on my face as she watched me, waiting like a cobra for her chance to strike.
The waiter returned, passing out our drinks and taking our orders. As soon as he left, I asked my father about his horses and he was off. It was a trick I’d learned long ago. Find the topic your dinner guest is most passionate about and find a way to bring it up in conversation. Keeps the conversation flowing so no one notices you’re counting down the seconds until the evening is over.
By dessert, Liam and I were sure we’d escape the table without having to deal with Mother’s disapproval, but we were oh so wrong.
“Your father and I have come to a decision,” Mother said, interrupting Dad’s rambling about his latest Triple Crown contender. She set her napkin on her plate and placed her hands flat on the table. “This foolishness has gone on long enough. We believe it’s time you came home.”
Liam tossed down his napkin like he was throwing down the gauntlet. Let the fighting begin. “We’ve been over this before. I am not going back to law school. I don’t understand why you keep insisting on…”
“I will get to you in a moment, William,” she said, cutting her eyes at him. “I am speaking to your sister.”
I whipped my head toward her. “Excuse me?”
“We have gone along with this living-your-own-life nonsense for long enough. It’s time you came home and got serious about your future.”
“My…my future?” I said, my jaw practically at my feet.
“Yes, your future. For God’s sake, Madison. Close your mouth. You’re not a fish,” she snapped.
I looked at Liam, who was just as floored as I was. I turned to my father, who was suddenly fascinated by the ice swirling in his glass. He would be of absolutely no help, as usual.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“We never should have let you go through with graduate school, but you met Michael so it seemed to serve its purpose, but that’s over now. It’s time to put all of this mess behind us. I will set you up on the boards of a few local charities, and you will live at home with your father and I until such time as I can find you a suitable husband.” She said all of this insanity with a completely straight face, like it was perfectly natural to ask your forty-two-year-old daughter to give up her life and career to move home so you can arrange her second marriage. Maybe I was dreaming. I pinched my thigh to be sure. Nope, wide awake.
This was unbelievable! I was seething. She was insane! Mother turned her head back to me and narrowed her eyes. Oops, I must have said that last one out loud.
“I beg your pardon, young lady!”
What happened next was a little blurry, but I snapped. “You are insane if you think I’m moving home. This has to be a joke. I have a life, I have a career. I’m a fucking adult, not some rebellious teenager putting off college to party, Mother!”
Mother cut her eyes to my father, who stumbled but quickly sat up to play his role. “You will not speak to your mother that way,” he scolded. I just glared at him.
She continued like it wasn’t up for discussion. “You have proven that you cannot make an informed decision with regards
“What have you done to your hair?” she asked. Her tone of voice made it perfectly clear she was not a fan.
“I decided it was time for a change. Do you like it?” I said with a smile. When in doubt act dumb.
“Hmmm,” she said. It could have been worse, so thank God for small mercies.
The waiter approached, and my father looked relieved as he ordered his drink. I stuck with club soda while Dad and Liam both went with a double scotch. Lucky bastards. I could use a scotch right about now, but Mother insisted it was not ladylike.
My mother looked regal, as ever—her blonde hair styled into a tight chignon, her cream Chanel suit perfectly pressed, paired with her usual double string of pearls.
I did my best to keep the polite smile on my face as she watched me, waiting like a cobra for her chance to strike.
The waiter returned, passing out our drinks and taking our orders. As soon as he left, I asked my father about his horses and he was off. It was a trick I’d learned long ago. Find the topic your dinner guest is most passionate about and find a way to bring it up in conversation. Keeps the conversation flowing so no one notices you’re counting down the seconds until the evening is over.
By dessert, Liam and I were sure we’d escape the table without having to deal with Mother’s disapproval, but we were oh so wrong.
“Your father and I have come to a decision,” Mother said, interrupting Dad’s rambling about his latest Triple Crown contender. She set her napkin on her plate and placed her hands flat on the table. “This foolishness has gone on long enough. We believe it’s time you came home.”
Liam tossed down his napkin like he was throwing down the gauntlet. Let the fighting begin. “We’ve been over this before. I am not going back to law school. I don’t understand why you keep insisting on…”
“I will get to you in a moment, William,” she said, cutting her eyes at him. “I am speaking to your sister.”
I whipped my head toward her. “Excuse me?”
“We have gone along with this living-your-own-life nonsense for long enough. It’s time you came home and got serious about your future.”
“My…my future?” I said, my jaw practically at my feet.
“Yes, your future. For God’s sake, Madison. Close your mouth. You’re not a fish,” she snapped.
I looked at Liam, who was just as floored as I was. I turned to my father, who was suddenly fascinated by the ice swirling in his glass. He would be of absolutely no help, as usual.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“We never should have let you go through with graduate school, but you met Michael so it seemed to serve its purpose, but that’s over now. It’s time to put all of this mess behind us. I will set you up on the boards of a few local charities, and you will live at home with your father and I until such time as I can find you a suitable husband.” She said all of this insanity with a completely straight face, like it was perfectly natural to ask your forty-two-year-old daughter to give up her life and career to move home so you can arrange her second marriage. Maybe I was dreaming. I pinched my thigh to be sure. Nope, wide awake.
This was unbelievable! I was seething. She was insane! Mother turned her head back to me and narrowed her eyes. Oops, I must have said that last one out loud.
“I beg your pardon, young lady!”
What happened next was a little blurry, but I snapped. “You are insane if you think I’m moving home. This has to be a joke. I have a life, I have a career. I’m a fucking adult, not some rebellious teenager putting off college to party, Mother!”
Mother cut her eyes to my father, who stumbled but quickly sat up to play his role. “You will not speak to your mother that way,” he scolded. I just glared at him.
She continued like it wasn’t up for discussion. “You have proven that you cannot make an informed decision with regards
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