An Accidental Family. Ami Weaver

shot family photos on the mantel. She vowed to make sure she raised her baby in an environment that was warm and welcoming, not precious and impersonal.

      Her mother perched on the edge of a chair near the fire. A manila folder lay on an end table next to her.

      “Hello, dear.” Jacqui rose and offered her cheek to Lainey, who came around the end of the sofa to place the obligatory kiss.

      “Hi, Mother.”

      “Have a seat.” Her dad gestured toward the sofa and turned to the mini-wet-bar. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

      Well, no. I’m pregnant. She swallowed the words. That would get this little pow-wow off to a roaring start. In fact it might create stains on the carpet from dropped or flying liquor. “No, thanks.”

      He raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he mixed his drink quickly and took the seat opposite Jacqui.

      Lainey flicked her gaze between both of them. There was no reading her parents. Whatever they’d done, they wouldn’t be smug, since they’d consider it a necessary move. She might as well get it over with. “What’s going on?”

      Jacqui frowned a little. “Wouldn’t you rather eat first? Grace has a lovely roast chicken prepared.”

      Lainey’s shoulders tensed at the deflection. “I’d like to know what’s going on.” She looked at her father but his expression was unreadable. “Dad? Please?”

      He down set his drink—a screwdriver, no doubt. “Might as well cut to the chase. Lainey, we want to help you.”

      Oh, no. Her stomach lurched. She threaded her fingers together in her lap to keep from shaking. She kept her tone measured. “Help me how?”

      “With your little shop, honey.” Jacqui reached for the folder and the hairs went up on the back of Lainey’s neck.

      “My little shop? What have you done, Mother? Dad?” She heard the note of panic in her voice. She’d been safe, had rented the business from Esther Browning, what could they possibly—?

      Jacqui beamed. “We thought you’d be pleased to know we bought your building.”

      The room tilted a little and Lainey gripped the arm of the chair, struggling to focus on her mother’s clueless face. She couldn’t have heard correctly. “I’m sorry—what? Why?”

      “You’re having such a hard time getting this going, and Esther was worried about making ends meet. You know she needs the rent to live on, dear.”

      My parents are now my landlords. The realization swept through her, followed closely by rage. “I’ve never paid late. Not one single payment.” She bit off each word. If nothing else, she prided herself on that. She knew her elderly landlord depended on that income, and made absolutely sure those payments went out on time.

      Her father cut in. “Of course not. But there’s reason to believe you might have a hard time making them, so we thought this would help both of you out.”

      Lainey sucked in a breath. Poor Esther. The prospect of having the building all paid for, most likely in cash, must have been powerful. She’d done what was best for her, and Lainey refused to fault her for that.

      Keeping her voice even, she asked, “But you didn’t think maybe you should ask me? See how I’m doing?” Of course the documents would have been anything but reassuring, but still … Betrayal rose in her throat, the taste bitter, and she swallowed hard. Why was it too much for them to think to include her in the decision making?

      Jacqui looked surprised. Or would have if the Botox hadn’t been working so well. “Well, we already know how you’re doing. The whole town does. We’ve got your best interests at heart, dear. Always.”

      Lainey shut her eyes. How often had she heard that little line? When would it actually prove to be true? “How exactly does this help me?” She braced herself for the kicker.

      “Well, you won’t have the monthly payment anymore. We won’t make you pay rent. And you can live here now. We’ll rent out that little apartment.” Her mother sounded pleased, as if she’d truly solved a problem. Her father nodded in agreement as they exchanged a look.

      She sucked in a sharp breath. “No. I can’t live here.” How am I supposed to puke in private every morning? Hide my rounding belly? Raise my child here? Panic seized her and she jumped up as her father’s phone rang. He checked it, and rose.

      “I’ve got to run. Lainey, we’ll talk more later. But for now we feel this is the best thing for you.”

      He kissed her cheek and strode out of the room. Lainey stared after him, floored because both of her parents seemed to think this was a done deal and hadn’t bothered to truly consider her. “Why did no one ask me? Has no one noticed I’m an adult? I’m not moving back home.” Where she’d go, she didn’t know. But it wouldn’t be here.

      Jacqui set her snifter on the table. “Of course you are, dear. That little place isn’t good for you. We’ve got plenty of room. We can remodel your suite if you’d like. Daniel agrees you should be here.”

      Lainey whipped around so fast she nearly got dizzy. “He has no say in my life. None. We’re divorced, remember?”

      Jacqui leaned forward, her gaze earnest. “You were wrong, Lainey. He loves you and he’s willing to give you a second chance. What is so bad about that? Now you don’t have to struggle anymore. We’ve taken care of it.”

      Lainey stared back. Her mother really believed it. She could see the sincerity in the other woman’s gaze, hear it in her voice. They didn’t understand it was Lainey’s problem and she wanted to be the one to solve it—or not. That had been the whole point of taking over the shop—to make it work by herself. Now the choice was gone.

      She lifted her chin and met her mother’s expectant gaze. “I’m not coming home.” Each word came out crystal-clear and Jacqui’s eyes widened. “I’m happy where I am. I love my job, my shop. My apartment. I’m not going to give it up, give you control of my life, because you can’t accept I’m an adult and haven’t chosen the path or the man you wanted for me.”

      Jacqui frowned. “Lainey, please be reasonable. You needed help. We gave it to you.”

      “Yes, but at what cost to me?” Despair rose and Lainey fought it back, preferring anger. There was really only one option here, since she wasn’t going to walk away from the shop she loved. “What do I have to do to get it back?”

      Jacqui sat back. “Pardon?”

      “I want it back,” she repeated. “I’ll buy the building flat out from you. And you’ll have to completely butt out of my life.”

      Jacqui frowned, as if this wasn’t going the way she’d planned. “I don’t think—”

      Lainey stood up, the words she should have said years ago boiling out of her. “I’m not letting you force me into this. And there’s no hope for Daniel. You have no idea what my marriage was like. None. I’d hope you’d want better for me, even if it’s not what you would have chosen.” She picked up her purse with shaking hands. “I’m going, Mother. I’ll find somewhere else to live. And don’t worry. I will make those rent payments on my shop. They will be on time. I’m never late.”

      Pulse roaring in her ears, she walked away before Jacqui could say anything else.

      The nerve. Lainey pulled over a couple of miles past the house and sat for a minute, tears of rage pouring down her face. The nerve.

      Poor Esther. Lainey hoped they’d at least given the woman a fair price. But while apparently not above blackmail, her parents weren’t cheats. One small thing in this whole mess to take comfort in.

      What she needed was a plan. One that could get her the money, and the time, to solve this herself—which was all she wanted. Just to prove she could