"The squatters took the second floor when I got here."
"That is not funny!" His southern drawl booms through the line, and this time I laugh.
"I am fine. I have a few connections here, which hopefully will lead to friends. Stephanie is in town and she's bringing Darby by tomorrow. Darby's husband, Pierce, is part owner of a construction company and has agreed to give me some advice and guidance. If he can't take on the project, he's got some recommendations. Once this gets underway, I'll figure out my next steps in my career."
"You have all the answers. Have you thought of the headache and mess of this renovation?"
"Yeah," I chirp happily. That is the one thing that I'm looking forward to.
He sighs long and loud, and I realize we've come to an impasse—for now.
"We'll come help."
"You don't have to do that. I will hire the best. Pierce Kendrick has an impeccable reputation. He won't steer me wrong."
"Maybe me or one of your brothers should be with you tomorrow. It's good to have a man by your—"
"I dare you to finish that sentence. If you imply my gender puts me at a disadvantage, you'll be digging a hole you can't crawl out of. I can understand you're protective and it means the world that you're concerned. But I can handle myself. Don't get on my bad side."
"Dammit, Ashlyn, I am only trying to look—"
"… out for me. I know and love you for it. But back off. I'm in this for the long run, and tomorrow will give me an idea of what I'm facing. It'd be great if your next call was less grumpy and more supportive."
"Your mama and I are coming down there in a few weeks. That should give you enough time to meet with this guy and see how much he's going to rake you over the coals."
I want to argue that their visit is too soon, but I don't. The drive from Chicago and the stress of the last few weeks have caught up with me. Dad and my brothers have been overly vocal with their opinion of what they refer to as my 'snap decision'. But if they come, maybe that will help ease them into this change.
"As long as you understand I don't have a place for you to stay, you are welcome to visit. Leave the attitude in Atlanta."
He huffs again, and this time it's softer. "I will ask one more time for you to consider staying somewhere until you gauge the safety and security of the neighborhood. At least until you can get new locks on the front and back doors."
"You know I did the research, and this area is safe. However, that's the first thing on my list tomorrow, Dad. Promise."
"Call us in the morning. Your mother worries."
"Will do. Love you."
We hang up and I roam throughout the large rooms with visions of what this house will look like when it's done. There are stacks and stacks of ideas, drawings, and color schemes I've been working on for how I picture this place coming together. I am no professional, but once I started researching remodeling older homes and matched my tastes, it came together.
My dad is right about one thing; I'm practically all alone here. Thank goodness for Stephanie. Stephanie Langley was a great friend while we were in law school at the University of Chicago. She returned to her hometown of Charlotte to practice law. I stayed behind, taking an opportunity at a large firm. She and I kept in touch through the years, most recently with texts and emails. But when she called a few months ago to tell me she was attending a conference in Chicago, I immediately decided to attend.
My plans to relocate to Charleston were already in motion, and when she found out, things turned around. The first thing she did was fill me in on her best friend, Darby, reconnecting and eventually marrying Pierce Kendrick. I'd met Darby years before and knew of their torrid history. Their getting back together was a beautiful story.
Then Stephanie put me in touch with Evin Graham. Evin is a portfolio and investment manager working at a bank here in Charleston. But he's also Darby's twin brother. He turned out to be a jack-of-all-trades, helping me with financing questions, guiding me with the best options.
So, even though I'm technically alone here, I know exactly three people. Four if you count my realtor.
Stephanie's already warned me that Pierce and Darby are awaiting the birth of their first child together, and he will turn me down. It's nothing personal. He's fiercely overprotective and doesn't want to load his schedule right now.
I respect that and will take whatever time and advice he can give me before moving on to interview and hire another contractor.
The men in my family may think this is a snap decision, and they are right to an extent. Purchasing this house without consulting my family was the first step in asserting my independence. An escape from the poor choices and consequences that threatened to ruin me back in Chicago. I haven't shared the true reason behind the decision to leave my old life behind with anyone. It's better to erase the past and start fresh where no one knows the woman I was. A role I played easily to keep up appearances.
I’m aware of what people think of me.
Cold-blooded, cut-throat, ruthless. The Prada Princess with a black heart.
That part of my life is over. It stayed in Chicago with the rest of my regrets and terrible decisions. For years, I gave myself to my profession, my image, and my reputation, not realizing how blind I was. It wasn't until the night it all came crashing down that I understood my reality.
Then I met him. The tall, gorgeous stranger that knew nothing about the Dior Diva and the superficial world she existed in. He uncovered a side of me that had long been suppressed, and for days I lived
