“Well, certainly nothing that would require maternity leave,” I said dryly, picking up my own wine glass. “Granddad, you’re going to have to be patient. We’re not rushing into anything just because you seem to think a woman has no purpose but to produce heirs.” Yikes, I was ready to pick a fight when I truly didn’t want to, but I was already on edge and this line of questioning wasn’t helping.
“You can’t raise a family while working the kinds of hours you do,” he protested. “It’s common sense, Isla.”
I put down my wine glass with a little thud and frowned. “Lots of women balance a career and a family. Don’t be so old-fashioned.”
“But why?” he countered. “You have money coming to you. Dax makes an excellent living as a professional hockey player. Why would you even think about working?”
I stared at him. “Because I love my work? Because science is important and I happen to be good at it?”
“There are plenty of people studying your little space holes. It doesn’t have to be you.”
Little space holes?!
“Yes, but why shouldn’t it be me? Because I’m a woman?”
“Well, yes.”
I had to hand it to the old man; he was sticking to his guns. But so was I. I’d had more than enough of his sexist, outdated ideas and misogynistic nonsense. I was an adult and perfectly capable of handling a career and a family, if and when the time came. Plus, he needed to know it hurt my feelings when he treated me like a lesser human being.
“Granddad, you know I love you, but every time we have this conversation, it hurts me. I understand we’re from different generations, but you’re neither stupid nor insensitive, so whatever this is, you’re doing it on purpose. You don’t nag the lads about getting married or having children, but it’s all you’ve talked about for the last two years for me, and it’s exhausting.”
“You’re a young woman who’ll soon be past her prime!” he shot back. “It’s time for you to think about your future. And don’t think I don’t know what you and Dax are up to. How you got the boy to agree to pretend to be your boyfriend, I’m not sure, but enough with the charade. I know there’s nothing between you, and though I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, it’s my job to make sure you’re set in your future before I’m too old to handle it. I don’t know how many years I have left, Isla, and I want to see you settled.”
I stared at him and had the overwhelming feeling that there was something he wasn’t telling us.
“Granddad?” I cocked my head a little. “Are you unwell? Is something wrong?”
He lifted his chin. “Of course not. But I’m in my seventies, which is essentially the end of my life. At this point, it could happen at any time, and I vowed I’d see all of my son’s children settled before I pass.”
“I don’t see you nudging the lads toward the altar.”
“You and Ian are the oldest. I’ll be going down the list and you’re up.”
“I’m not up,” I said, getting annoyed all over again. “And Dax and I are most certainly not involved in any kind of charade. It offends me you would even suggest that.” Okay, perhaps I was pushing it here, but this was wearing on me and I reluctantly got to my feet.
“Isla, please. Sit down and eat.” My mother looked at Granddad. “Leave her be, Ian. Enough with the machinations. She’s a grown woman.”
“Who doesn’t know what’s good for her!” he snapped.
“I apologize, Mum, but I’m not hungry anymore.” I grabbed a roll and turned on my heel, leaving the dining room in a huff, ignoring their calls for me to come back. I was angry but there was no one to take it out on. Granddad was old, Mum was sticking up for me, and the lads, well, what could they do?
I’d made a decision, though. I was moving out. I’d start looking for a flat immediately. Now, in fact, since I had nothing else to do. It would just be easier than putting up with this every time we were in the same room together. It might complicate things with Dax, but my sanity was important too, and Granddad was making me crazy.
I had plenty of money in my savings account, a ton of furniture Mum had put away for me for when the time came, and a good salary. When I turned thirty, I would get money from the trust my father had left for me, and even if Granddad found a way to withhold it, I still had no issue supporting myself. He couldn’t keep the money from me forever, and anyway, Ian would get involved if he tried that. Normally, I wouldn’t look to my twin to handle a family matter for me, but I’d reached the end of my rope with Granddad.
I sank onto my bed and turned on my laptop. I pulled out a notebook and started making note of all the flats I liked that were relatively close to the university. I wanted to call Dax but I had a feeling he wouldn’t be pleased when I told him I was moving out, ostensibly signing a lease for a fixed amount of time. Doing that kept me in Edinburgh for at least another year, which I knew he didn’t want.
I rubbed my temples with my fingers, suddenly exhausted and overwhelmed. I’d never felt as lonely as I did right now, and I fought off the urge to cry. I was stronger than this and didn’t know exactly what I was upset about. Dax? My grandfather? My job? All of the above?
A soft knock on the door made me sigh.
“It’s Mum. Can I come in?” She peeked her head through the door.
I nodded, though I didn’t really feel like talking.
“I thought you might be hungry,” she said, putting a
