“What does that stand for?” I asked, pointing to the engraving.
“Ora pro nobis. It means ‘pray for us’ in Latin. Saint Ann is the patron saint of mothers. And equestrians.”
I looked up in time to see his mouth quirk in a slight smile. “Horses?”
“It seemed to fit.” Matthew reached across the table and closed his hand on top of mine and the necklace. “Don’t worry, I don’t expect you to wear it—that’s why I didn’t get a chain too. But I thought maybe you could keep it in your pocket sometimes if you want, for good luck. Or, you know, in the back of your closet, if you’d rather.”
He shrugged, like what I did with the trinket was of no consequence, but the way his eyes darted, avoiding my gaze, told me differently. He needn’t have worried.
I took the pendant out of the box and wrapped it securely in the blue silk. True, it did feel a little strange to think of wearing the iconography of a religion that wasn’t my own. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t keep it close. I pulled out my wallet and tucked the silk-wrapped disc into the empty coin purse. Once it was zipped, a circular outline was evident through the leather. It would spoil the Chanel, but I couldn’t have cared less. It would only do more to remind of this moment.
“I’ll treasure it,” I said. “Thank you, Matthew.”
His green eyes shone with pleasure. “Anytime, doll.”
“I’m really glad you’re here,” I told him honestly. “I don’t know that I would have had the courage to go through with this if you hadn’t gotten it in your head to follow me. Thank you.”
“I’m sure you would have done fine. But…” He gave me a funny look, then sighed. “I should tell you something.”
I frowned, and my stomach clenched a bit tighter. “What is it?”
He paused, looking entirely too guilty for my comfort.
“I didn’t just come of my own accord,” he said as he turned his saucer back and forth on the bar top. “I wanted to, but I, ah, couldn’t afford it. My administrative leave is unpaid, see, and I couldn’t just take off and leave Frankie with all the bills, so…well, Jane and Eric, um, technically, they hired me. To meet you here. Paid for the car, the hotels. All of it.”
I swallowed. My skin felt like it was prickling all over. Was it September all over? Matthew suddenly encouraging our relationship again when in fact he had an ulterior motive?
I did love you, he had insisted only a few weeks ago.
I had been too angry, too confused to believe it then.
But now? Had I meant it when I said I had forgiven him?
I looked up. “So, you’re getting paid to be here?”
Matthew nodded uncertainly. “That’s right. I had to take it if I wanted to come. Frankie can’t pay the mortgage by herself. And she and Sofia, they depend on me, you know…”
I nodded, though I felt quite ashamed. Of course. How could I have been so selfish not to consider the very real things this relationship had cost him? Or this trip, for that matter? But I had never had those kinds of responsibilities, had I? Even now, when I was technically dependent on Eric, I never questioned that he or anyone else in my family would lend me enough—more than enough—to live on. I had never had to work for a single thing. Not really.
“Are you mad?”
I blinked as I retrieved my phone from my purse. “Mad? No. I’m not sure what I think about Eric hiring a babysitter for me, but I’m not mad that you accepted an offer to replace the job I cost you.”
Quickly, I pulled up a contact and pressed the call button.
“What are you doing?”
“Hush,” I said. “It’s ringing.”
Matthew’s mouth dropped, but curiously, he obeyed.
“Bridget McAvoy,” answered Eric’s personal assistant in a dignified, if sleepy voice.
“Hello, Bridget, this is Nina de Vries,” I said, then flushed as I realized what time it was in New York. “I’m so sorry to wake you. I’ll call back—”
“No, no, no, Ms. de Vries. I was up, I promise.”
I smiled. Matthew’s brows crinkled in amusement.
“Well, if you’re sure…”
“Yes, Ms. de Vries. Mr. de Vries said you were top priority during your trip. Is everything all right? Something you need?” The poor woman sounded confused that I was calling her at all.
“I need you to pass a message on to Eric, please. I’ll send him a text too. It’s come to my attention that he hired Mr. Zola to accompany me here as a translator.”
“Oh…yes…you see, Mr. de Vries simply offered Mr. Zola the equivalent of his former salary at the district attorney’s office.” Bridget spoke quickly, clearly concerned that I was upset over the arrangement. “It’s only enough to pay his bills, ma’am.”
“No, no, Bridget, you misunderstand,” I said. “It’s not enough.”
“Not—not enough, ma’am?”
Matthew was frowning even more adorably now. By this point, the street around us was humming with activity as people finished their morning commutes. He could obviously only hear my side of the conversation.
“Not nearly,” I said. “Bridget, please run a check on Mr. Zola’s accounts, and then tell Eric that I am requesting funds from my trust to pay the balance on the remainder of Mr. Zola’s debts, including his student loans and mortgage.”
Matthew’s elbow slipped off the bar.
“Nina,” he sputtered. “What—what?”
“And I would like whatever wage he is receiving for this trip doubled,” I finished with a wry smile. “Eric won’t argue, and if he does, tell him to take it up with Jane. Or call me, if he must.”
“Very well,” Bridget said, still somewhat bleary. “Will
