Millionaires' Destinies(169)

Her mother sniffed. “Yes, well, you know how he can be.”

“Yes, I do,” Kathleen said dryly. They were two of a kind, grand masters of employing guilt as a weapon.

“What did you do on the holiday?” Prudence asked, now that she’d been somewhat mollified. “You didn’t work, I hope.”

“No. I was invited to have dinner with friends.”

“Anyone I might know?”

“I doubt it. Destiny Carlton invited me. She’s been a good friend to me and to my gallery.”

“Carlton? Carlton?” Her mother repeated the name as if she were scrolling through a mental Rolodex. “Is she part of the family that owns Carlton Industries?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. Her nephew Richard is the CEO. I’m surprised you’ve heard of the company.”

“Your grandfather has some dealings with them,” her mother said, proving that she wasn’t entirely oblivious to the family’s business holdings even though she’d never worked a day in her life. “Richard would be quite a catch. He’s about your age, isn’t he?”

“He’s a bit older, but he’s also happily married and expecting his first child,” Kathleen replied with a hint of amusement. “I think you can forget about that one, Mother.”

“Isn’t there another son?” Prudence asked hopefully. “He owns some sports franchise, a football team or something like that, perhaps.”

“That’s Mack. Also married.”

“Oh.” Her mother was clearly disappointed. “Why would Destiny Carlton invite you over if there are no available men in the family?”

Kathleen wasn’t surprised her mother didn’t know about Ben. Not only did he stay out of the public eye, but he was an artist, a career not worthy of note in her mother’s book. That was one reason she dismissed Kathleen’s gallery as little more than a ridiculous hobby. If she’d seen the profits, she might have taken a different attitude, but it was doubtful.

“I’m fairly certain Destiny invited me because she thought I’d enjoy spending the day with her family,” Kathleen responded, deciding not to mention Ben.

“And spending the day with strangers is preferable to being at home with your own family, I suppose,” her mother said, the petulance back in her voice.

Kathleen lost patience. “Mother, that was not the issue. I stayed here because I wanted to work Friday and Saturday. I’d already made that decision and spoken to you by the time Destiny said anything at all about joining them. When she found out I had no plans, she included me in hers. I think it was very generous of her.”

“Of course, your work was what actually kept you away,” her mother said scathingly, making it sound like a dirty word. “How could I have forgotten about that?”

Kathleen desperately wanted to tell her mother that perhaps if she’d had work she loved, she might not have fallen into so many awful relationships, but again she bit her tongue. Getting into an argument wouldn’t serve any purpose. They’d been over the same ground too many times to count, and it never changed anything.

“Mother, why don’t you come down to visit and see the gallery for yourself?” she asked, knowing even as she made the invitation that she was wasting her breath. Her mother hadn’t made the trip even once since Kathleen had opened the doors. Seeing her daughter happy and successful didn’t fit with her own view of a woman’s world. Kathleen had finally come to accept that, too, but she kept trying just the same. Maybe if her mother met someone like Destiny, it would enlighten her, as well. Heaven knew, Kathleen’s grandmother with her passive nature hadn’t been an especially good role model.

“Perhaps one of these days I’ll surprise you,” her mother said.

There was an oddly wistful note in her voice that Kathleen had never heard before. She took heart. “I hope you will,” she said quietly. “I really mean that, Mother.”

“I know you do,” her mother said, sounding even sadder. “I am glad you had a nice holiday, Kathleen. I really am.”

“I wish yours had been happier,” she told her mother.

“My life is what it is. Take care, dear. I’ll speak to you soon.”

She was gone before Kathleen could even say goodbye. Slowly she hung up the phone and felt the salty sting of tears in her eyes, not for herself, but for the woman whose life had been such a bitter disappointment. Kathleen wanted to shout at her that it wasn’t too late, but who was she to say that? Maybe for her mother who’d allowed herself to be defeated at every turn, it was impossible to imagine that there was any hope to be had, much less reach out for it.