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She giggled at me, like it was the funniest thing ever and agreed. “I think that you will find that there are lots of things to do here, that you wouldn’t be able to do back in California. The people are different, too, as you can see.”
“Do you miss this place? You act like you do. I didn’t even know you came back here.”
She agreed. “I’ve came back a few times. Your father has had business here for years.”
I didn't want to get into dad’s work. It was complicated and a little shady. He did not get to the billionaire mark by doing things the right way.
“Why have I never been here before?”
She shrugged. “You were so busy in school, and you've had a lot on your plate, Betty.”
“Are you going to tell me why we're really here?”
Mom looked up towards the driver, like he was going to eavesdrop and tell the world her business.
“Let's just say that your father is having some trouble with some accounting issues. We feel like it's best for us to come here, where a lot of our business is already centered. It has some beneficial laws here as well, that could help your father in the future.”
“Why does it sound like dad did something wrong?”
Mother got serious. “Your father hasn’t done anything wrong, Betty. Don’t even say that joking. He hired an accountant that took liberties with loopholes. In a few months, all of this will be figured out, and we will be back in the sunshine again. This is a nice place to visit, but I don’t see how anyone would want to live here.”
Another guy passed while we were at the stop light, and I have to say that the eye-candy was tempting. I had to agree for once with her. I don’t know if it was a good place to stay, but a visit seemed certainly in order.
“Why don’t we get to the new house? We can look around, and then you can get ready for the party.”
“What party?”
“The one we are throwing to introduce ourselves to the area.”
I nodded, knowing what that meant. My mother wanted to show off to all of the new people that were going to be in her life. She wanted to be admired and that took people.
“Do I have to go?”
She frowned at me and then sighed. “You know, sometimes I just don’t understand you, Betty. This is a perfect opportunity for you to meet new people.”
“You’re right. I will do my best.”
She smiled at the false answer, satisfied that she’d heard what she was supposed to hear. That was enough for her. Mom didn’t worry about if it was true or not.
“You never know, Betty. We might find you a husband here. A lot of these men are filthy rich, but you’d never know it. It’s all about land and cattle out here.”
I shook my head and laughed. There was no way that I was going to find a guy here. Here, in Billings. I looked around, and though the men were of a different breed, that didn’t mean that I was ready to rush into marriage, although at twenty-one, my mom acted like I was going to be a spinster at any moment. I was getting old, she reminded me all the time.
“I was married by your age, Betty.”
“The world’s different now.”
“No, it’s not. It’s just the same, no matter how much people want to make it more complicated. A woman needs to do one thing well in her life, to make the best of the rest of it.”
Another saying I’d heard before was being repeated again.
“There is nothing wrong with marrying well, Betty.”
“I know, Mom. I know.”
I was the one groaning inwardly and I closed my eyes, wondering again, what was I doing here? Did I really need money?
