There it was again, the wonder in her father’s eyes. Tessa had always believed Justin was a genius, but her mother had said he was a con artist. When Tessa had asked her father which was true, he’d said Justin was both.
Her mother reminded the two men of her presence. “Sergio! You aren’t actually considering this, are you? She’s sixteen. You can’t just let her go off and live with some man, especially one like him.” Even while outraged, she couldn’t bring herself to use any improper language to clarify what she meant by “one like him.”
“Oh, she wouldn’t live with me,” Justin said quickly. “She’d live with my sister. She’s a, uh, real lady. She’d look out for Tessa. She’d totally make sure Tessa’s protected and behaving properly. And well fed. Besides, let’s be honest here. What are you really going to do with her if she stays?”
“She’ll do what all young ladies do,” she said. “She’ll finish her education and then marry someone appropriate.”
Justin shook his head. “‘Education,’ huh? You mean more homeschooling with insipid reading and remedial math? And do you actually believe it’s going to be that easy to marry her off?” He glanced over at Tessa. “No offense, sweetie.” To her parents, he said, “She sits out at dances. She says things she shouldn’t—in public. And worst of all, she’s smart. She’s cute enough that you’d eventually get someone. It’d be worth it for some up-and-coming guy just to connect to your family. She’d hate it, though. And you’d spend a fortune waiting for that someone.”
Tessa wasn’t sure if she’d been insulted or complimented, but both of her parents fell silent. Even her mother couldn’t deny what Justin had said. Putting girls out on the marriage market was expensive. It required a lot of parties, a lot of clothes, and a lot of gift giving. Tessa’s oldest sister, Laurentia, was stunning. She’d been engaged within a month. Her next-oldest sister, Regina, was pretty too, but for whatever reason, it had taken her almost a year to make a match. Their family was well-off, but that year had strained their finances.
Justin knew he was making progress. “You’ve got two more after her. Business is good…but is it that good?”
“How do we even know any of this is true?” exclaimed her mother. “This could all be one big story so that he can take advantage of her.”
“Justin wouldn’t do that,” snapped Tessa’s father. Maybe he wasn’t sure about this offer, but he was confident of Justin’s character. He always had been.
Tessa’s mother wasn’t convinced. “I don’t like it. It’s completely unheard of, and I won’t allow it.”
Silence fell. Justin was watching Tessa’s father so, so closely. Justin knows, Tessa thought. He knows he’s got Papa. No other offer would’ve been so tempting unless Justin actually could’ve relocated their entire family. It was her father’s greatest desire. His grandparents had always hoped the mandates would lighten and allow their family to go back. Those mandates had indeed shifted. There were only small fines now for nonoptimal children, and those who followed the old ways were compensated generously. That didn’t change the strict Gemman policy toward immigrants, however. Still, Tessa’s father had clung to the family dream that some miracle might bring them back. Here it was, and there might never be a chance like this again.
“She can go,” he said at last. His face hardened. “But you have to look after her. Swear to me you will.”
Justin held up his hand. “As though she were my own daughter.”
“No!” cried her mother. “Absolutely not. I won’t allow this.”
Tessa’s father put on the fiercest look she’d ever seen from him. “I will allow it.”
Tension hung between them, so thick that Tessa could practically see it.
“Let Tessa decide,” said Justin. He sounded very reasonable and diplomatic.
All eyes turned on her, and Tessa took a step back. She’d kind of liked it when everyone had forgotten about her.
“That’s fair,” her father said, ignoring her gaping mother. “It’s up to you.”
There was a knowing look in Justin’s eyes. She understood now why he’d so gallantly offered the choice to her. He thinks he’s already got me because he always gets what he wants. Well, aside from the exile none of them understood.
“Go ahead,” he told her. “You’re going to piss off someone no matter what you decide. Might as well do what you want.”
“I don’t know if I want to go to the RUNA,” she said haltingly.