New opinions

“So first, Izzy can give her opinion on Max’s worries and then we can switch with Izzy getting our opinions. Each getting a more outside view” Emma explained, trying to make the person more distant from the problem give the answer.

Izzy took a moment to think but her answer came pretty quickly afterwards.

“I mean she could just divorce him. She’d likely get half his assets which is a luxury I wouldn’t get. I guess that’s why you want my help explaining it to her but she could maybe be convinced even without me. Other than that… I think you said Lucy wouldn’t forgive her, I think you said that's your sister? It’s not a nice way but if you all ganged up on her you could say you wouldn’t speak to her if she did sell the house. I assume it’s co-owned by both her and John so he wouldn’t be able to sell it without a divorce anyway” Izzy commented, giving her opinion.

“That… would probably work. She’s been quick to back down recently when it comes to us and while I’d rather not use that method, it’s better than the alternative if the worst were to happen” you said, agreeing with Izzy.

You watched Emma look around the table and see both you and Grace nodding, a smile on her face that she had salvaged the discussion.

“Now for Izzy’s problem” Emma said, leaving it up to Grace and you to give your opinions.

“So if you were **** to leave the house, I’d like to say I’d help and let you live with us but that brings us back to my problem. Plus it wouldn’t be up to me, it would be my Mom’s decision which we could influence but that’s not a guarantee.” you said, thinking out loud.

“If it did come to that then I’d 100% give you and your family all the information you need but I wouldn’t want to burden you. Like I said I’d hopefully move back in with my family” Izzy replied, a look on her face telling you that her family wasn’t a positive option for her.

“Honestly with Emma heading off to college I wouldn’t mind having someone else in the house” Grace added, speaking up when she saw the same expression from Izzy that you did.

“Again I wouldn’t want to be a burden. Plus with Jack included I’m sure that…” Izzy replied in an attempt to politely refuse.

“Max is family to us and now Jack, and by extension you, are family to him. If you don’t want to be a burden then you can do whatever it is that you need to do to not feel like that. I own a business that you can work for if you want a job but you have a new-born and I’m not gonna make you do that if you don’t want to” Grace explained, trying to wave away Izzy’s concerns.

“I…” Izzy went to say to refute her, letting you jump in.

“It’s an option. One of many that we want you to have if it comes to it. That’s why we are talking, right?” you added.

“...Right” Izzy finally admitted, slightly nodding her head but looking like she still didn’t believe she had the right to Grace’s offer.

The power Grace had was more than you had expected she would have given that she was technically a small business owner but given that she had given you a job and was offering a way out of this potential hole for Izzy made you realise how easy you would be able to solve some of your problems if you had stable finances.

You were still only 18 and starting something of your own would likely have to wait until after you went to college but the idea of setting up your own practice as a therapist was a dream that was now beginning to form more clearly in your mind.

“What else then?” Emma asked, getting off of the housing topic for Izzy’s sake and letting Grace jump back in.

“I don’t know your financial situation with the house but, could you speak with the bank and say you’d like to withdraw the loan application?” Grace suggested, making you and Emma perk up at the idea.

“Unfortunately the house is in his name” Izzy revealed, settling you back down.

“And your bank accounts?” Grace asked, starting to sound more professional like she was managing a business account.

“We have our own separate ones and a joint account. I did have some money saved up before I left my job to have Jack as well” Izzy replied, getting a nod from Grace.

“That’s good, if you can I’d make sure you have a rainy-day fund just in case. If you can get away with taking amounts from the joint account without him getting suspicious then I’d…” Grace continued, going deeper into a discussion with Izzy.

Grace explained some of the more intricate financial details for Izzy to consider and while most of it seemed to come from Grace’s business background, you occasionally felt that some of the tips she was giving, sounded like things that Grace wished she had done when she had been getting divorced.

The two of them seemed to get into the conversation with Izzy eagerly listening while you and Emma stayed off to the side. You gave each other a look as you had nothing to add to the conversation but it felt rude to start talking between yourselves and interrupt them.

Instead, Emma looked at the conversation going on before getting out her phone, signaling that she was going to message you before keeping it under the table. You opened up your messaging app as well and left your chat open with her, keeping your phone on silent so you could chat without making any noise.

You watched the 3 dots pop up to see she was writing something but it seemed to take her multiple attempts to write something.

Emma: It’s been a chaotic weekend for you but have you thought any more about Sarah and what she probably wants to do when you are back?

Your eyes widened briefly as you had even enjoyed watching in on Sarah showering but the fact that you had put off giving her an answer about the two of you having sex had all but left your mind. The time apart however did give you a bit of clarity to give an answer.

Max: I haven’t until now but I think it’s probably the right time when we get back. The issue will be that I need to tell either Mom or Lucy beforehand. Them finding out without us discussing it could potentially ruin everything and even if it’s gonna be an awkward conversation, I need to do it.

You watched Emma nod to herself as she read the message before looking up at you, cautiously starting to type the next message as if she was unsure on how you would respond.

Emma: Do you think Sarah will let me watch?