Persuasion belongs to Jane Austen. It's not mine.

"You are going to have to live on a strict budget for a few years," John Shepherd said for the fourth time.

Dad looked up from straightening his hair in his reflection from the polished mahogany desk. "We're not going to live on a budget. We don't spend that much money."

"You have enough money to pay off your debts within five years if you stick to a limited income If you want to supplement your income, you or your daughter will have to get a job."

Liz gasped. "A job?" Her chihuahua, Coco, stuck her head out of Liz's pink Gucci handbag at the sound. Liz patted Coco on the head. "That's right, baby. Mommy's not going to get a job."

John Shepherd rolled his eyes. "Let me make this clear, Mr. and Ms. Elliot. Both of you will be bankrupt in less than a year if you continue your spending habits. So you are going to have to cut back on many luxuries."

"But we have to pay for our house and for all of the bills," Dad said.

"You could rent out the house for the summer and find somewhere smaller and cheaper to live," Molly Russell suggested.

"That isn't a bad idea. Mr. Elliot, do you and your daughter agree?" Shepherd asked.

"Liz and I -" Dad started, but the financial planner interrupted him.

"I was talking about your other daughter, Mr. Elliot. What do you think, Anne?"

Dad's voice was filled with sarcasm. "Yes, Anne, what do you think?"

"I think Mr. Shepherd is right. Both you and Liz spend too much money and you need to pay off your debt," I said, avoiding my father's and sister's eyes. It's weird how I can stare down a fifteen-year-old when debating on the usefulness of Steinbeck and Dickens, but can't look at my family when I disagree with them.

"You say we'll lose all of our money if we don't budget?" Dad asked.

"Yes." Dad and Liz looked at each other.

"Fine. We'll go on a budget," Dad said. Liz's mouth dropped open and she looked like she was going to cry.

Molly put her hand on Liz's shoulder. "It'll be alright." Liz pulled away from Molly's grasp, stood up, and stormed out of the office. Dad went after her.

Molly stood up. "Thank you for meeting with us. We'll work out a plan soon. Come along, Anne." I followed her out of Shepherd's office.

"How is work?" she asked.

"Good." We got into the elevator and I pushed the button to take down to the first floor. I felt the familiar drop in my stomach as we went down.

"Anyone you're interested in?"

"No." I knew where this was going.

"I know this nice young man who is a son of one of my neighbors. His name is James Wardhill and he is an accountant at the Johnson & Johnson firm downtown. He is only thirty-three and looking for a nice woman like you."

"I -" The elevator doors opened. I followed Molly out again. We stood in the hallway, the late morning light filtering through the glass doors.

"He will be expecting you for brunch tomorrow morning at eleven at the Inferno Cafe. So what are you doing this afternoon?"

"I'm going over to Mary's to help her shop for things for the baby." There was no point in arguing with Molly about another blind date. She would just use emotional blackmail on me.

"Tell Mary, David, and the boys hi for me. Call me after your date tomorrow." She gave me an air kiss and walked out of the building, her heels clacking on the floor. I waited until I was sure she had left. I didn't want to follow her anymore today.

When I got to Mary's house, everything was in chaos. Jack and Nathan were running around the living room, chasing each other with toy light sabers. Mary was yelling at her sons from the couch and the house was a mess. "I'm here," I called out.

Jack and Nathan ran over to me. I picked up Nathan and he gave me a big hug around my neck. Jack wrapped himself around my legs. "Play with us, Anne," Jack said.

"Yeah, play, play," Nathan yelled in my ear.

"I have to talk to your mommy first and then I'll play with you," I said. I let Nathan down and he and Jack ran upstairs, yelling things about Jedi.

I pulled a list of websites I had found the night before out of my purse. "I found some things you might like," I told Mary.

"Could you get me a glass of orange juice? You can put the list on the coffee table," she said.

"Of course," I answered. I got Mary her juice and was polite enough to listen to her whine when I got back.

"The boys won't shut up or stay still. David won't help and I fired the nanny yesterday so that she won't kidnap the boys and hold them for ransom. My back and leg hurts and the baby's moving hurts me. Everything hurts so much that I can't move a lot. I just wish the baby was here already so that I can go back to my social life."

"Is there anything else you need?" I asked.

"Could you fluff my pillows?" I did what she told me.

We never got around to the websites. For the rest of the day, I waited on Mary, watched after and played with my nephews, and cooked and cleaned. Later that night, I was putting the boys to bed when I heard David coming through the front door. "Daddy's home," Nathan yelled. His voice can carry a long way for a three-year-old.

I heard Mary starting in on David, but David must have ignored her because I heard him coming up the stairs. "How are my boys?" he said as he came into Jack's room to say goodnight.

"We had a lot of fun today, Dad," Jack said.

"Yeah," Nathan agreed.

I handed the book I was going to read to them over to David. "I think they want their dad to read to them tonight." I hugged Jack and Nathan. "Bye, guys. Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite."

"But bugs are cool," Jack said. "Why do you have to leave?"

"Because Aunt Anne has her own bed to sleep in," David answered. "Thanks for helping today. We've been having some problems with a new author and his agent. It took all day to negotiate a deal."

"It's no problem. I always have fun with the little guys. Bye." I waved and smiled at man and two little boys and they waved and smiled back. I left the bedroom. As I walked down the stairs, I heard David reading to his sons and my nephews laughing at the story. It was a painful reminder of the life I could have had now.

I said goodbye to Mary and left the house as fast as I could. I was tired and didn't want to think about him, but I couldn't help myself.