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“Somehow I doubt that.” She pouts, glancing at Jordan, and I laugh. “Well, maybe only a little bit. But Hank will keep you busy.”
“Oh he’s always busy cooking and when he’s not, he’s filming.” She waves her hand dismissively.
"But one whole month Bree! You’ll probably return to find me at your front door crying my eyes out." Then she remembers, "Oh no, you won't have your apartment anymore as of tomorrow! Well, I’ll be in the lobby of your shiny skyscraper, that is, if the porter doesn’t kick me out.”
"He probably would." Since the Elena drama, the new manager had amped up the vetting process for visitors. I often joked that I was sure if I went out for a haircut and returned they wouldn't let me in.
I already moved in with Jordan, but I kept my apartment which came in handy for those times things got really busy at Century Gallery because it was torture commuting two hours each way during the week. Those were the times Dalia and I also got to spend time together.
“And Bonnie’s away too!” Dalia whines. “I’m going to be bored out of my skull.”
Bonnie had to temporarily move back to Dublin a few months ago because her Nan, her last living relative, fell and broke her hip. Since she could work remotely there was nothing stopping her from being with her grandma.
Ethan and Mike, as well as the other Acercraft crew, came to greet us, then so did the top executives at Apex Energy and their spouses.
Drew, Uncle Ben, and Aunt Bea were all hugs and well wishes. Aunty Bea cried. She finally retained enough to realize my mom had passed, I guess because of Maria’s absence today, but she might forget again, you never know with Alzheimer's.
Drew declared that he had a really good feeling about Jordan and I while madly scratching at his elbow. He said for a few moments during the ceremony he’d felt like he was attending our fiftieth anniversary. Drew isn’t always spot on, but I’ve learned to have a healthy respect for his crazy bone.
Finally Agnes, Merry, and Letty come over. Letty kisses me on both cheeks, wishing us well. I can't help liking her, if for nothing else because she was the catalyst that opened my eyes to what I really felt for Jordan.
Agnes takes me in her arms, holding me for some time. “Thank you Bree, you’re exactly what my son needs. He was great before, but now he’s phenomenal in every way. He’s found his soulmate.” She looks back at me with tears in her eyes. I hear what she’s not telling me. I’m sorry.
For Brendan Farrington, who she is currently in the process of divorcing.
“I know Mom, it’s okay.” Agnes had been right. Without Apex Energy, Brendan became a shell of himself. It was as though he had no other identity apart from being the CEO. He’d gentled and become softer spoken.
I tried to explain the change by telling Jordan ‘power corrupts.’ But he insists it’s the opposite, because ‘power brings out the true character of a man.’ I did manage to get him to speak to his dad again. A couple of words, once a month, which I have to say is huge progress.
Tim Hadfield ended up being imprisoned for ten years, Molly got off with community service, and Sam with six months after they helped nail Tim. Pyp was never found. I still am not interested in speaking to Molly.
Brendan was clever to ensure that there was no shred of evidence that he instructed Tim to take those specific actions against me or my father. Jordan will never ask him, because not only would we not believe him, we told ourselves we really didn't want to know. Especially if we wanted to get him and Jordan on some sort of talking terms.
“Stop hogging, Mother.” Merry edges Agnes away and embraces me. Merry is the baby sister I’d always begged my own mother for. “I can’t believe you’ll be away for a month.” She whines, her face buried in my neck. “At least you’ve got your phone so we can catch up. Tristan’s going to be walking all over me by the time you return.”
“No he's not, you’ll be fine.” Tristan is Merry’s boyfriend. He’s wonderful and loves her, if only a tad intense. Merry hasn’t had a great example of a dominant male figure so she sees red flags everywhere and tries to self-sabotage.
I can’t tell her that her brother is dominant as well and he’s freaking awesome.
“Now, I’m afraid the Merry and Bree Express Therapy Train will have to be suspended for the time being seeing as I’ll be the sole object of Bree’s focus for a while,” Jordan says.
She makes a face. “You’ve always been too greedy for your own good you know.”
Jordan laughs, pulling her in for a hug. “Merry, sweetheart you’ll be fine, just get out of the way let him love you okay?”
The man continues to surprise me with how intuitive he is. I’ve never spoken to Jordan about this and he’s not the least bit interested in our girly whispers and giggles but I suppose he’s got the gist somehow.
Finally, it’s time to leave. Dalia and Ethan shoo us into the waiting limousine and everyone waves as it pulls out. The moment the windows and the partition come up, Jordan’s hands and mouth are all over me.
“Why, Mr. Farrington, your patience is legendary...”
“We’ve got fifteen minutes to get to the airport, otherwise we’re looking at another hour, give or take, before the jet is airborne. You want to smart mouth me right now or do you want to come?”
My mouth shuts. I can’t argue when he spells out my options that way. “I’ll take the second please.”
“Coming right up Mrs. Farrington.”
