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Jeremiah laughed and batted his hand away. “Cut it out! Now you’ve got grease in my hair.”
“I hear it’s good for that.”
Jeremiah rolled his eyes. “Right.”
After dinner, Jeremiah continued working on the study guide in the living room while Luke went into his office to check his email. He was surprised to find one from Mark Whitaker, his boss at the firm. In the email, Mark stated he had recommended Luke for an opportunity in New York City partnering with the biggest client their firm had ever landed. Since Luke had finished the contracts with his previous clients, this would be his only one.
As he read through the details, Luke felt a twinge of hope. Mark had promised him a reasonable schedule, a chance to be home with his son, and the opportunity to start fresh in a new place. The relocation package was generous, including a top-notch school for Jeremiah that would fast-track him to ensure he graduates on time.
Luke felt torn as he read through the email. He had moved down to this small coastal town to escape the pressures of his old life, to leave behind the long hours and endless travel that had left him feeling empty and disconnected from his family. But now, with this offer on the table, he couldn’t ignore the pull of his former career.
He leaned back in his chair and reread Mark’s email for the third time. The prospect of having everything taken care of for him and Jeremiah was tempting, to say the least. And Luke couldn’t deny the fact that he and Emma were over, and there was nothing left for him in Hadley Cove.
Although the offer checked all the boxes, he wanted to get Jeremiah’s take on it. Ultimately, he would do whatever it would take to keep their relationship on the right path, be it here in Hadley Cove or New York. After turning off his computer, he stood up and stretched, then walked into the living room.
“Hey, can you take a break from studying for a minute?”
Jeremiah put his pen down. “Sure, what’s up?”
Luke took a seat on the sofa and told Jeremiah about the email he’d received with all the details of the job offer. Once he finished, he looked over at Jeremiah, waiting for him to speak.
“So, what do you think, Jer? How does it sound?”
Jeremiah waited a few moments before replying. “It sounds like it could be good, and I do kinda miss the big city. But Hadley Cove is growing on me. It would be nice to have a fresh start again, though.”
“So, is that a yes from you?” Luke asked. “I promise I won’t let the job drive us apart.”
Jeremiah sighed and stood up, grabbing his study guide. “I don’t know. You’ve made promises like that before.”
“Well, you got me there. I want to show you things have changed. We still have some time to think about it. Didn’t mean to interrupt your studying. Goodnight, son.”
Luke headed upstairs to the bedroom, deciding he’d hold off on replying to Mark. Jeremiah had every right to have reservations. Luke hadn’t exactly kept his promises before to his son. More than anything, Luke wanted what was best for their future. Lying in bed as his eyes fell heavier, he made mental notes of the pros and cons of taking the offer, weighing each of them carefully. While his focus mostly surrounded his mending relationship with Jeremiah, he couldn’t help but think about the eight hundred miles that would separate him from Emma.
Was he really ready to move on and let go of the woman he loved?
Chapter 41
Emma
It had been a week since she’d seen her estranged father at the supermarket. She wrestled with Luke’s advice, contemplating if he was right about listening to what her dad had to say, even if it was for her own healing. Emma kept putting off the phone call by making up excuses of why she couldn’t...she had to bake treats, she had to take Riley out, she had to catch up on her book club reading.
But enough was enough. Today was the day she would reach out and make plans to meet up. As Emma thought more about what she would say to him, she realized that he was just a man. A flawed, broken man who had made a mistake and had to live with the consequences. And even though she couldn’t forgive him for what he had done, she knew that holding onto the pain would only hurt her in the end.
The thought of calling him put her nerves on edge as she paced back and forth in the kitchen. With a deep breath, Emma gathered the courage to call her father, ready to confront the pain of the past and move forward.
I can do this, she told herself. Her fingers trembled as she finally picked up her phone and dialed the Hadley Cove Police Department.
“Hi, I’m looking for Paul Wright. I think he’s just newly rejoined the force, and I—”
“Yes, I can connect you with Officer Wright. Who may I say is calling?”
“This is Emma Wright.”
“Alright, Ms. Wright. I’m going to put you on hold for just a minute while I patch you over to him.”
“Thank you.” Emma let out a slow exhale as the line clicked. She started drumming her nails on the kitchen table, then tapping her foot while she waited.
“Emma?” Paul answered in shock.
