“Don’t get all worked up, Randolph.” His mother rested a hand on his dad’s arm. “I’m sure that’s not what he meant.”
“Actually, Mom. It is. I want to put off the promotion. In fact—” Hesitating, he cracked his knuckles. The staccato pop filled the heavy silence while he summoned his nerve. “I want to take a sabbatical from Cahill Enterprises.”
His mother inhaled a horrified gasp as if he’d just confessed to living a double life as a hardened criminal.
“Absolutely not,” his dad said brusquely. “Conversation closed.”
“The conversation may be closed, but I haven’t changed my mind. This is happening, Dad. But I’m not quitting. I’m just taking a break to pursue something else for a while.” Although, he had a feeling returning to work for his father at the end of his sabbatical would be even harder than he thought.
“This is because ofher, isn’t it?” his mother hissed with poorly suppressed outrage.
“It’s my decision,” Flynn said firmly, trying to keep Sage away from the firing line.
“You may think it is, but that girl has cast a spell on you. Whatever they’re doing at the place with their bees and herbs, it’s borderline witchcraft.”
“Come on, Mom,” he groaned at her obvious exaggeration. “You know it’s not. And if you keep saying stuff like that about Sage and her family, I’ll leave right now and we won’t come to the gala tonight.”
“We?” Her eyes widened.
“Yes, Mom.We. Sage is coming. And I’m asking you to please end your ridiculous war against her.”
His mother lifted her chin ever so slightly, but didn’t say another word.
Was it his imagination or were her eyes wet with tears?
“This gala is about more than your promotion,” his father interjected, ever the voice of calm reason. “It’s the forty-year anniversary of Cahill Enterprises. You’ve been a big part of the company, so I’d still like you to come on stage with me and your mother during my speech. We’ll discuss yourdecisionlater.” The way his father said the worddecision, he might as well have used air quotes.
Flynn should’ve known he wouldn’t be able to skate by with one conversation on the subject.
But he’d worry about that later.
Tonight, he simply wanted to enjoy the evening with the woman he loved and make up for lost time.
Chapter 32
ABBY
Abby stood on the shore,her back to the world, the open water stretched out before her. She dug her toes into the silky sand, basking in the warm sun against her skin and the cool wind in her hair.
Several feet up the embankment, the inn bustled with daily life. Sadie and Lucy rested from their travels, settling in their rooms and enjoying their luxury welcome baskets. Piper helped Logan prepare dinner—which would be interesting since neither one of them could cook—and Max and Tyler played with Ron, Max’s pet rabbit, in the sitting room.
Somehow, life went on, ebbing and flowing like the tide, even as she sank deeper into the abyss of heartache and confusion.
Donnie had an affair. She knew that for certain now.
No, they hadn’t been married yet, but how much did that really matter? She’d committed to him, heart and soul. She’s trusted in his faithfulness. And he’d betrayed her.
Please, tell her that I love her. And that I’m sorry.
Donnie’s words tumbled in her mind, consuming her every thought. They simultaneously sliced her heart and soothed it, leaving her more torn than ever.
An amber glint in the wet sand caught her eye. Rushing into the foamy surf, she plunged her hand into the icy water before the receding tide reclaimed its treasure.
As the wave retreated back to sea, Abby returned to higher ground and perched on a driftwood log to examine her prize.
A tiny pebble of orange sea glass rested in her palm, pure and stunning, like a small slice of the sun.
Although she’d seen the unusual hue in art and jewelry, she’d never glimpsed the gorgeous rarity in the wild. According to Sage, who’d made her a beautiful sea glass tree topper last Christmas, orange was the least common color, since very little orange glass was ever produced.
