“What time do you think you’ll be back?”
I shrugged. I was going to get some air and record some songs. Plus, I had a sinking suspicion that I might be one of the reasons Sabrina couldn’t relax. I wanted her to eat and take some time to herself. She deserved it.
“A few hours.” I gave her another wink. “Don’t wait up for me.”
She nodded. “Okay.” Then she sighed. “I’ll eat, get this stinker to bed, and then look up…” She paused as her expression turned contemplative like she was trying to remember something. “Master…”
“Master Tour?” I finished for her.
She glanced over and blew out her breath. “I’ve got a lot to learn.”
I shrugged. “You’ll be fine. Just keep me on schedule and Bonnie will love you.”
Sabrina didn’t look like she believed me as I grabbed my hat and sunglasses before pulling open the door and stepping into the hallway. Once I got to the elevator, I texted George that I was going to need a car, and as the doors slid open, he responded that he had one ready.
Once I was in the car, heading through the streets of Chicago, I leaned back against the seat and took in a deep breath. My thoughts turned to the text that I’d gotten on the plane. After checking with Katie and making sure that Anastasia was safe, I’d forced myself to relax.
Frankie was all talk. He was pushing me, but I doubted he would actually follow through on his threat. Right now, I needed to get my finances in order so I could pay what was needed to get this to stop.
I swiped my screen and tapped the message icon. I typed out my message before hitting send.
How much?
6
EMERY
I was trying not to shake as I sat in the car on the way to pick up Timothy after work. Perhaps I was still in shock. Or maybe it was anger. Or maybe it was pure denial.
Charles’s words echoed in my mind. “You have six months to get married or you’ll lose your position as CEO.”
I wished I had said something, but all I did was stand there and listen. I wished I had shouted that I didn’t realize this was the 1800’s. Was the idea of a woman running a company so threatening that they would enforce the ridiculous stipulation made back when Alexander’s dad was running the company? His father had needed to protect the company from Tabitha, Alexander’s sister. She was the oldest and a wild card. If she inherited the company, they were afraid that she would run it into the ground.
Putting a marriage stipulation on the CEO position was one of the fail-safes they’d come up with. I just never thought the board would dredge it up forty years later.
I could feel Noah’s gaze on me from the rearview mirror. Despite my better judgement, I met it. I knew he could sense that something was wrong, but I didn’t want to talk about it. If I’d kept Cadbury in the dark, I sure as heck wasn’t going to share it with my late husband’s best friend.
Some things were just for me to deal with.
I sighed and glanced out the window as Noah drove the familiar streets to Timothy’s school. My mind was swirling with thoughts, but it kept settling on the text from Bash. His invitation to come to Harmony.
Maybe that was what I needed. Time with someone who made me feel grounded to Carson. Plus, warm salty air sounded like the perfect salve for my frustration. Being there would also allow me to check on the construction of The Silver Lake Hotel—my baby—and spend time with Bash and Abigail.
My shoulders began to relax as those thoughts percolated in my brain. Leaving this city sounded like heaven.
Noah pulled in next to Timothy’s school, and I straightened. As soon as he put the car in park, I pulled on the door release and headed into the school. Timothy was all chatter as I followed him to the car and climbed in. On most days, I tried to get him to slow down, but today I welcomed it, grateful for the distraction that listening to him gave me.
He told me about school, his writing test, and how Howard pushed him on the playground. I gave him my full attention, forcing any pesky thoughts from my mind. My job was going to have to wait until tonight. In the silence and darkness of my room, I’d allow those frustrations to return, but not right now. Not in this moment.
The last thing I wanted to do was cook dinner, so I had Noah stop by Al’s Pie Shoppe to pick up a pepperoni pizza. It wasn’t a five-star restaurant, but it was where Carson had taken me on our second date, and it was a tradition that I’d kept up with Timothy.
The car smelled of tomato sauce and melted cheese as Noah drove us to my condo. He parked in the underground lot and followed close behind Timothy and me as we headed to the elevator.
Once inside our apartment, I set the pizza down on the counter and instructed Timothy to go wash his hands before we ate. I slipped off my heels and moved to get some plates down from the cupboard. Noah lingered near the outskirts of the kitchen like he was unsure of where to go.
“Hungry?” I asked as I pulled out the white porcelain plates that Marjory, the interior designer I’d hired after Carson died, had insisted I buy. “They’re the latest trend,” she’d said when I side-eyed them. Maybe in the world of social media, but not in the world of a mother with a five-year-old boy.
We were on our last few plates, but we had enough for me and Timothy…and Noah.
