“Sure.”My gut clenched as I gestured to the empty chair next to my desk.“Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing major.I just wanted to let you know Lucas will be out of the office this week.”
“Is he okay?”Why hadn’t Lucas called me to let me know?Maybe I shouldn’t be so surprised since we’d barely been talking to each other?But it hurt.
“He’s fine.Just some family business.He called me just as he was boarding a plane; he asked me to let you know what was going on so you wouldn’t worry.”
I nodded, pretty sure Lucas wasn’t concerned over my worry.After all, he’d called Miles instead of me.Maybe, in a way, that was for the best because I had a feeling this was all about Mindy.Fear welled in me.I pasted a smile on my face.“Thanks.”
Every time I decided to trust someone, they left.With Lucas, at the first sign I had a different opinion than he did, he left.Miles stared at me for a moment, before he stood and left.I closed my eyes to stop the tears from falling.
Was this Lucas’ way of saying good-bye?Was he telling me he was picking his sister over me?My heart clenched.Why shouldn’t he?This was the story of my life.No one cared about me.I shook my head.
Enough!Sounding neurotic wasn’t a good thing.It was time to take control of my life.But how?I couldn’t stay in the office.I grabbed my purse and left the building.Turning right, I walked aimlessly around the area, trying to rationalize everything.
But nothing made sense to me.I stopped to see where I was.My laughter spilled over when I realized I stood in front of a building that had counseling services.Shaking my head, I turned, then stopped.Would it hurt to talk to a professional?I didn’t allow myself to overthink it and walked inside.At the very least, I could set up an appointment.
Two hours later, I walked out of the building feeling better than I had in a long time.While the appointment had only been an hour, I sat in the waiting room for the other hour before my appointment.I’d been extremely lucky.There had been a last-minute cancellation, and while I said it wasn’t an emergency, the receptionist told me since no one was on the cancellation list for today and I was already there, why not take the appointment.
I was so glad I did as she suggested.Why hadn’t I thought about this before?Maybe because I never realized how much talking things out like this would make me feel so free.I’d asked the doctor if I was being unfair to Lucas.And Mindy.I know I envied their close relationship, but had I let my jealousy destroy my relationship?
The doctor smiled and asked about my family.We then talked about my family for the rest of the time.Once I started, everything spilled out.Before I walked out, I’d set up another appointment.I’d made the right decision to see a psychologist.
My stomach grumbled.There was a restaurant down the street.Since it was past the lunch rush, I got seated right away.Part of me thought I should just get my food to go and head back to the office, but I decided not to.I would make up for the time I took away from the office.
Glancing around the restaurant, my gaze fell on a couple.They were kissing, and I was about to avert my gaze when they broke apart.I gasped.That was my father and…the accountant from Rustic?Oh fuck.The implications swirled in my brain.Not only for FI.What if my father’s infidelity was exposed?How would my mother feel?Kendall?Would they even care?Why did I even care about them?A giggle bubbled up, and I slapped my hand over my mouth.
This wouldn’t do.I stood and took the long way to the host station so as not to bring attention to myself.Thank goodness the station was out of the line of sight of the table.“I’m so sorry; I need to get back to my office.Can I get my food to go, please?”
“Of course, give me just a minute.”The hostess walked away and came back several minutes later holding a bag with my food.I paid my bill and left a good tip for the server and made my way back to the office.
Shit, this could be such a clusterfuck.How long had this been going on?Okay, let’s think about this logically.I needed more proof before I could take this to anyone’s attention.Wait a second.
Seeing my father with the accountant caused me to remember where I’d seen her before.It had been some family party over six months ago.I wasn’t surprised by my father’s infidelity; I’d known about his affairs since I was a teenager.
But what I saw today… No, this wasn’t personal for me.This was about Rustic and FI.And I needed to figure out if my father had anything to do with the problems at Rustic.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lucas
“Damn it, Lucas.I didn’t expect you to hop on a plane at my phone call,” Mindy said when I called her to tell her I was at the airport and would be at her place in an hour.Had I misinterpreted her panicked phone call this morning?
“You sounded like you needed me.”I picked up my bag and headed for the taxi line.
“Sometimes I wonder about you.”
“What do you mean?”I was puzzled.Something wasn’t adding up here.“You hung up, and when I tried to call you back, I got voice mail.”
“Yeah.”Mindy sighed.“I forgot to charge my phone.Look, let’s talk at dinner tonight.I’m assuming you’re getting a hotel room?”
“Yes.I planned to drop my stuff and come to your apartment.”Mindy lived in a small studio so there wasn’t any room for me.Not that I wanted to camp out with my sister.I needed my privacy.
Privacy so I could think.Hell, I was done thinking.That’s all I’d been doing.I wanted to call Valerie.I missed talking with her.The last week had been hell, and it had been my fault.Valerie had been overlooked by her family her entire life, and my concern about Mindy was a reminder of what Valerie didn’t have.What she didn’t know or understand.A loving family.
“Let’s meet at Mel’s on tenth at 7.I’ve got to run.My next class is about to begin.”
The line went dead.That was Mindy.She’d called at four this morning, West Coast time, forgetting about the time difference between East Coast and West Coast.My first instinct was that something catastrophic had happened, and then she hung up saying she had to get to class.
