Page 25 of One Last Thing Before You Go

He laughs softly and takes a seat, putting his briefcase on the table. “Getting down to business. I love this determined, psycho person you've turned into. It’s refreshing. A nice change of pace from your other usual hot mess of a self.”

I laugh a little, not taking even the slightest offense to his comment. “Psycho? I don't think so. Determined? For sure. It feels great to feel this way again. To feel like my life has a different type of purpose than just thinking of how it can go back to what it once was. I’m actually doing something for the first time in years.”

“That’s amazing, Sis. I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks. But I’ve never been a certified hot mess, have I?”

“Nah, not really. I feel like the only way you can deserve a title like that is if you’re responsible for how messy your life turns out. And you’ve done nothing wrong. All that bad shit from before… It all just happened to you.” He smiles sadly at me, reaching out for my hand. I take it because I don’t know what to say.

I wince and look away, because it didn’t necessarily just happen to me. Everything was a consequence of choices I made. Still, I don’t press the subject too much. “Yeah, well, I guess it’s why I need this to work out. It’s basically my get out of Ceres Cove Free card, isn't it? Take the money and run.”

Daniel frowns slightly, his smile dropping just a bit, taking his hand back. “Is that your plan? To take the money from the sale and run?”

“Shouldn't it be? I mean isn't that what I've been trying to do all these years? Haven't I been here long enough?”

My brother shrugs as he takes a seat. “I don't know. What's so wrong with Ceres Cove?”

I shoot him a look as I walk around the desk and sit in Walter's chair, hearing it creak as I do. “Come on. It's not like there's anything wrong with it; it's just… You and I both know this place isn't for me. I want to go back to my old life. I hate it here. Hate this town, hate what it represents. It feels like purgatory to me and you know it.”

Daniel presses his lips together and nods, pulling out some paperwork from his briefcase. “Then I guess we should get to work, shouldn’t we? Wouldn’t want to keep you in this purgatory longer than you can stand.”

I roll my eyes. “You know this isn’t about you or the people in Ceres Cove—at least not everyone, because I could definitely do without the town rumor mill. But I need more. I want more. I want to be a part of something bigger than this.”

He sighs deeply, nodding as if in understanding, even though we both know he doesn’t get it. At least not the way he should.

“Gotcha. So you think this money will finally help you get back on your feet?”

“Well, it’s up to you. You need to find us someone who will buy the place for enough.”

Daniel snorts. “No pressure, though, right?”

I laugh softly. “As if you’d ever feel it. We both know you kick ass at your job. Even in the middle of nowhere, you manage to be a star realtor.” And I’m not even lying. My brother is a partner at his current commercial real estate firm. His reach is across three counties, and even in this messed up economy, he has been able to become the real estate king of middle-of-nowhere Maine.

“If you’re hoping flattery will get me to drop my agent listing fee… Well, keep going, because maybe I will.”

We laugh, but eventually get down to business. I manage to convince him to actually drop the agent fee, and we agree to meet up in a week or so to finalize timelines and hammer out other details. After just fifteen minutes, our business is concluded.

“So where are your co-owners? I thought all of you were going to be in this meeting,” he asks, as I pass him a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

“Jenn is finishing setting up everything for the store’s going away party—are you coming tonight by the way?—and Knox is doing some research upstairs.”

“Can’t make it. The twins have their first ballet recital today, remember?”

“Shit,” I mutter, chastising myself for forgetting about my nieces’ big day. “I have a present for them at home, actually.”

He laughs at my expression, the guilt I’m sure is evident in my eyes. “Lottie, they’re four years old. Don’t beat yourself up for missing it. If you were their parent, it would be another thing. But it’s okay.”

I frown, annoyed with his placation. “I know I’m not their mom. I’m just saying, I would’ve liked to have gone.”

“You have work. And that’s totally okay. Any other day, Best Aunt of the Year Award.”

He smiles encouragingly at me and takes another sip of his coffee.

“Are we going to talk about him, though? Or are we just going to ignore the elephant in the room?”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” I say, hiding behind my coffee.

“Knox?” He raises a brow. “I spoke to Adri—she told me all about him. And, like, half this town knows. Plus, I heard from⁠—”