Page 71 of The Other Half

“I’ve had two years of your explanations. Your commitment is free. You’re welcome to leave Door County now. It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over, Cassandra.”

I was still recovering from the blow last night and his callous words felt like a slap on the other cheek. Before I could argue back, he hung up. Tears continued streaming while I stared at my phone. Yesterday I’d never been happier, my life finally headed in the right direction. Toward a certain and worthwhile future. Today I had nothing left. Just when I started putting myself back together, the cruel hand of fate yanked the rug right out from underneath me and now I didn’t think I’d ever be whole again. Everyone I cared about was wreckage in my wake and I didn’t know who to turn to. I had no one left and the emptiness inside me threatened to swallow me whole.

After an hour of sobbing into my blankets, I heard the memories of my father’s voice in my mind. He used to comfort me when I cried, but every time I did, he would say the same thing.

“Cry your tears, but then remember, tears solve nothing. Instead of crying over your situation, give me three ways you can fix it.”

Instead of allowing me to wallow in self-pity, he’d force me to problem solve my way out of the grief. And sure enough, every time he presented me with the challenge, I found a solution. My tears would dry up and I would march off to solve the cause of them. That wasn’t how I’d been living my life since their death. All I did was run farther and farther from my problems and pain. Even though all I wanted to do was cry, it wouldn’t repair the rifts I’d torn between myself and the people I cared about. Imagining my father holding my hand and pulling me up, I rose from the bed and took a deep breath.

My grandfather couldn’t sell Davenport Industries to that shady bastard, Edward Garvey. It was my birthright, and I could run it better. I knew I could and now I just needed to prove it. And tears weren’t the solution. After wiping them away, I tossed some clothes in a suitcase, fed Poppy breakfast, then carried her and my suitcase to the car. Pulling out my phone, I dialed the one person I hoped would still help me.

“Cassandra?” Eleanor asked when she answered the phone.

“Yes. It’s me. Eleanor, I need a plane ticket home,” I said into the phone while I started up the engine.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Cassandra. He’s really upset.”

“That’s exactly why I need to see him. This is all one big misunderstanding. I have to explain it to him and make him understand that I didn’t ask them to come here. They just showed up. I swear it. Please. Send the jet. Buy a ticket. Get me a train. Just get me back to New York. Today. Please.”

“Okay, Cassandra. I’ll book you a flight out of Milwaukee and have the car service pick you up at JFK.” I heard the reluctant tones in her voice, but if I was going to fix things with my grandpa, I was going to do it face to face. Like a woman capable of running a billion-dollar corporation would do.

“Thank you, Eleanor. Thank you so much. Just text me the details and I’ll see you soon.”

We hung up while I drove down my driveway and onto the road. When I saw Jake’s driveway, I turned in. I was going to make things better one person at a time. But when I pulled up, no truck sat in the driveway.

I put my car in park and reached into my purse, pulling out my little notepad. If Jake wouldn’t take my calls, maybe he would read a letter. After scribbling down my apology and begging him to call me and let me explain, I folded it up and walked up his front steps. With a deep breath, I shoved it underneath the door. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

Swallowing the lump in my throat while I refused to cry, I pulled back out. When I passed the marina, his truck wasn’t there either. Though I was desperate to see him, I didn’t have time to wait. Stopping my grandpa from selling his company was my priority today and getting Jake to forgive me would have to be next.

Hoping I was making the right decision, I guided my car through Baileys Harbor. Just a month ago this had all looked so foreign to me, so frightening. A new world so different from my own. But now it looked like home. All the quaint stores lining the roads. The sweeping views of the water that caught my eye when I drove by. The Blue Ox towered over me while I drove past, and I remembered how odd I’d thought it looked in this small town. Now it was one of my favorite places and one I hoped I could come back to soon.

Forcing my foot to stay on the gas, I drove out of town toward Milwaukee to catch my flight. It was my last chance to prove to my grandpa that I really had changed.

My limo pulled up to our apartments. The driver opened the door, and I stepped out. Taking a deep breath, I held Poppy close while I straightened my back like a rigid rod. If I was going to show Grandpa I was capable of handling this company, I needed to do it like a businesswoman... not a blubbering granddaughter begging for forgiveness.

“I’ll send your bags up,” the driver said while he dipped his head and stepped out of my way.

“Thank you,” I answered and started toward the steps to our building.

“Miss Cassandra! Welcome back!” Archie said as he swept open the door.

“It’s great to see you, Archie.” I paused to kiss him on the cheek. He dropped his eyes to the ground, concealing his shy smile.

“Is Grandpa here?”

“He is. Do you need an escort up?”

“No, thank you. I can do this on my own.” With a deep breath I went to the elevator and pressed the button. I was on my own now, and I didn’t need Archie holding my hand.

After the ride to the top, I stepped out and paused at the sight of my old surroundings. It was a drastic change from the little cabin I’d come to love so much. This used to feel like home to me, but now I felt like a visitor in my old life. Now my cabin felt like home. Door County felt like home. Jake... Jake felt like home.

Forcing his memory from my mind, I focused on one problem at a time. Right now it was my grandpa. With a stilling breath I started down the hall.

“Cassandra? You made it!” Eleanor said, stepping out of the sitting room.

“Eleanor!” I pulled her in for a hug, squishing Poppy between us. “I missed you!”

“We missed you, too.”