Page 109 of You Know You Wanna

Exactly five hours after I’d arrived without warning him that I was coming, Declan pulled me into a meeting with Alan about the golf course. While we waited in the conference room in the business center for the old man to arrive, my friend finally came clean. He’d been dodging the subject since before I’d left, but without me even asking him about it again now, he just came out with the truth.

“I’m staying for Gracie,” he said. “While I’m here, I’ll oversee the work at the Greens and at Blue Pines, and I’ll deal with everything else remotely, but I can’t leave yet, Remi. I’m sorry, but I’m going to be here for the foreseeable future.”

I tried to keep a straight face as I arched an eyebrow at him, but then I started chuckling and shook my head. “I already knew that, Dec. It’s nice that you finally caught up, though. It took you long enough.”

“It’s okay with you if I stick around, then?”

“Well, I mean, yeah. I would if I could, but I can’t and you can, so you should.”

He laughed. “That was almost poetic.” After pausing for a beat, he sighed. “I was supposed to drive the Maserati home.”

I shrugged. “Keep it here to use until you leave, then send someone with it. It’s not like I don’t have any other cars.”

I’d already given the Jeep I’d been so fond of to Jacqueline in the divorce. The Maserati had been an impulse buy and I had another one just like it in the garage at my building. Declan nodded and gave me a pinched look.

“I’m sorry, man. I feel like I’m leaving you in the lurch. Why don’t we just move HQ here? Lulu can transfer to school in Bluebell Hollow and we’ll do all our client meetings remotely. At least that way, I’ll know I’m not sticking you with all the work.”

“You’ve been sticking me with all the work for years,” I joked. “On a more serious note, it’s fine, Dec. I can’t move here. I meant it when I said that I would if I could, but I really can’t. Lulu auditioned for that youth program at Juilliard and I’m not sending her to boarding school when I only just got custody.”

I bit my upper lip and exhaled heavily through my nose. “Also, the new custody agreement I literally just signed last week says that Laurene will be based with me in New York. The terms are pretty clear. Even if she doesn’t get into Juilliard, I can’t just up and leave. I’d have to get another amendment to the agreement and that might make it all fall apart again.”

“It was worth a shot.”

I chuckled. “Yeah, it was. I’ve given it plenty of thought, but ultimately, Birdie wants to get away from here for at least a while anyway. It works out well for now, and in the future, I guess we’ll just have to see where life takes us.”

“I didn’t expect life to bring me to Bluebell Hollow, North Carolina,” he said, laughing as he raised his eyebrows at me. “Can you imagine how either of us would’ve reacted if you’d told us this even just a few months ago?”

I snorted, but before I could respond, the door opened and Alan walked in. Ignoring Declan completely, he focused on me. “You’ve come to take her away, haven’t you?”

Declan stood up immediately, shooting me an apologetic grin. “I’m just going to leave you guys alone for this conversation.”

Disappearing at warp speed, he pulled the door shut behind him and Alan cocked his head at me, sitting down on the chair at the head of the table. “Level with me, son. You’re not here about the golf course, are you?”

“No,” I said honestly. “I’ve asked Birdie to come back to New York with me. You’re right. I did come for her and I never intended on leaving here again without her.”

“Which means she’s already agreed,” he said, coming to the correct conclusion. Puffing his cheeks up with air, he blew out as he nodded. “I figured she would, and if this is what she wants, then she should do it. I’m glad you came to get her, son. She’s been a wreck since you left.”

“So have I.”

“Just promise me one thing,” he said, cloudy blues intent and serious on mine. “Take care of her, boy. She’s not a fancy, worldly woman like that ex of yours. Hell, the closest Birdie has ever come to leaving the country is going to the Nordic Spa. She’s going to need your patience, support, and understanding, and you better not let that big city you love make an asshole out of her.”

“With all due respect, Alan,” I said, holding his gaze steadily. “I love Birdie, and while I will promise you that I’m going to take care of her, I also resent the implication that I even need to be asked.”

He looked at me for another long beat before he burst out laughing. “Good. That’s good, Remington. That’s the right answer. I knew you’d look after her. I had to make you promise though, right? Her daddy never would’ve forgiven me if I hadn’t and I’m not looking to be struck by lightning if he sends it after me from above.”

I chuckled. “I’ll have to remember about the lightning. You think her daddy would really send a bolt after us?”

He gave me a droll look. “Well, I don’t know, son. Between the two of us, you’re the only one who fathered a little girl. What do you think?”

“I think I’m going to have to put up lightning rods on my roof,” I teased. “Just in case.”

He chortled a little bit, then glanced at the door. “Did Dec really leave? I thought he was the one who’d asked for this meeting.”

“He was, but I think he wanted to give us some privacy. Hang on a minute. I’ll go find him. Let’s talk while we’re here. Get a few more details ironed out so we can get this extension going.”

About an hour later, I was finally free and the first thing I did was track down my daughter. She and I had spoken a bit about my relationship with Birdie on our way over here, but since I hadn’t known where I stood with her myself, I hadn’t been able to give Lulu definite answers.

The picture had changed now. Earlier, after I’d spoken to Birdie, I’d meant to go find Laurene, but she hadn’t been at the Kids Camp, having taken off on a hike with Cassidy instead. This time, however, they were both lounging around the Chill Room when I walked in and waved her over.