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We worked in virtual silence for the next three hours until Marie passed me the last file. “There. Place this order and you’re done.” She grinned. “And thanks for the overtime. I know how James monitors payroll.”
I laughed. “Ah, yes. The one area he watches like a hawk: expenses.” I studied the last file she handed me. “Perfect. I’ll take care of this, but you’re free.”
“Free.” Marie clasped her hands over her heart then she looked at me pointedly. “Imagine what you could do if you were free.” Then before I could respond, she bounced out of the room.
“Well, that was cruel.” I sighed and rubbed my eyes. I was the oldest thirty-year-old I knew. This wasn’t the life I’d imagined. I loved art and design. I was going to be a decorator. Then Mom died. I had to fill her void. There was never a question. I wasn’t asked so I couldn’t decline. My path couldn’t be further from my plan. So, I found joy in making design my hobby. I took the tiny nest egg my mother left me and invested in real estate. Flipping houses in Vegas was simple. After the bottom fell out of the market, they were practically giving the houses away. Only, sometimes, making a living took so much time, there was a none left to make a life.
3
Ty
I’d pickedup Harry and we were in Drew’s driveway when my phone rang. I glanced at the screen, realized it was my father, and immediately sent it to voicemail. Then we exited the vehicle and proceeded to his front door. Before I could even ring the bell, my phone was vibrating insistently again. This time, I gave in and accepted my father’s call. Obviously, he’d keep calling until I responded. I growled in frustration as I answered. “It’s Saturday. What’s up?”
“No ‘hello’ or ‘how are you,’ Tyler? That’s a terrible way to talk to your father. It’s a worse way to treat your boss,” he grumbled.
I muted the call and looked at Harry. “This may take a minute. Can you go get him packed and ready? I’ll be in as soon as I can.”
Harry nodded. “Good luck.” Then he disappeared into the house without waiting for Drew to come to the door.
After hitting the button, which allowed my father to hear me again, I tried to speak in the evenest tone. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
“That’s better.” He softened considerably.
“So, how can I help you this fine Saturday?” I stood on the stoop and rocked on my heels while I waited.
“Well, word has it there’s a property you might be able to close a deal on. I need you on this immediately.” He sounded practically giddy.
“I’ll be on it first thing Monday morning. Good talk.” I prepared to hang up, but he stopped me.
“Not Monday.Now.” His voice had already taken on the low menacing edge I’d learned to avoid as a kid.
“Dad.” I mashed my lips together as I tried to explain my current situation. There’d be no admitting I’d broken up with Paisley and needed some guy time. The discussion would immediately devolve into how I’m not man enough to keep a woman happy, as if he’d ever modeled this with Mom. What did he know? Friendship. Brotherhood. I knew where to hit him. “Here’s the situation.”
“You’re going to try to close me?” He laughed. “Good luck.”
“It’s not that. I just need you to understand where I’m coming from. Let’s forget how hard I work for you and the company all week. Forget that it’s Saturday even. Now, let’s talk about Drew.” I paused for dramatic effect.
“What about Drew? Drew Morgan?” He blew out a breath.
“Yes. Harry and I are with Drew. We’re trying to cheer him up. His uncle just died and…”
“Left him a fucking fortune.” My father laughed hysterically. “So, what about this has him so damaged? The estate taxes? The island house in the Caribbean? The vineyard in Napa?” My father let out a deep belly laugh. “Sorry. Not gonna work on me today, Ty. This is important.”
“More important than being there for a friend?” I hesitated for a second then laid down my final card. “He’s afraid he’s on the same path. He’s scared he’s going to die sad and alone. He worries he’ll never have a wife, a family.”
“Yeah, because they’re such a great comfort, let me tell you.” My father huffed. “I have a wife whose spending habits will keep me working until the day I die, and a son who never wants to work a day in his life.”
“I don’t think that’s quite fair, dad. I travel for you. I work long hours. Hell, it cost me my relationship with Paisley.” I sighed and felt nearly as sad as I pretended.
“What? Paisley?” I could hear his desk chair squeaking and I knew he was working from home instead of the office.
“Yeah. Paisley. He’s not the only one who’s now afraid of never having a family. Apparently, I can’t keep a woman either.” I bit my lip and waited.
“That’s nonsense.”
I smirked.Damn, I’m good.
“You’ll have a family. You just have to set your mind to it. You just decide this is what you’re going to do and then you make it happen. How do you think your mother and I ended up married?” He chuckled.
