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“Now that I can make a living at it,” he grumbles.
“I should’ve given you some to get by at least. I apologize for that.” Grandma takes off her glasses and wipes her eyes. “I was just so upset by your reaction. You get your stubbornness from me, not your father, in case you haven’t guessed.”
“Oh, Mom.” Dad shakes his head and grips the back of his neck.
Grandma digs into her purse and pulls out two envelopes. “Here you go.” She hands one to Dad and another to me. “Now we’re square. This is your profit from the sale, plus some extra because I had it invested all these years.”
Neither of us opens the envelopes. My dad shoves his in his jacket pocket, then he steps forward and hugs my grandma.
I’m happy to see them put the past behind them. That was the goal, right? Then why don’t I feel as elated as I should? I look at the inn, wondering if Mandi is watching and wishing she was next to me, smiling up at me with happiness that they’ve come together again.
Then all three turn to me.
“Now you, Noah.” Mom’s eyes are no longer teary; they’re filled with fire. “What were you thinking? You obviously hurt her.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” I say and head toward my truck.
“Stop running away,” my dad shouts.
“I’m not running. She ran out on the wedding.” I don’t stop or turn my head when I speak.
“Because it was fake!” Midge yells.
It didn’t feel very fake when I was up there. But I know my grandma is right.
I stop and turn to face them. “I’m not sure what you want me to do?”
Mom steps forward. “Can you really look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t love that girl?”
My jaw clenches. “Love isn’t enough. Grandma gave up a relationship with you for over ten years to make sure you were happy. Mandi and I want different things out of life.”
“Sometimes you sacrifice for the ones you love.” Grandma puts her hand on my arm. “I know she’s the one for you. I know that you love her.”
I get my keys out of the pocket of my suit jacket and unlock my truck. “Do me a favor and get my things from her house? I’m leaving for a job in a few days. I’ll be at Glacier Point Resort if you need me.”
I climb in my truck and get as far away from the inn as I can before I go running to Mandi, making her promises I can’t make good on.
Two weeks later…
The weather is hot,and I’m camped out on the sand with my camera on a tripod, snapping pictures of the surfer who’s about to win.
Being in Southern California has been a great distraction, but Mandi is always there in the back of my head. I haven’t reached out to her because it wouldn’t be fair. She said what she had to at the altar. What am I going to do—argue that she’s wrong when I know she’s right? What would be the point?
Willy, another photographer who has been alongside me the past few days, comes over. “Want to get a drink tonight?”
“Sure.”
“Good, I have a few friends to keep us busy.” He looks back where he came from, and I turn to see two girls in skimpy bikinis waving at us. “It can be isolating being a freelance photographer.”
I look again at the girls and then at him.
He pats me on the back. “I’ll see you in a bit.” He disappears with his camera in his hands.
Maybe if I put myself out there, I’ll get Mandi out of my system. Then again, the last time I thought I’d get her out of my system, all I did was have sex with her over and over. It never worked. And going out with those girls isn’t going to work either.
“Be careful with Willy,” Nate says, positioning his camera next to mine. “Did you know he’s married?”
“Seriously? That’s fucked up.”
