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Chapter Twenty-One
Andrew
“Are you sure you want to sign these papers?” Phillip asked from across the desk in his office. “Once you do, there won’t be any going back. I made sure there were no loopholes.”
“I knew there wouldn’t be.” That’s why I chose Phillip to draft this contract. It was legal, binding, and free of errors. “And for the record, yes, I want to do this.” An apology could never equal what was in my heart, but I would try. And I was ready to make a grand gesture to show Anne the depth of my feelings.
Phillip handed me the papers and said, “Sign here and here.” I did and handed them back to him. “I’ll get this right over to the courthouse in Bermoose. I will also email you a copy for your records. I’m sure your accountant will have many questions for you, number one being your sanity.”
“I don’t care what anyone thinks. It’s my money, my decision.” That comment was meant for Phillip as well.
“Are you going to tell Anne, or just surprise her like last time? I’d like to think you’ve learned from your mistakes,” Phillip stated.
“You just can’t resist needling me, can you?”
Phillip shook his head. “You make it too easy. With Anne, you’re really off your game.”
“Not anymore. I know what I want.” And it’s Anne.
“I really hope you get it,” Phillip said earnestly.
I got up and walked out of his office. Once I received the documents, I’d make arrangements to return to Bermoose and deliver them to Anne. For now, Clark was taking me to some museum he said he was thinking about purchasing. It was not in line with anything else he owned, and a few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have delayed in telling him he was losing his fucking mind. But I knew my brother. There was more to this museum than he was letting on. I hope whoever she is, she’s as good for Clark as Anne is for me.
No matter how we fought and sniped at one another, the bottom line was we were brothers. We would support each other’s professional and romantic success. Kenneth and Jerry seemed to have reached theirs, and I’m well on my way now. If it was possible for us, then there was certainly hope for Phillip, Clark, and our evasive brother Richard.
Can’t wait to see who Clark is interested in, because that museum sounds…. different.
My phone rang. It was Clark. Please be calling to say you changed your mind.
“Hi, Andrew. Want me to pick you up or are you going to meet me there?”
Definitely taking my own car. The last thing I wanted was to be trapped there any longer than I needed to be. “I have the address. And don’t worry, I’m not going to blow you off.” No matter how tempted I am.
“Good. I’ll be waiting near this new auto exhibit they have. I hear they have some real unique vehicles.”
“Great.” I ended the call. I didn’t want to spend my afternoon looking at cars you couldn’t put on a road because they’re actually boats or planes or something ridiculous like that. When I was a kid, I was into that kind of shit, but who had time for fun and games now?
An hour later I pulled into the parking lot, and just the exterior of the building had me regretting this outing. A giant wooden cyclops and a statue of a three-headed dog flanked the entrance. Oh, yeah. I’m not going to be here long.
Unfortunately, I saw Clark’s car already parked. Empty. That meant I had to go inside. I parked my Ferrari away from any other vehicles, hoping it would still be in mint condition when I returned.
When I went inside I was greeted by a woman with bright red hair. “Welcome. Do you have a reservation?”
There were only a few vehicles outside. No way you needed an appointment. But I humored her and said, “Yes. The name is Heart.”
“Oh, yes. Your brother said to meet him at the new exhibit. Would you like me to show you the way?”
“I’ll follow the signs, thanks.” The place was a maze, one room after another. I ignored all the exhibits and just continued to make my way to the one I needed.
As I turned the corner, I stopped dead in my tracks. This one caught my attention. LARGEST MOOSE, the sign read. He easily doubled my height. I flashed back to the night that was almost my last. I like you much better in wax. I enjoyed wildlife, just not around my vehicles.
Shaking my head, I tried to block that memory. The only accident on my record, and the insurance company wouldn’t mark it down the way I saw it. A hit and run.
The sign on the next room read AUTOMOBILES. Finally. I’d do a quick run through and get out. Sure enough, the first one was a car that was two front ends joined together. The next one looked like a huge rubber duck. Equally unexciting.
Turning the corner, I stopped. What the fuck? That car looked familiar. Silver, and crushed on one side. Damn.Great exhibit to put right after the moose.
The sign above the car said, ALL I WANT. I scoffed. I’m sure even the junkyard didn’t want that heap. I was just about to move on to the next one, but out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a note taped to the dash. I had to see what it said.
