AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His mother’s parting shot echoed in Farris’s head throughout his sleepless night and all the way across the country the following day on a succession of planes.
When he landed in New York, the city was shrouded in gray mist and rain. Cold, but not cold enough for snow. Farris hunched into his coat collar and waved down the car he had ordered.
The limo was an indulgence. But it afforded him the opportunity for complete privacy as he made the mad dash into the city. He had the driver take him directly to Quinn headquarters. The aforementioned papers were soon signed, and Farris met the impressive woman who was to start Monday. Her résumé was stellar.
Truth be told, Farris was no longer needed at this empire he had built. Because he had surrounded himself with good people, the ship sailed on, even if Farris was in Wyoming. Some days he didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
By four, he was unlocking the door to his penthouse apartment on Park Avenue, just a few blocks away from Dottie’s abode. He couldn’t help remembering the first time he brought India here. They had been dating for three months at that point. Farris had cooked for her and watched, smiling, as India stood at the huge plate-glass windows and looked out over the city, her expression awed.
In the middle of dinner, she had asked him point-blank if he was rich. He’d tried to avoid answering, but of course she had already known as soon as she saw his home. Unfortunately for him, as far as he could tell, she wasn’t overly impressed.
India had always preferred simple meals to gourmet experiences. Though she cherished the wedding ring he gave her, he’d had to lie about the cost of her engagement diamond. India loved the emerald-cut, two-carat stone, but if she had known how much it cost, she would never have worn it.
Now that he thought about it, perhaps he was more of a liar than he realized. Lying in order to make people comfortable was still lying.
He passed the bedroom where he normally slept and went to stand in the doorway of the master suite. After India left him, he hadn’t been able to sleep alone in that huge king-size bed. If he closed his eyes, he could almost hear her laughter.
Painful memories mixed with fond ones. India was a cover hog. Fortunately, Farris was hot-natured. Many a night he had awakened to find that she had dragged the sheet and comforter to her side of the bed.
The past five years had not been easy. Now he had complicated his life even further by asking India to be Dottie’s companion. Would he come to regret that decision?
Didn’t he already regret it?
The silence in the apartment mocked him. He was alone.
The morning Farris left for New York City, Dottie didn’t show up for breakfast. India wasn’t too alarmed, but it did feel odd to eat solo in the dining room. After her solitary meal, she went to Dottie’s door and listened.
India was pretty sure she heard a television running. Maybe Dottie had slept restlessly and was having a slow start. Because India wasn’t sure of the parameters of this new relationship, she didn’t knock. Instead, she went to the workout room for half an hour and then showered and changed.
By the time she was done, she decided it would be okay to check on her charge a little more aggressively. Fortunately, Dottie’s door was open this time. India found her sitting on the bed, flipping through an envelope of photographs.
“Good morning,” India said cheerfully.
Dottie looked up with a smile. “Hello, dear. Sorry I slept so late.”
“No worries. Would you like me to bring you some breakfast?”
“Thanks, but not necessary. A few weeks ago, Farris ordered me a minifridge. It’s plugged in over there in the corner. I know that sounds terribly decadent, but I kind of love it now. If I feel like being a hermit, I have everything I need right here.”
That might be an exaggeration, but India could tell Dottie’s pleasure was genuine. “It’s a very cozy setup. I’m glad you’re so comfortable.” India paused, but then gave in to impulse. “May I ask you something?” she said.
Dottie cocked her head. “Of course.”
“Why didn’t you take the blue room for yourself?”
The older woman wrinkled her nose. “To be honest, I was trying to give my son some privacy. He and I were planning to stay here for a number of weeks, maybe months. I didn’t want him to feel stifled.”
“But now I’m there in the blue room,” India said, feeling awkward and slightly embarrassed. “Is there another space I could use?”
“Not really.” Dottie stood and paced, her expression agitated. “I want to apologize for yesterday. I spoke to you harshly. Farris admitted the divorce was his fault. I’ll say this and nothing more. You could give him another chance.”
What was India supposed to say to that? Maybe truth was the only option. “I didn’t want to end our marriage. But there were problems. And Farris was not interested in working things out.”
“I find that hard to believe.” Dottie put a hand to her mouth and sat down again.
“I don’t want to speak ill of your son. Please know that.”
“Understood. Please, India. Tell me what you want to say.”
