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“I was blackmailed to leave my room. Having my hinges taken off my door wasn’t exactly ideal.” I chuckle. Mom used to threaten me with that all the time when I locked myself away to sulk.
“Josey, listen. I’m sorry I never got to say goodbye in person or to make things right between us. I was under the impression I was no longer wanted.” The hitch in her tone doesn’t fool me. I know she’s thinking about Harvey. Now’s the time to make things right.
“I might have had something to do with that. I told Harvey about our conversation and he pulled out his defenses. He’s really protective of me since, well, he doesn’t like seeing me hurt. I’m sorry too. Can we still be friends?”
“Honey, of course, we can. I told you, I’m always here for you.” The love in her voice speaks louder than the words themself.
We stay on the phone for over an hour. She tells me about her career change and I form a plan Uncle Harvey can’t refuse. She tells me I’m like her friend and publicist, Mini. I tell her I’d love to meet her, and she proceeds to tell me Mini wants to come out here for a visit sometime too. I fill her in on all the gossip here, not that much has happened in two days.
It’s like Eve never left.
Once we’ve said our goodbyes, I feel a lot better about myself. My cheerful mood is back along with my motivation. I call Harvey to see where he is because this cannot wait.
ChapterNineteen
Evelyn
Two months later
I’ve been calling Josey every day for the past two months. This is why I’m sitting in Mini’s car, overlooking the parking lot of the FORT Center. The family that had a hand in changing my life.
“Get out of the goddamn car, Evelyn. I’m not going to sit in here forever. I suggest you move your ass, unless you’d prefer me dragging you out of the passenger seat instead?” I’d better do as she says. Mini means business. When she uses threats like that, you better believe she’ll follow through.
“Fine, I’m getting out. Sheesh, you’re almost as bad as my mother,” I snide.
Standing in front of the building brings back so many memories of how broken I truly was and the hurdles I overcame on my journey here.
“Come on, Eve. Hurry up, would you? I want to meet Mr. Hot and Dreamy.” She starts walking toward the doors without a backward glance.Shit.I jog over to her. The last thing I need is Mini causing a scene when only Josey knows I’m coming.
I push through the doors before her, hoping I can get a handle on the situation.
A young woman I’ve not seen before is sitting at the reception desk. She asks if I have an appointment and I tell her I’m here to see Josey; she arranged for me to meet her in the garden today.
I’m secretly disappointed I’m not going to see Harvey. I want to talk with him and make things right between us, even if that means remaining friends. Two months is a long time to leave things unsaid.
He's a topic Josey and I never talk about. There are many reasons, but the main one is, I don’t want to hear if he’s moved on.
Even though I’m familiar with my surroundings, I’m pointed through a doorway, then instructed down the corridor I know so well. I hastily make my way, like I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time much to Mini’s irritation.
It doesn’t take long before I’m walking through the little door that leads to what fast became my sanctuary. As soon as the door closes behind me, I’m greeted with a familiar commotion of yapping. The moment I see the little guy trotting toward me I break into tears.
I pick him up the moment he’s at my feet, cuddling him so close to my heart it hurts. “Asher, it’s so good to see you too, you little sausage. I’ve missed you so much, buddy.” Each pause is either me gaining my breath or hiccupping. I’m lost to the world around me.
“Is it okay that I’m a little jealous of my dog right now?” Comes a low, husky voice.
I open my eyes, my trance now redirected to another male I didn’t think I’d see today.
“Harvey,” I whisper. What-”
“Hello, beautiful. I hope you can forgive Josey, but she kind of told me you were coming.” He looks suspiciously at me at the mention of his niece.
“Why do I get the feeling I’m being set up?” I ask with a playful tone. Seeing Harvey again is making my legs weak. If I wasn’t holding Asher, I’d likely be reaching for something to hold me up. After all this time, he continues to have a hold on me.
“I know we have a lot to talk about, but I’d like to show you something before we do.” He gestures for me to follow him through the door I just came through, then I realize Mini is nowhere in sight.
“Where’s Mini?” I look around thinking maybe she stayed on the other side of the door to give us privacy, then something new dawns on me. “Josey has been talking to Mini, hasn’t she?” I knew those two were too alike.
“Yes, but before you get mad, please know this was planned by all of us. All I ask is you keep an open mind when I show you what we’ve been doing.”
