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“Mr. Henderson has a table set up for you both outside. It’s a lovely night. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the spot he chose for you.”
When we went outside, I noticed the hostess was bringing us towards the beach. Did Dean forget that we were coming from the office? Ovi didn’t protest, but stopped and placed a hand on my shoulder while she took off her high heels so she could walk barefoot in the sand.
“I think that’s a good idea,” I said, following her lead.
We passed by many empty tables, yet the hostess continued walking until a table far off from the others came into sight. There was a canopy with white drapes blowing gently, and a table with matching linen and flowers.
Ovi stopped and looked at me. “This can’t beourtable, is it?”
I shrugged and the hostess said, “Yes, it is. Your waitress will be over shortly to take your order. There is chilled champagne on the table. Would you like me to pour you each a glass?” she offered.
“No. Thank you. I can handle that,” I said, trying to get her to leave before she overheard Ovi ripping into me as though I planned all of this. As soon as she was out of earshot, I turned to Ovi and prepared myself for whatever she was about to accuse me of. But she wasn’t even looking at me. Just staring at the ocean. Softly, I asked, “Is everything okay?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Not one darn thing is.”
Pulling out a seat for her, I suggested, “Why don’t you sit down and tell me about it.”
Ovi looked up at me and said, “So you can enjoy my misery?”
Wow. Did she think that low of me? I looked directly into her eyes, and it wasn’t judgment that I saw. It was heartache and sadness. “I wouldn’t do that,” I said, honestly.
She sat down and I took the seat beside her. “What are you thinking?”
“Besides the fact that I shouldn’t be here?” she asked. I nodded and she added, “That my world has been turned upside down and I...hate it. I wish that everything could go back to the way it was five years ago.”
From what I learned from Dean, that was the time before Ovi’s mother had learned she was sick. “I’m sorry. Losing a parent isn’t easy.”
“And you know this how?” she asked, still looking out at the ocean.
“I lost both of my parents years ago.”
She turned to me with a look of surprise. “I...I didn’t know. My father never said anything.”
“It was before I started the business.” It was probably why I threw all of myself into the business. In the beginning, I needed a distraction. Working so hard and so many hours became a habit.So did asking the same of my staff. Damn it. I need to fix that. “At least your father is back. Hopefully that will help.”
“He left.”
“Yes, but he returned. Remember, I saw him this morning,” I reminded her.
“I’m not a scatterbrain. I know you saw him. But after our conversation, I told him that he was terminated. He explained that it was okay because he was leaving anyway. And when I go home tonight, he’ll...be...gone.”
Her voice shook towards the end. “Did he say why?” Was it because of me? Had I made it so she lost her only living parent too?
“He said that there are too many memories of my mother here. It was too painful to stay,” she sniffed.
“Did you tell him that you’re hurting too?” I asked as it was evident that she was hurting as well.
“Why would I do that? His mind was already made up.”
“Ovi, I know you love and respect your father. But you have the right to voice your feelings.”God knows you don’t hold back when talking to me.
“It wouldn’t have changed anything. He’d still have left. And would have to carry the guilt of leaving me behind,” she said.
Alone.It was an unspoken word, but I knew.
She continued. “He’s going to work on a fishing boat. Can you believe that he’d rather go and do that than fight for his job with you?”
“I could be wrong. I’m no psychologist, but I have a feeling this is not about any job. It’s not about you either. People deal with grief differently. Granted, I never would’ve thought Trye would have left, not the first time, and definitely not a second. Maybe he deals with it...”
