AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Does he see the bra? Are we having the same memory?
I’m looking up the steps as he trots down them in quick succession.
As I cross my arms over my waist, I ask, “Mr. Landry, am I safe?”
“Just do what I tell you and everything will be fine.” His stare is indiscernible, blank. He proceeds to pepper me with questions and changes the code on the alarm.
“How am I going to remember something new every day?”
Without hesitation, he says, “Because you have me.”
But not really.
My chin falls forward, and my eyes nearly pop out of my head. He’s all I ever wanted to have and to hold. My lids close in an attempt to keep the tears from falling. Beau is within my grasp, only a foot away, yet feels so out of reach.
With my heart hammering, I try to disguise my true feelings. “I still have work to do.”
“Okay. I’ll get everything connected to my surveillance system. Then tomorrow, we’ll plan.” He folds his perfect full lips.
The next minute, he’s gone, and I can finally breathe.
When I moved home, I didn’t want the responsibility of furthering my father’s legacy. His shoes are too big to fill. As much as I want to make my father happy, I’ve always wanted something of my own. I thought that was a life with Beau.
Wine, I need wine. I’m saving the Special Reserve for something special.
The corkscrew isn’t in the drawer. I know I had it yesterday evening. So, I march out back, and the light drizzle sprinkles my head and shoulders with the type of raindrops that sit on top of your skin. This is one time I’d love to have a direct path from my wing to the main house. Damp, I use the key to the main house.
There’s a light over the kitchen sink, but it looks otherwise undisturbed. Right. Dad isn’t home, and it’s time I read the letter. I fish out the Rabbit and return to my part of the house.
Wrapping the handles around the bottle, the lever falls forward as I push to stick the corkscrew in a smidge. I pull down the lever and then pull back once more. The cork pops out with little to no aggravation. This tool would have saved hundreds of cork crumbles floating in my wine during college.
The wine is perfectly chilled, and the smell of oak and honey floats through my nose as I take the first sip. I find the letter in my briefcase and take it over to the couch, propping my feet onto the fuzzy peach pillow. One more sip, then I place my drink on the coffee table. Running my finger under the seal, I rip the envelope a little at a time.
I pull out the handwritten note on the company letterhead.
Vanessa,
If you’re reading this then something has happened that I can’t explain. I’ve been receiving threats telling me to close Barron’s Distillery—which I would never do. I don’t want you to be scared. Someone is trying to right a wrong, and they can’t do it with me in charge…or so they say. I have no idea what that means, but I’ve put some security measures in place, just in case.
It’s imperative that you accept personal security, and you can’t show anyone this letter. I’m afraid of what might happen if I ignore the instructions I was given.
Your mom reached out to me today. She’s in Colorado and wants to be part of your life, but that is up to you.
The day you were born was the single best day of my life. Know that everything I do is for you. Working side by side with you was a father’s dream. I know you can handle the job you were born to do. But Sweetpea, do it your way. It’s yours now.
And Vanessa, you should call Beau now that you’re both back in town. You need closure. The two of you need to put what happened to rest. You’re a beautiful woman and it’s time you move forward. My last wish is twofold—for you to be safe and happy.
Raise a glass of Barron’s 12 to me when you’re finally safe and happy.
Love you, my baby girl.
Dad
Yeah, I’m going to need the whole bottle of wine.
So many emotions snake through my thoughts. Where is my dad? Did someone kidnap him? My heart feels like it's breaking not knowing where my father is or if he’s in danger. I haven’t talked to my father about Beau in years, but he knows me so well that he realizes my heart still belongs to my first and only “boyfriend.”
As I fold and unfold the letter over and over, I think about how screwed up my life is, yet I’m happy to be home. A boulder so heavy has been slightly lifted from my shoulders, jumping two hurdles in the past two days. I am the CEO of Barron’s Distillery, and I have talked, touched, and spoken to Beau Landry.
