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Link swallowed, emotion rising in his chest. Hope and grief. Longing and anger.
“It’s not like you’re blood-related. If you love her and she loves you, what’s stopping you?” Reese asked.
“Look, man, I recognize the guilt that’s eating you alive. You have the opportunity to fix this. You can make this right. Don’t waste your chance like I did,” Mason said, his eyes growing dark.
The man’s wife and their tragic story was a wake-up call. Life was short. We never knew when our last day would be. His father’s death should have taught him that.
His body trembled at the thought of leaving to go after her. How would it work? She was on the road seven months out of the year and recording for most of the others. There was no way he could run the garage and be with her too. “I can’t leave everything I’ve spent my life working for and what my father built.” Defeat bled from his tone.
“No one is saying you have to. You just need someone reliable and equally committed to the future of the company to oversee things while you’re not there.” Reese shrugged. “I wonder where we could find someone like that.”
“You’d do that? Take on that responsibility?”
Reese nodded. “Of course. That place is home for me almost as much as it is for you. I grew up in that shop. Besides, I just want to see you happy, bro.”
“I’ve been meaning to ask you anyways . . . You think you’d want to become partners? Maybe we could work out a buy-in?” Link asked.
Reese’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Absolutely.”
Reese stuck out his hand to shake Link’s. “Done.”
He returned the gesture, sealing the deal.
“You gonna go get your girl?” Mason asked, finally pulling his eyes from the woman at the bar.
Link sighed. Fear twisted his gut, his lungs squeezing tight at the thought of leaving everything he’d known. But the idea of not making things right with Emma, of never telling her how much she truly meant to him, was worse. She deserved to know just how lovable every inch of her was inside and out. She deserved someone to take care of her, protect her, and cherish her. He could only hope it wasn’t too late for him to apply for the position.
* * *
Link rushed through the door to his apartment and packed a bag while trying to get through to Emma once again. No answer. He skimmed down his list of contacts and typed out a quick message to a friend who’d be able to get him in touch with one of her bandmates. He needed to know where she was, so he could make this right.
Link opened his dresser drawer, his eye catching on the lone envelope sitting on his desk. His father’s letter.
He picked it up, broke the seal and pulled out the paper. Two letters were inside. One had his name and the other had Emma’s. He left Emma a letter after all. Shit. Link’s cowardice had caused Emma even more pain. It was time he stopped being afraid.
Son,
If you’re reading this, I’ve passed on. I know you’re probably feeling pretty lost right now, and that’s okay. But you’re not alone. You still have Emma and the good people of Shattered Cove.
I wasn’t raised to talk a lot about feelings or get involved with anyone else’s business. In that, I think I failed you. I tried to lead by example, but I am human.
I came to realize something this year—something I want to talk to you about, but I’m waiting until the time is right. Till Emma comes home next time. It’s thanks to Emma, actually. She pointed out how much you loved the garage. And I . . . I realized she was right. All your life, I thought I’d held you back somehow. You are my only son. The last piece left of your mother that I had. I think I didn’t push you because I was selfish, wanting to keep you around.
But I’ve seen how much you love this old place, how it has become a part of you. I only ever meant it to be a stepping-stone, a way to support the two of you. That’s why I kept control of the business so much and turned down your ideas for expansion and custom work. I didn’t want anything holding you back for the moment you pulled your head out of your ass and saw what has been staring you in the face the whole time.
That girl won’t wait around forever. I did my part not legally adopting her so that you could be with her when you realized Emma’s been in love with you since you brought home that damn guitar. In our Asante tribe, adopted or related-by-marriage siblings cannot ever be together. You would be disgraced and possibly cut off from our family in Ghana.
I hope you never read this letter and I get the chance to talk to you about all this in person. But just in case, here it is.
I am so proud of the man you are today. You are the most precious thing on this earth to me besides my daughter. I’ve always been harder on you because I knew you needed the push to do things. Sometimes, you have to get out of your own way.
I love you, son, and I’ll always be with you.
Take care of our girl,
Papa
